The Loewenberg School of Nursing is organized as one unit under the leadership of a dean. The curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing includes general education and support courses offered through other units of the university as well as the major requirements offered by the school. A comprehensive approach to health care is emphasized through utilization of a wide variety of health care settings available in Memphis and the surrounding community.

The faculty of the Loewenberg School of Nursing represents all clinical areas of nursing practice and a variety of experiences and interests. They reflect this diversity in their teaching, practice and research and are qualified by practical experience as well as by academic credentials, to function as facilitators of learning.

The Loewenberg School of Nursing holds membership in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Southern Council for Collegiate Education in Nursing, and the National League for Nursing Council for Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-6791 and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Because the University seeks to provide in as much as possible a reasonably safe environment for its health career students and their patients, students may be required during the course of the program to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, so as not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability. See specific criteria under Sophomore Admission

Core performance standards for admission and progression:

1. Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment.
2. Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.
3. Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
4. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
5. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.
6. Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
7. Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.
8. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

Admission

Freshman Admission

Qualified high school seniors admitted as freshmen to the University of Memphis may at the time of admission to the University be directly admitted to the nursing major by applying to the School of Nursing after receiving admission to the University. Freshman admission to the nursing major guarantees the student who remains in good standing placement in the nursing program in the second semester of the sophomore year.

Freshmen admitted to the nursing major must remain in "good standing" by completing the prescribed curriculum at The University of Memphis for the freshman year and 1st semester of the sophomore year with a minimum grade of "C" in all required prerequisite courses, a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 for the prescribed three semesters of coursework and a science cumulative grade point average of 2.66. Students who do not remain in "good standing" may reapply to the LSON in a competitive pool with other students. See Sophomore Admission.

Freshman admission requirements:

     1. Completion of high school Algebra I, II, Geometry, Biology, and Chemistry.

     2. Minimum ACT score of 21 with a minimum score of 19 in all areas.
  
     3. Graduation from an accredited high school with a cumulative grade point  average of 3.0.

Applicants will be rank-ordered on the basis of a calculated point system:

Freshman Point System

Cumulative high school quality point average x 100 added to the ACT score x 10 or SAT score.

Sophomore and Accelerated Second Baccalaureate Degree BSN Admission

To Be Admitted to the Loewenberg School of Nursing, a student must:

1. Be admitted to the University of Memphis as  degree-seeking undergraduate student.

2. Have a minimum college cumulative grade point average of 2.7, a cumulative of 2.66 in prerequisite science courses. (A prerequisite science course may be repeated only once to earn a minimum grade of “C”. A maximum of two prerequisite science courses may be repeated to earn the minimum required grade.)

3. Have completed specific pre-nursing courses with a minimum grade of “C” in all courses:

ENGL 1010 & 1020: English Composition I & II (6)

BIOL 2010/11 & 2020/2021: Anatomy & Physiology I & II (8)

BIOL 1230/1231: Microbiology (4)

SOCI 1010: Introduction to Sociology (3); PSYC 1030: General Psychology

NUTR 2202 Nutrition or 3202: Nutrition for Health Care (3)

MATH 1420: Foundations of Mathematics, MATH 1530: Introduction to Statistical Reasoning and Application, or MATH 1710: College Algebra or Math 2000: Experiences in Mathematics, or MATH 1830: Elementary Calculus, or MATH 1910: Calculus I

4. Clearance of any high school deficiencies.

5. Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V) with a minimum overall score of 62.5% (72% on the TEAS IV) and a minimum score of 60 in each of the four test components; Reading, Math, Science, and English. The test can be repeated to achieve the required scores.

6. Have a minimum TOEFL score of 173 computer-based, 61 Internet-based, or 500 paper-pencil, or a minimum IELTS score of 5.0 (for students for whom English is a second language).

7. If transferring from another nursing program, must submit a letter of good standing from the dean/director of the previous nursing program, along with a transcript, and meet LSON admission and progression standards as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog.

8. Complete and submit Loewenberg School of Nursing application for admission to:

Loewenberg School of Nursing

University of Memphis

Billy Mac Jones Building, Room 100

Memphis, TN 38152

Sophomore Admission must have complete files by the deadline (February 15 for Fall; October 1 for Spring) to be considered. (In order to allow adequate time for processing of the University of Memphis transfer credit evaluation you should receive your acceptance letter to the University by September 15 for Spring term or February 1 for Fall term).

Accelerated Second Baccalaureate Degree BSN Option students must have complete files by February 15 for fall admission.

RN-BSN

1.     Be admitted to the University of Memphis as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.

2.    Have a minimum college cumulative grade point average of 2.7, a cumulative grade point average of 2.66 in prerequisite science courses. (A prerequisite science course may be repeated only once to earn a minimum grade of "C". A maximum of two prerequisite science courses may be repeated to earn the minimum required grade.)

3.    Have completed specific pre-nursing courses with a minimum grade of "C" in all courses.

4.    Hold an unencumbered, active RN license (NCLEX accepted for TEAS).

5.    Provide validation of current science knowledge through employer verification, repeating of course, taking a higher level science course in the same field, or obtaining a fiftieth (50th) percentile score on the NLN appropriate science test.

1. All students admitted as freshmen students to the nursing major who remain in good standing will be accommodated.

2. After freshmen nursing majors have been accommodated, all other students will be considered on a competitive space available basis according to GPA.

Admission Procedures:

1.    Freshman admission students must have complete files by May 31.

2. Sophomore and Accelerated BSN students must have complete files by the deadline (February 15 for Fall; October 1 for Spring) to be considered.

3. Acceptance into the school will be based on rank-order cumulative GPA.

4. If individuals have the same GPA, the order will be determined by the amount of prerequisite and support course work completed.

5. A new list will be created each semester. Students who are not accepted must reapply for consideration the next semester.

6. An alternate list will be established each semester to fill vacancies that might occur before the beginning of class. The criteria for the alternate list will be the same as for the acceptance list.