Harper College Nursing Program

Last Updated on July 29, 2023

Earn your Associate in Applied Science degree in nursing with this 68-credit-hour degree program. Nursing is one of the most in-demand occupations, and employment is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate in the coming years. This program will prepare you to provide quality care for clients across their lifespans in a variety of health care settings.

Learn from highly trained faculty members who regularly engage in professional development opportunities to provide cutting-edge teaching methods and clinical information. Practice your skills in Harper College’s Nursing Laboratory, a state-of-the-art simulated clinical environment.

Upon completion of this program, you’ll qualify to take the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for Illinois licensure as a registered nurse.

This is a limited-enrollment program. Please review this program’s admission criteria and process.

Harper College is offering this program at the single rate of tuition until Spring 2022 semester.

A.A.S. degree program plan

This 68 credit-hour program is designed to enable students to receive an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing at the completion of the two-year sequence. The program is approved by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc (ACEN).

The Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing qualifies the graduate for NCLEX-RN and application for Illinois licensure as a registered nurse. Legal limitations could prohibit an individual from taking this licensing examination. Questions regarding these restrictions should be directed to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations at 217.782.8556. Positions are available in a variety of health care settings.

Because of the nature of clinical experiences and individual instruction required in this program, specialized technology and the equipment necessary to offer this program, a higher tuition rate is assessed for career-specific courses. These include courses with the NUR prefix. Tuition for these courses in this program is 200 percent of the standard tuition rate.

Admission Requirements:

Nursing is a limited enrollment program. For admission requirements, please contact the Admissions Outreach Office at 847.925.6700 or visit harpercollege.edu

Students who apply for this limited enrollment program are obligated to meet current admission requirements and follow program curriculum as defined at the time of acceptance to the program.

Upon admission to the Nursing program, the mathematics requirement is met.

PREREQUISITES:

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.

NumberCourse TitleCreditsCategory
BIO 160Human Anatomy14AAS General Education
BIO 161Human Physiology14AAS General Education
ENG 101Composition3AAS General Education
PSY 101Introduction to Psychology+3AAS General Education

FIRST SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.

NumberCourse TitleCreditsCategory
BIO 130Microbiology14AAS General Education
NUR 110Nursing Concepts, Roles and Practice3Program Requirement
NUR 112Fundamentals of Nursing Practice3Program Requirement
NUR 180Pathophysiology3Program Requirement
PSY 228Psychology of Human Development3AAS General Education

SECOND SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.

NumberCourse TitleCreditsCategory
NUR 140Adult Health Concepts I2Program Requirement
NUR 141Adult Health Clinical I2Program Requirement
NUR 150Psychosocial Concepts2Program Requirement
NUR 151Psychosocial Concepts Clinical2Program Requirement
NUR 210Physical Assessment2Program Requirement
NUR 213Advanced Pharmacology22Program Requirement

ELECTIVE (Optional):

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.

NumberCourse TitleCreditsCategory
NUR 195Transition to Professional Nursing32Optional Course
NUR 196Transition to Professional Nursing Clinical31Optional Course

THIRD SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.

NumberCourse TitleCreditsCategory
NUR 201Child Bearing Concepts2Program Requirement
NUR 202Adult Health Concepts II2Program Requirement
NUR 205Pediatric Health Concepts2Program Requirement
NUR 220Child Bearing Clinical2Program Requirement
NUR 240Adult Health Clinical II2Program Requirement
NUR 250Pediatric Health Clinical2Program Requirement
SPE 101Fundamentals of Speech Communication3AAS General Education

FOURTH SEMESTER:

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required for all students.

NumberCourse TitleCreditsCategory
Humanities or Social and Behavioral Science43AAS General Education
NUR 216Adult Health Concepts III2Program Requirement
NUR 218Role Transition Seminar1Program Requirement
NUR 260Adult Health Clinical III2Program Requirement
NUR 280Role Transition Practicum3Program Requirement

1 – Must be completed no earlier than five years prior to beginning the Nursing program.

+ – This course meets the World Culture and Diversity graduation requirement.

2 – Must be completed no earlier than two years prior to beginning the Nursing program.

3 – These courses are required for LPNs transitioning into RN program.

4 – See full list of AAS General Education Electives. Request Info Apply

Program learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program are able to:

  • Safety: Plan, implement and evaluate strategies to minimize risk of harm to patients and providers.
  • Communication/Teamwork/Informatics: Collaborate with the healthcare team to effectively communicate with patients and families using verbal, written and electronic methods.
  • Evidence-Based Practice: Utilize evidence-based clinical reasoning to improve patient outcomes.
  • Wellness/Health Promotion Teaching: Provide and evaluate patient education plans across the continuum of care to promote wellness throughout the lifespan.
  • Professional Identity: Develop a professional identity through behaviors that demonstrate integrity, respect, responsibility, legal and ethical practice, teamwork, and commitment to learning.

Student achievement outcome data

Registered Nursing Program

YearHarper ADN Pass RateState Pass RateNational Pass RateCompletion RateJob Placement
201690% (74/82)85%85%64%91%
201792% (80/87)86%87%77%91%
201895% (116/122)88%88%76%89%
201992% (108/118)88%88%72%97%

The Registered Nursing program maintains accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The next accreditation site visit will be September 18–20. program is accredited through Fall 2026.

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3343 Peachtree Road NE
Suite 850
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404.975.5000
Fax: 404.975.5020

Nursing Program approved by:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
320 West Washington
Springfield, IL 62786

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