Nursing: AAS
Associate in Applied Science | 66 credit hours minimum
Area of Interest: Health Professions
Program Description:
The Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing prepares students to become registered nurses. Students learn to provide direct care for clients that is based on the nursing process. Students acquire knowledge and technical skills necessary for effective communication with clients and families. They learn management, organizational, and delegation skills necessary to provide competent care to a group of clients. Health care teaching is emphasized as a critical aspect of the communication process.
The didactic and clinical components of the curriculum are interrelated to provide a strong background for the student in attaining the objectives of the program and in becoming a competent practitioner. Experience is provided in a variety of agencies including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and home health care settings.
The Nursing program on each campus is approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
Persons considering a career in nursing should have an interest in the health sciences and in working closely with people. In addition, they should be able to meet the academic demands of a program that requires a commitment of time, energy, and motivation to learn.
Admission to the program is contingent on meeting the established minimum criteria as defined in the Nursing Program Handbook. Applicants also are required to complete a health history, criminal background check, and immunization record. Applicants selected for the program are required to have a physical examination.
Graduates are eligible to apply and sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
The nursing program has an LPN Bridge Option (NUR 160) for students selecting this career path. Please see an academic advisor for additional information.
An individual who has been convicted of a felony may not be licensed to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Missouri.
Prerequisites
The following must be completed prior to applying for admission into the Nursing program:
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam completed with a minimum composite score of 58.7%. Additional information:
- Minimum of 30 days between attempts in taking the TEAS exam and a maximum of three attempts in a 12-month period.
- TEAS exam can be completed in an STLCC testing center.
- Additional information and study guides can be found at www.atitesting.com.
- Pre-entry:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 |
| COM 200 | Communication Between Cultures (MOTR SBSC 101) | 3 |
| or SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) | |
| Math proficiency at or above the MTH 140 level. Please note: MTH 165 and MTH 166 will not meet the math requirement for the nursing program. | ||
| Biology: Students are required to have completed one semester of college biology with lab (STLCC BIO 111 or higher) with "C" grade or higher within 5 years of applying to the nursing program. | ||
| Chemistry: Students are required to have completed two semesters of high school chemistry with lab or one semester of college chemistry with lab (STLCC CHM 101 or higher) with "C" grade or higher within 5 years of applying to the nursing program. | ||
| BIO 207 | Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP) | 4 |
| PSY 200 | General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100) | 3 |
NOTE: Check nursing program handbook for additional requirements such as criminal background check, drug screen, immunizations, CPR, and assessment tests.
Locations. This program is offered in its entirety at Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Meramec, and Wildwood.
Licensure. This program meets the educational requirements for state licensure in the following states: Missouri and Illinois. Students interested in pursuing licensure in a different state should contact the program coordinator for more information.
Related Programs. The Nursing Department also offers an associate in the following area:
Practical Nursing, Certificate of Proficiency
Cost of Attendance. For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES.
Program Career and Salary Information. Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest.
The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.
Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.
At the completion of the program, students are expected to:
- demonstrate the standards of professional practice as identified by the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics.
- demonstrate effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication with individuals, families, groups, and communities across the lifespan.
- implement strategies to promote teaching and learning across the lifespan that facilitate health promotion and maintenance, and reduction of risks specific to individuals, families, and communities.
- implement safe clinical decision-making skills using evidence-based practice and the nursing process to deliver safe nursing care for patients, families, groups, and communities across the lifespan.
- deliver patient-centered care across the lifespan through collaboration with healthcare team members by demonstrating leadership skills in the clinical setting.
Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.
Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-entry Requirements: | ||
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 |
| COM 200 | Communication Between Cultures (MOTR SBSC 101) | 3 |
| or SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) | |
| Chemistry: Students are required to have completed two semesters of high school chemistry with lab or one semester of college chemistry with lab (STLCC CHM 101 or higher) with "C" grade or higher within 5 years of applying to the nursing program. | 0-5 | |
| Math proficiency at or above the MTH 140 level. Please note: MTH 165 and MTH 166 will not meet the math requirement for the nursing program. | 0-3 | |
| Biology: Students are required to have completed one semester of college biology with lab (STLCC BIO 111 or higher) with "C" grade or higher within 5 years of applying to the nursing program. | 0-4 | |
| BIO 207 | Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP) | 4 |
| PSY 200 | General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100) | 3 |
| General Education | ||
| PSY 205 | Human Growth and Development (MOTR PSYC 200) | 3 |
| BIO 203 | General Microbiology I | 4 |
| BIO 208 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| XXX xxx | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement | 3 |
| Program Requirements | ||
| NUR 151 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 7 |
| NUR 152 | Nursing Laboratory Practicum I | 1 |
| NUR 154 | Nursing Laboratory Practicum II | 1 |
| NUR 153 | Nursing of Adults and Children I | 9 |
| NUR 251 | Nursing of Adults and Children II | 10 |
| NUR 253 | Management Skills in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 252 | Nursing of Adults and Children III | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours | 66-78 | |
Academic Retention Policies
The Nursing Program is an intensive and highly structured academic and clinical experience for students. It is not self-contained but affects the staff and patients of the cooperating agencies where the clinical experiences of the program are carried out. The Nursing Program at St. Louis Community College share a serious responsibility toward those agencies and their staffs and patients to send forward only nursing students who are adequately prepared to perform assigned tasks with competence. For these reasons, students within the Nursing Program at St. Louis Community College must maintain standards and procedures appropriately. Requirements to remain within the Nursing Program are as follows:
1. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required. A grade of "C" or higher is required in all nursing courses as well as in all other courses required for the Nursing Program. All other required courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher prior to or during the semester the course is scheduled in the curriculum.
2. A student who fails to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0, receives a grade of less than "C" in any courses required for the nursing degree, or who does not return to a nursing course when expected, will not be eligible to continue in the nursing program. This may result in a loss of the nursing major for the student. The student may apply for readmission to the program following the appeal process.
3. A student-initiated withdrawal from a nursing course counts as one attempt per withdrawal (for any reason). If the student has withdrawn or been unsuccessful in any nursing course twice, any future attempts must be approved by the District Readmission Appeals Committee. This process may be initiated by a campus program coordinator.
4. All clinical compliance items must be current to continue with the program and attend clinicals.
Technical Standards of Nursing Students
Missouri Civics Examination. Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.
PLEASE NOTE: If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2025, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements. Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.
Pre-Nursing Requirements
(prior to enrolling in NUR 151)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100) | 3 |
| COM 200 | Communication Between Cultures (MOTR SBSC 101) | 3 |
| or SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) | |
| Chemistry: Students are required to have completed two semesters of high school chemistry with lab or one semester of college chemistry with lab (STLCC CHM 101 or higher) with "C" grade or higher within 5 years of applying to the nursing program. | 0-5 | |
| Math proficiency at or above the MTH 140 level. Please note: MTH 165 and MTH 166 will not meet the math requirement for the nursing program. | 0-3 | |
| Biology: Students are required to have completed two semesters of high school biology with lab or one semester of college biology with lab (STLCC BIO 111 or higher) with "C" grade or higher within 5 years of applying to the nursing program. | 0-4 | |
| BIO 207 | Anatomy and Physiology I (MOTR LIFS 150LAP) | 4 |
| PSY 200 | General Psychology (MOTR PSYC 100) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 13-25 | |
Nursing Program Academic Plan
| First Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| NUR 151 | Fundamentals of Nursing | 7 | Enrollment in the Nursing Program and Reading Proficiency | |
| NUR 152 | Nursing Laboratory Practicum I | 1 | Enrollment in the Nursing Program and Reading Proficiency | |
| BIO 208 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 | BIO 207 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| PSY 205 | Human Growth and Development (MOTR PSYC 200) | 3 | PSY 200 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |||
| Spring | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| NUR 153 | Nursing of Adults and Children I | 9 | BIO 208, NUR 151, PSY 205 all with grades of "C" or better and Reading Proficiency | |
| NUR 154 | Nursing Laboratory Practicum II | 1 | NUR 151 with a minimum grade of "C", NUR 152 with a grade of "S", and Reading Proficiency | |
| BIO 203 | General Microbiology I | 4 | BIO 111 or BIO 140 with a minimum grade of "C", or college-level course equivalent, and Reading Proficiency | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |||
| Second Year | ||||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| NUR 251 | Nursing of Adults and Children II | 10 | NUR 153 or NUR 160 with grades of "C" or better, and BIO 203 with a grade of "C" or better and Reading Proficiency | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |||
| Spring | Credit Hours | Prerequisites | Milestones/Notes | |
| NUR 252 | Nursing of Adults and Children III | 8 | NUR 251 with a grade of "C" or better and Reading Proficiency | Apply for graduation. |
| NUR 253 | Management Skills in Nursing | 3 | NUR 251 with a grade of "C" or better and Reading Proficiency | |
| XXX xxx | Social & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement | 3 | ||
| Credit Hours | 14 | |||
| Total Credit Hours | 53 | |||
*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.
**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.
*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice. Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.