The joint VWU-SCOHS BSN program is a cooperative academic agreement between Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) and the Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS). In this program, students take a prescribed course of study at VWU during the first year and a half, and are co-enrolled at VWU and SCOHS during the remainder of the degree. While completing BSN prerequisite courses at VWU, students must take the prescribed course of study and must meet with the Director of Allied Health Programs and their academic adviser on a regular basis to ensure that all program prerequisites are met.
Joint Program Definition
According to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC):
"An agreement by two or more institutions to grant a joint academic award is one whereby students study at two or more institutions and the institutions grant a single academic award bearing the names, seals, and signatures of each of the participating institutions."
For the purposes of this program, VWU and SCOHS agree to pursue the offering of a joint academic award through a course of study at both institutions, granting a single academic degree, the BSN, jointly bestowed by both institutions as one academic award. This diploma will bear the names and seals of both VWU and SCOHS, including appropriate signatures from both institutions.
Accreditation
Virginia Wesleyan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and masters degrees. Sentara College of Health Sciences (SCOHS) is not accredited by SACSCOC and the accreditation of VWU does not extend to or include SCOHS or its students. Although VWU agrees to accept certain course work from SCOHS to be applied toward an award from VWU, that course work may not be accepted by other colleges or universities in transfer, even if it appears on a transcript from VWU. The decision to accept course work in transfer from any institution is made by the institution considering the acceptance of credits or course work. SCOHS is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). The baccalaureate degree in nursing at Sentara College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneacreditation.org) and is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Additional Information
Additional Information on the Sentara BSN program and courses can be found at the following links from Sentara:
- Sentara Catalog and Student Handbook
- Nursing Program Overview
- Nursing General Admission Requirements
- Traditional BSN Credit Analysis and Curriculum Plan