Advanced Placement
All students in the RN to BS and RN to MS programs are potentially eligible to challenge courses in the RN to BS program. Students however, must meet the criteria for eligibility for each individual course. Advanced placement through the challenge examination process offers the registered nurse the opportunity to challenge courses for which the student has gained knowledge through continuing education, life experiences, or academic course work.
Courses for Challenge
The following courses may be challenged by students who meet the criteria specified for each course.
Nurs 3612: Introduction to Nursing Research*
Nurs 3614: Nursing Assessment Across the Life Span*
Nurs 3804: The RN Nursing Experience with Families and Groups
Nurs 4612: Promoting Wellness in the Aging Family
Nurs 4803: The Nursing Leadership and Management Experience
Nurs 4813: The RN High Acuity Nursing Experience
*Course not available for challenge for the RN-MS student because the RN-MS student takes NURS 5023 and NURS 5644 in place of these courses.
The challenge exam may include a comprehensive exam, demonstration of a desired skill or skills, report, and/or scholarly paper.
The Challenge Examination
Faculty in the College of Nursing will select and administer the exam. The challenge exam can be any or all of the following:
- A comprehensive exam (multiple choice, matching, true and false, short answer and/or essay questions)
- A demonstration of a desired skill or skills
- A written case study report
- A scholarly paper
Level of Performance Required for Credit
A score of 72% (out of a possible 100%) on the examination is required to receive course credit.
Students who score 72 and above will receive the grade made on the challenge examination at the end of the semester. The letter grade will be as follows:
| 90 – 100 | A |
| 80 – 89 | B |
| 72 – 79 | C |
Students may take the challenge examination only one time.
Students Who Score Less Than 72 on the examination will be required to take and complete the course in the semester in which they are enrolled. Students who choose not to continue in the course will need to withdraw from the course prior to the last day to drop without penalty (see academic calendar). If the student withdraws after the last day to drop without penalty, the grade of “WF” is assigned and is subject to the College of Nursing Academic Policies.
Option to Continue in the Course
A student who takes and passes the challenge examination who wishes to take the course in hopes of receiving a higher grade may do so if the course is taken in the same semester in which the challenge examination is taken. Students electing this option must submit a signed statement of intent to continue in the course to the instructor within a week following the notification of the challenge examination grade: failure to submit this written intent on time will forfeit the student’s right to continue in the course. Students electing to continue in the course will receive the grade earned from attending the course and not the grade made on the challenge exam. If during the semester the student decides not to continue in the course, the student will receive the grade earned on the challenge examination.
Examination for Students with Disabilities
Students with documented disabilities who require academic accommodations should refer to the policy for disabilities in the syllabus. Students requiring special accommodations will be expected to contact the course faculty in a timely manner before the challenge examination.
Please contact the Office of Disabilities Support Services (DSS) for more information.
Disability Support Services
P.O. Box 425966
CFO 105
Denton, Texas 76204-5966
940-898-3835 (voice)
940-898-3830 (TTY)
dss@twu.edu (email)
Admission to the Examination Room
Students must present, at the time of the examination, two forms of identification; each must include a signature and a photograph, e.g., a driver’s license and the TWU student ID card. Students without a driver’s license will be required to show another acceptable picture ID with a signature. Students will be required to sign in and sign out of the test.
Deadlines
To challenge a course, you must send in the application form and all required eligibility documents by the following deadlines:
| Fall Semester Challenges: | July 15th |
| Spring Semester Challenges: | November 15th |
| Summer Semester Challenges: | April 15th |
Application and Eligibility Documents
Application and eligibility documents must be submitted to the campus that you plan to attend.
Denton
RN – BS/MS Coordinator
College of Nursing
Texas Woman's University
P.O. Box 425498
Denton, Texas 76204-5498
Dallas
RN – BS/MS Coordinator
College of Nursing
Texas Woman's University
1810 Inwood Road
Dallas, Texas 75235-7299
Houston
RN – BS/MS Coordinator
College of Nursing
Texas Woman's University
6700 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77030-2103
Application Process
Challenge Examination: Faculty in the College of Nursing will select and administer the exam. The challenge exam can be any or all of the following:
- A comprehensive exam (multiple choice, matching, true and false, short answer and/or essay questions).
- A demonstration of a desired skill or skills.
- A written case study report.
- A scholarly paper.
page updated 7/23/2008 10:21
