1. (a) The program of study shall be:

   1. (1) at least the equivalent of two academic years and shall not exceed four calendar years;
   2. (2) planned, implemented, and evaluated by the faculty;
   3. (3) based on the philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes;
   4. (4) organized logically, sequenced appropriately;
   5. (5) based on sound educational principles;
   6. (6) designed to prepare graduates to practice according to the Standards of Nursing Practice as set forth in the Board's Rules and Regulations; and
   7. (7) designed and implemented to prepare students to demonstrate the Differentiated Entry Level Compentencies of Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs, Vocational (VN), Diploma/Associate Degree (Dip/ADN), Baccalaureate (BSN), September 2002.
2. (b) There shall be a reasonable balance between non-nursing courses and nursing courses which are offered in a supportive sequence with rationale and are clearly appropriate for collegiate study.
3. (c) There shall be a rationale for the ratio of contact hours assigned to classroom and clinical learning experiences. The recommended ratio is three contact hours of clinical learning experiences for each contact hour of classroom instruction.
4. (d) The program of study should facilitate articulation among programs.

5. (e) The program of study shall include, but not be limited to the following areas:

   1. (1) non-nursing courses, clearly appropriate for collegiate study, offered in a supportive sequence.

   2. (2) nursing courses which include didactic and clinical learning experiences in the four content areas, medical-surgical, maternal/child health, pediatrics, and mental health nursing that teach students to use a systematic approach to clinical decision making and prepare students to safely practice professional nursing through the promotion, prevention, rehabilitation, maintenance, and restoration of the health of individuals of all ages.

      1. (A) Course content shall be appropriate to the role expectations of the graduate.
      2. (B) Professional values including ethics, safety, diversity, and confidentiality shall be addressed.
      3. (C) The Nursing Practice Act, Standards of Nursing Practice, Unprofessional Conduct Rules, Delegation Rules, and other laws and regulations which pertain to various practice settings shall be addressed.
   3. (3) Nursing courses shall prepare students to recognize and analyze health care needs, select and apply relevant knowledge and appropriate methods for meeting the heath care needs of individuals and families, and evaluate the effectiveness of the nursing care.
   4. (4) Baccalaureate and entry-level master's degree programs in nursing shall include learning activities in basic research and management/leadership, and didactic and clinical learning experiences in community health nursing.

6. (f) The learning experiences shall provide for progressive development of values, knowledge, judgment, and skills.

   1. (1) Didactic learning experiences shall be provided either prior to or concurrent with the related clinical learning experiences.
   2. (2) Clinical learning experiences shall be sufficient in quantity and quality to provide opportunities for students to achieve the stated outcomes.
   3. (3) Students shall have sufficient opportunities in simulated or clinical settings to develop manual technical skills, using contemporary technologies, essential for safe, effective nursing practice.
   4. (4) Learning opportunities shall assist students to develop communication and interpersonal relationship skills.
7. (g) Faculty shall develop and implement evaluation methods and tools to measure progression of students' cognitive, affective and psychomotor achievements in course/clinical objectives according to Board guidelines.

8. (h) Curriculum changes shall be developed by the faculty according to Board standards and shall include information outlined in the Board guidelines. The two types of curriculum changes are:

   1. (1) Minor curriculum changes not requiring prior Board staff approval, and may include:

      1. (A) editorial updates of philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes; or
      2. (B) redistribution of course content or course hours.

   2. (2) Major curriculum changes requiring Board staff approval prior to implementation, including:

      1. (A) changes in program philosophy/mission and objectives/outcomes which result in a reorganization or re-conceptualization of the entire curriculum, including but not limited to changing from a block to an integrated curriculum.
      2. (B) the addition of transition course(s), tracks/alternative programs of study, including MEEP, that provide educational mobility.
      3. (C) mobility programs desiring to establish a generic program are treated as a new program and the appropriate proposal should be developed.
9. (i) All programs implementing a curriculum change shall provide an evaluation of the outcomes of these changes and submit with the Annual Report through the first graduating class.
10. (j) Documentation of Governing Institution approval or Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval must be provided to the Board prior to implementation of changes, as appropriate.

11. (k) Nursing education programs that have full approval and are undergoing major curriculum changes shall submit an abbreviated proposal to the office for approval at least four (4) months prior to implementation. The abbreviated proposal shall contain at least the following:

    1. (1) new and old philosophy/mission, major concepts, program objectives/outcomes, course objectives/outcomes;
    2. (2) new and old curriculum plans;
    3. (3) clinical evaluation tools for each clinical course; and
    4. (4) additional information as requested in order to provide clarity for Board staff.
12. (l) Nursing education programs not having full approval but proposing a major curriculum change shall submit a full curriculum change proposal and meet the requirements as outlined in §215.9(h).

Source Note:The provisions of this §215.9 adopted to be effective January 9, 2005, 29 TexReg 12190.