School of Nursing
School of Nursing

Undergraduate Academic Resources

Advising

The School of Nursing has a three-tier advising system comprised of an academic advisor (Academic Dean), a faculty advisor, and a peer advisor. Each member of the advising team serves a unique role in guiding students through degree completion and providing insights on the college experience. As the primary resource, please direct all questions or concerns to your Academic Dean.

Undergraduate nursing majors can schedule an advising meeting with Academic Dean Matthew G. Le Brasseur here.

The next four years will be met with much growth, all different and defining by each student. As you continue to discover the range of your academic interests, you may add or drop a minor or change your major. The choices are rich, varied, and may lead to complicated interactions in your program. Many of you will study abroad, undertake a research experience, or complete hours of applied learning experiences. As you explore your many options, you are encouraged to speak with your Academic Dean.

Four-Year Plan

The four-year plan is developed during the first year of study. This meeting is a one-on-one conversation between the student and their dean/advisor to discuss academic interests and goals, review degree requirements, and plot out a tentative plan for their time at Georgetown.

Advising Forms

Online Forms

Complete and submit these forms electronically.

Commencement

View information about the School of Nursing Commencement
View information about Georgetown University Commencement

Courses and Credits

AP and IB credit

Georgetown and the School of Nursing award credit for scores of 4 or 5 on some AP exams, and scores of 6 or 7 on some Higher Level IB exams. Policies vary by department, so students should inquire with their program for specifics. Please note that you are held to the policies listed for the academic year in which you matriculated at Georgetown.

Summer Courses Away

Students in the School of Nursing are permitted to transfer up to 12 credits (usually 4 courses) of  non-Georgetown summer school work total during their four years at Georgetown. In order to have their courses approved for transfer back to their Georgetown degrees, students must complete an Application for Non-Georgetown Summer School. The application can be found here.

Students may be interested in taking courses away from Georgetown during the summer for many reasons. Students must meet with their academic dean early on in your summer course planning stages to make sure that the type of courses s/he is considering will transfer back to Georgetown.

Please keep in mind that you should complete your Core at Georgetown, though we may approve some of those courses away from Georgetown in special circumstances. The same goes for major and minor requirements, although your major/minor department must be involved in approving of you taking any of those courses away from Georgetown. Non-Georgetown summer courses do not affect a student’s GPA, nor do grades appear on the transcript, but a grade of C or higher is required for the course to transfer.

Curriculum Plans

Your Academic Dean will assist you in planning your studies at Georgetown and help you navigate the curriculum and policies that impact degree progression. You can review degree progression plans here:

Degree Plan for B.S. in Nursing

Exams and Grading

Conflict Exams

During final exams, certain scheduling conflicts can be corrected through administrative measures. This category of “unacceptable” exam conflicts is very limited:

Contact your Advising Dean to discuss exam conflicts.

Failing a Class

When a student fails a single course in a given semester they will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. The grade of F is factored into the semester and cumulative GPA. If a student chooses to retake the course they failed, the new grade does not replace the failure, but the transcript will reflect that the student successfully completed the course in the given semester. If a student fails multiple classes or fails a class while on probation, the student may be suspended or dismissed from the University.

Final exams

Most classes at Georgetown culminate in a final assessment during the examination period. These take place after a period of designated study days following the end of classes each semester. While this assessment can take different forms (in-person test, take-home exam or final paper/project), they must be offered according to the Registrar’s schedule. Please check this schedule once your class schedule has been finalized so that you can plan your study time. Do not make travel plans until you have reviewed the examination schedule, as professors will not move examinations for student travel purposes.

Exam periods are challenging times. It is not uncommon nor unexpected for students to feel stress and strain. Managing stress is an important skill to learn and practice. Georgetown has measures to support you, including built-in study days at the end of the term in which all other academic and organized activity must cease, offices dedicated to coaching and counseling around anxiety. Please reach out to your Advising Dean if you are experiencing undue stress.

GPA

Georgetown uses a Quality Points Index (QPI), which is effectively a GPA weighted using the number of credits earned rather than simply classes taken. An A- in a four-credit class affects your average more than the same A- in a three-credit class. Though your Degree Audit calculates your major GPA, that figure is neither official nor public. The cumulative QPI is your only official grade average at Georgetown.

Intra-University Transfer

Following at least one full academic year of enrollment in the undergraduate school (College, SFS, MSB, SOH, or SON) to which they were admitted, students are eligible to apply to transfer to one of the other four undergraduate schools. Internal transfer applications are available through each school’s Dean’s Office and are due on the last day of classes in a given semester. To begin the process, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor in your current school to discuss the pros and cons of an internal transfer and to make sure you understand policies and procedures.

Minors

Students in the School of Nursing may minor in a number of subject areas at Georgetown, though a minor requires careful planning of undergraduate coursework. Minors available to students include those offered through the School of Health, and many within Georgetown College. A minor is not required.

Registration and Status Changes

Add/Drop

During the add/drop period, students log into GU Experience (prev. MyAccess) and make live, immediate changes to their course schedules. This is a normal part of college life: You attend your classes (and other classes for which you are not registered) and make changes to your schedule based on your interests, your experiences in the courses, and course availability. Once add/drop ends, you cannot register for additional classes for the semester. You can leave a class, but this is considered a withdrawal after the end of add/drop.

Leaves of Absence

Students may take a semester or a year off from their studies to work, intern, serve, or travel by taking a leave of absence. The request must come in writing to the student’s dean, and should describe the general plans and duration of the leave. When ready to return, the student simply writes the dean again, offering detail on the leave and requesting readmission. During the leave students may not earn academic credit at Georgetown or elsewhere.

In the case of a medical leave of absence, the Georgetown caregiver (CAPS, Student Health) must endorse the leave upon request, offer advice on the kinds of care one should pursue while away (usually in coordination with doctors or counselors at home), and support the return when reentry is sought.

Pass/Fail

Starting sophomore year, students can designate one free elective course per semester as pass/fail. Pass/fail courses count toward your graduation requirements, but they cannot be used to fulfill core, major, minor, or certificate requirements; they must be a free elective. Note that unlike a letter-grade course, you need a “C” or better to pass a pass/fail course. Whether you pass or fail one of these courses, the “grade” will not affect your GPA — but a fail has the same consequences as failing a letter-grade course. Pass/fail requests must be made during add/drop using GU Experience (prev. MyAccess).

Transcripts

The transcript is the official academic record which reflects all coursework attempted, grades and credits earned, and major and degree awarded. It will also reflect any academic honors based on semester GPA and cumulative GPA. Students needing official transcripts released from Georgetown will request them via the Registrar’s Office. Students may view and print unofficial transcripts from GU Experience (prev. MyAccess).

Withdrawing from a Course

If you need to remove yourself from a course after the add/drop period, you can withdraw from it. ‘W’ will appear on your transcript, but no indication of the date or of your performance to that point. To do so, in GU Experience (prev. MyAccess) select the “Withdraw from a Course” link. If the withdrawal will result in a part-time schedule (fewer than 12 credits), you will need special permission from your Academic Dean.

Commencement

Each May, Georgetown looks forward to celebrating its graduates together with their families during Commencement Weekend. Commencement Weekend represents both the culmination of years of hard work and personal development and the beginning of a new chapter in our students’ lives.