Loyola University Chicago

• Core Requirements (PDF)
• Curriculum Plan (PDF)

The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing’s undergraduate program educates and graduates competent and caring nursing professionals. The academic program teaches the skills required for nursing and helps students develop the abilities to think critically, to analyze complex situations, to make sound clinical decisions and to deliver safe nursing care.

The Clinical Simulation Learning Laboratory (CSLL) gives students the opportunity to learn basic clinical skills in a comfortable, non-threatening environment prior to entering patient care settings. Faculty and experienced laboratory instructors use state-of-the-art video and computer teaching tools to assist in developing nursing knowledge.

With the solid foundation of theory and clinical skills learned in the classroom and the CSLL, students complete eight clinical rotations in a variety of settings that include:

• Loyola University Health System, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Rush North Shore Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Health Network, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
• Selected long-term care facilities and senior centers
• School-based health centers such as Proviso East High School
• Psychiatric settings and other medical facilities

The last rotation, Clinical Role Transition, provides an intensive clinical experience with students assuming the role of a beginning nurse under the guidance of a professional mentor.

Opportunities for international studies and experiences are available during a student’s sophomore year in Rome and senior year in England and Belize.

For a more detailed description of the undergraduate nursing program, please refer to the following listings of course offerings and degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

Admission to Loyola University Chicago and the Niehoff School of Nursing is competitive and based on your academic transcript, class rank, ACT or SAT score, and a short essay. Students applying to the Niehoff School of Nursing must also have completed the following requirements in high school: one unit of chemistry, one unit of biology, two units of math (one in algebra and one in geometry), four units of English, one unit of social science and four units in other courses (computers or Spanish recommended). For more information, visit Undergraduate Admission.

Major Requirements

The requirements for a nursing major include 65 hours of nursing credit, 16 credit hours of biology courses and eight credit hours of chemistry. In addition to fulfilling major requirements to earn an undergraduate degree (128 hours), students complete Loyola’s Core Curriculum, which teaches them important skills and values, and develops their own interests by taking general electives.

Note: All junior level nursing courses must be completed before entering the senior year. 

* Pre-requisite or co-requisite to a clinical nursing course.

** In addition to the 128 semester hours of major requirements, students must complete Loyola's Core Curriculum. For more information, visit www.luc.edu/core.