Easiest and Toughest Classes In UT Arlington RN-BSN Program

robin0730 · Dec 5, 2013

How is it going in your program? I just started last month and I would like advice on what classes I can take at the same time. Did you ever take 2 at a time? If so, which ones? Thank you! Robin :)

robin0730 · Dec 5, 2013

You mentioned you doubled up throughout the program. Were you working full time? Did you complete the program? . . .

Jules0612 · Dec 13, 2013

My official first post! I am currently enrolled at UTA and just finished HIST 1312, it was a lot of work! My next class is Art and POLS 1312. Can anyone tell me how involved TX government will be? After reading some of the previous comments it sounds like it is similar to HIST 1312? Any comments about Art?

lorren2002 · Dec 16, 2013

Hi Jules0612,

When you say that Hist 1312 was a lot of work, what was the most time consuming or difficult part? Was it papers, exams, discussion questions? I just completed Texas government. I didn't think it was too bad. I had about 5 discussion questions, 5 exams, one power point presentation, and 1 research paper. Most of the exam questions were from the lectures and few questions were from the textbook.

Jules0612 · Dec 19, 2013

Hi Lorren2002,

Thanks for the info on Texas government. Hist 1312 requires a lot of time, it is not difficult material, just a lot of it. There are four units, each divided over 2 weeks. Each unit has the same four assignments. The first assignment is an individual writing assignment which consists of a 2-3 page essay. The second assignment of each unit is writing a paragraph and posting it to the discussion board. The third assignment is participating in another discussion board. The last assignment of each unit is another short essay. During the last two units you must use Turabian citation style and the "rule of 3" thesis rule (3 pieces of evidence to support your thesis). There are 2 tests, 45 points each. The questions are pulled from a larger database, so no 2 tests are alike. Your grade is based 75% on the writing exercises and 25% on the tests. Each unit you will read about 30 pages from the textbook and two chapters in another book called Clashes of Will. You are also assigned to read the novel The Jungle by Upton Sinclair during Unit 2. The lectures are videos online. There are also various primary documents to read for each unit that are found online. You will also have assigned videos to watch that range from a couple of minutes to over an hour. Overall, just a lot of information to cover. Once I got the hang of the flow of the assignments it went pretty smoothly. So far it is the most time I have spent on a class.

1girlee · Jan 8, 2014

Thanks for the Texas History info., I am glad I decided to just wait and take this class after I am done with the core nursing classes. I don't want to be bothered with all the busy work of that class, I just want to focus on finally getting done with the cores. Last year after 2 classes I decided to take a break for the summer. Well now it's a year later and I need to get motivated and just finish what I started to get the BSN. It's not hard, it just takes on average 10 -12 hours a week to complete all the assignments, tests, reading ect... I usually use my sleep time to do the class, because I am terribly busy otherwise with family when I am home.

I need to figure out a time schedule to finally finish the last 7 nursing classes and govt.

For anyone trying to decide on RN-BSN: online is the way to go, UTA is reasonable priced, and there are only 10 core classes, consisting of 5 week long classes, except the 1st and the last class are longer than 5 weeks....I think 12 or 15 weeks...I can't remember since it was a year ago that I took the 1st class. But really I am so glad there are NO clinicals!

susie2864 · Jan 15, 2014

Research should be taken alone. Very, very hard class.

Hollydawg · Mar 8, 2014

Sure would appreciate some support/feedback. I have applied to Texas- Arlington - but have just had them review my transcript and it was a huge let down. I have a BBA that I finished in 1987, and an ASN that I finished in '94. About the only thing that was accepted was the beginning 2 English classes, Algebra, Statistics, one Psychology and one Sociology. They DID NOT accept my 2 A&P's and Micro. I know it has been years (the A&P and Micro were in 1994). I also thought my 3 humanities would work for the 3 upper level English classes (the course descriptions were very similar to my classes). Anyway, I cannot believe after having the education I have and 20 years of nursing I feel like I am having to remediate by repeating so many prerequisites. (am I whining???) Ok, seriously I am 53 years old. I just am trying to figure out if the last 15ish years of my career is worth this. Though one hospital (Magnet status) pretty much will only hire BSN's, I wouldn't say I was out of the market. My job is secure. Mostly all the BSN will do is open a few more doors in the way of other positions (though I am NOT interested in management). Anyone want to try to make the old nurse feel better?

MikeH2013 · Mar 16, 2014

The coach is very nit-picky taking off big points for minor things. Like not stating the patient has 10 fingers. Anyway...
Do you mind ranking the classes that you've taken from easiest to hardest?

So Far...

1. Nursing Elective - 3309 Med Terminology (cakewalk to an A)

2. Health Promotion (Easy A)

3. RN-BSN Professional Nursing (Bit of work, but if you're a halfway decent writer, not too hard)

4. forgetting something here... list is off the top of my head.

5. Holistic Care of the Older Adult (Time consuming)

6. Holistic Health Assessment (A Nightmare on UTA Street... nine, ten, never sleep again)

7. Nursing Research (7th Circle of Hell as M. Brickle eloquently put it)

3 more to go to graduation. Don't know about Capstone, Leadership, or Vulnerable Populations. Heard Leadership is a bit heavy on the time side, but not that hard.

MikeH2013 · Mar 16, 2014

My official first post! I am currently enrolled at UTA and just finished HIST 1312, it was a lot of work! My next class is Art and POLS 1312. Can anyone tell me how involved TX government will be? After reading some of the previous comments it sounds like it is similar to HIST 1312? Any comments about Art?

Texas Government isn't so much about the depth and breadth of the course, it will be fighting slipping into a coma from boredom that will be your greatest challenge.

wrwtex · Mar 19, 2014

How was Brit Literature? I was thinking about doubling it up with POLS 2312 (Texas Gov). I was also considering American Literature. I just want to be done. I'm done with all my nursing classes except for the Capstone of course. I'm so ready to be done. Also, was you lit class a 5 week class? I'm not sure if I only registered for half the class or what. Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks

LakeEmerald · Mar 20, 2014

Mike H - to finish your list: Capstone and Leadership are fine. Vulnerable is a major pain - very writing and research intensive. Hours and hours of writing. BTW, unless you are a whiz, college algebra is a killer, esp over 8 weeks. Unless you have lots and lots of time on your hands, take it alone. There are 15 week and 11 week algebras, too.