Nursing

About the nursing major

Nursing majors study current trends in health care and focus on wellness/illness concepts and delivery of care in hospital and community-based settings. While nursing relies heavily on the social abilities of the person giving care, it also requires a large base of scientific knowledge. Nursing is a large occupational arena involving diverse and changing roles and includes areas of specialty in surgery, maternity, pediatrics, emergency room, intensive care, and more.

Skills and abilities that this major develops: critical thinking and problem solving, communication skills, teamwork, cultural competency, knowledge of human anatomy, and physiology.

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IU Indianapolis’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Quick facts

Sample coursework

  • Health assessment
  • Health care delivery systems
  • Human anatomy and physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Pathophysiology for nursing practice

Possible careers

  • Care coordinator
  • Emergency room
  • Home healthcare
  • Medical/surgical specialties
  • Nursing administrator*
  • Pediatrics

*This career requires additional education or training.

Where could I work?

  • Clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Insurance and health care companies
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Schools

Health and Life Sciences Cluster

This major belongs to the Health and Life Sciences (HLS) cluster.

Learn about the HLS cluster

Learn about other clusters

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