The School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) is committed to academic excellence, the advancement of healthcare, and service to society. Opportunities are available for students to study and earn course credit in a variety of local and international settings.
Mission
The mission of the SONHS is to educate students and support faculty committed to excellence in nursing and health science. Through research, education and practice, the school will create and disseminate health knowledge and prepare culturally competent leaders to provide safe service to our community, the nation and the world.
Baccalaureate Degrees
The SONHS offers three baccalaureate degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)
Student Responsibilities
Students in the SONHS are responsible for fulfilling their degree requirements. Students are also responsible for complying with all provisions outlined in the Academic Bulletin and the Student Handbook.
Academic Bulletin and Student Handbook
In addition to the material listed in the Academic Bulletin, all SONHS students are held to the policies, procedures, and requirements listed in the most current Student Handbook for their respective degree program. Please note the material included in the Student Handbook is subject to change throughout the academic year and may not be reflected in the Academic Bulletin. The Student Handbook contains the most current information. Consult an academic advisor in the Office of Student Services (OSS) for questions related to academic requirements and opportunities.
Written Communication Skills
Effective writing skills advance ideas efficiently and persuasively, so the expectation is that students become adept at using writing as an effective communication tool. Students fulfill this requirement by satisfactorily completing WRS 105 together with WRS 106 , WRS 107 , or ENG 106 or the equivalent. Appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) scores in written communication skills may be used to satisfy this requirement. An appropriate score on the SAT or ACT examination may earn a student exemption from, but not credit for, WRS 105 WRS 105 WRS 105. Students who enter UM with credits for WRS 105 , WRS 106 , WRS 107 or ENG 106 may take WRS 208 in place of one of the required WRS courses.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills in relation to specific rhetorical tasks.
- Construct original, well-reasoned arguments using a range of materials.
- Integrate and synthesize appropriate and relevant primary and secondary sources in their writing.
EFFECTIVE FALL 2017, NEW STUDENTS WITHOUT PRIOR COLLEGE CREDIT IN WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS WILL BE PLACED AS FOLLOWS:
- WRS 103 ACT English score below 18 or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score below 430, or TOEFL iBT Writing score below 18.
- WRS 105 : ACT English score 18-31 or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score 430-690, or TOEFL iBT Writing score 18 or above.
- WRS 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 106 : ACT English score 32 or above or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score 700 or above
Written Communication Skills General Education Requirements must be completed prior to attaining junior year classification.
Accommodations Policy for Students with Disabilities
The SONHS adheres to standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any student needing special accommodations should seek assistance through the Office of Disability Services (ODS), which is the primary on-campus resource responsible for the coordination of services for students with disabilities. Students must follow ODS' policies, procedures, and timelines to request assistance. Please note ODS has strict deadlines to apply for accommodations; only students who are officially registered with ODS may be granted accommodations.
Financial Assistance
Students interested in obtaining financial assistance in the form of student loans, grants, etc. should contact the Office of Financial Assistance.
The SONHS also offers limited merit-based and need-based scholarships to continuing students. The types of scholarships available and the qualifications for them vary by semester. Continuing students who wish to be considered for the SONHS scholarships must apply for such scholarships through the SONHS General Scholarship Application. Calls for applications are e-mailed to continuing students once each semester to prompt students to apply who wish to be considered for a scholarship for the next term. Additional information on the SONHS scholarships as well as health science-, nursing-, and public health-related outside scholarships can be found on the SONHS Scholarships website.
Facilities
The SONHS is located on the Coral Gables Campus. The four-story, Jerusalem-stone and stucco M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing and Health Studies opened in Fall 2006. The building features classrooms and clinical practice labs, conference rooms, a computer lab, and a simulation academy, all equipped with the latest technology. The spacious 53,000 square foot facility supports the work of more than 40 nurse-scientists and clinical educators, as well as approximately 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the SONHS’ health science, nursing, and public health programs.
In Fall 2017, the SONHS opened the new, state-of-the-art, 41,000 square foot, 5 story Simulation Hospital. The Simulation Hospital is a one-of-a-kind facility, as it is one of the first education-dedicated simulation facilities located on a college campus. This new facility uses the latest simulation technology to provide SONHS students with the highest-quality healthcare education through a variety of simulated clinical environments. It also provides opportunities for public health-related simulation experiences and creates ample opportunities for inter-professional education (IPE).
Library resources for SONHS students are available at the Otto G. Richter Library on the Coral Gables Campus and the Louis Calder Memorial Library on the Medical Campus.
Clinical experiences are offered in a variety of hospitals and health-related agencies in the community, including the University of Miami Hospital, Jackson Health System, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, and approximately 170 other community partners.
The Foote Fellows Honors Program at the University of Miami (UM) recognizes the most educationally accomplished incoming students. Throughout high school, Foote Fellows distinguished themselves both in and out of the classroom as self-motivated, independent-thinking individuals dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. This program was built to reflect these ideals and to embody the educational vision of former University of Miami President, Edward T. Foote, who retired in 2000 after serving the University for twenty years.
Program Benefits and Opportunities
Foote Fellows in the School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) are exempt from the Areas of Proficiency (e.g., English and mathematics), Areas of Knowledge (i.e., cognates), and Advanced Writing and Communication requirements. These exemptions provide Foote Fellows with unmatched freedom and flexibility to explore a multitude of educational endeavors within the curricular framework of the SONHS. Many Foote Fellows leverage this opportunity to complete additional majors, minors, and/or cognates, study abroad, participate in research, etc.
SONHS Foote Fellows may be eligible to participate in various global initiatives, research experiences, civically-engaged or clinically-based courses, and academic lectures. They will be invited to join advanced, interdisciplinary Foote Fellow seminars taught by leading faculty members from across the University (e.g., "Books That Matter"). Furthermore, Foote Fellows receive focused advising by the Foote Fellow program coordinator on post-baccalaureate prestigious awards and fellowships. SONHS Foote Fellows should speak with the academic advisors located in the Office of Student Services (OSS) to learn more about their academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Admission Criteria
Admission to the SONHS Foote Fellows program is by invitation only. To be considered for this program, health science, nursing, and public health students must have a weighted high school GPA of 4.5 or higher and a SAT score of 1300 or higher (verbal and math) or an ACT score of 30 or higher. Students must also submit a portfolio consisting of (a) an essay on their desire to contribute to decreasing health disparities, including a description of at least one health disparity and a plan for addressing it, (b) a historical account of their community service, volunteer, and leadership experience, and (c) a discussion of their short-term and long-term goals.
Outcome Criteria
Foote Fellows in the SONHS will maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher. The GPA used to make this determination is the UM-specific GPA or the Combined GPA (i.e., UM-specific and Transfer GPA combined), whichever is lower. Foote Fellows must also create a capstone portfolio that includes examples of (a) how they have addressed a health disparity throughout their program of study and of (b) the community service, volunteer, and leadership experiences they have participated in throughout their time at the University of Miami.
