Candidates for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences could soon be able to begin taking their nursing courses during their first semester as part of an amended BSN curriculum, the college announced. Taking required science courses concurrently with nursing courses will better enable BSN students to integrate key concepts and enhance their learning experience, officials said. The curriculum change will also increase laboratory hours and pharmacology content of the program. Once students are enrolled in the BSN program, they would have their first three semesters to reach a minimum grade-point average of 2.5 based on five key courses. The revised program, if approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing, will begin in the fall 2019 semester.