If you have a caring nature, enjoy working with people, and are an adaptable, quick thinker, nursing might be the field for you.

A four-year bachelor’s degree has become the desired academic credential for nurses—and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing will help you enjoy higher pay scales and greater career opportunities.

Why Penn State Behrend?

Nursing is both an art and a science—and is best learned at the side of experienced practitioners. With the B.S.N. from Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, delivered at Penn State Behrend, you’ll have that one-on-one connection to faculty members and you’ll learn in state-of-the-art simulation center and lab—giving you the preparation you need to provide nursing care in a variety of health-care settings.

Plus, Behrend offers two options for your nursing studies:

Nursing Program
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What Will I Study in Nursing?

Hands-on learning is a hallmark of a Behrend education, and the B.S.N. program exemplifies this. Your Nursing studies will include clinical education at major Erie hospitals, in departments as varied as intensive care, trauma, labor and delivery, pediatrics, and surgical.

To see the full Nursing curriculum, see the Undergraduate Bulletin.

 

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Who Hires Nursing Majors?

Our graduates are working in all departments in major hospitals, both in Erie and around the country, as well as schools, rehab centers, and private practice.

The B.S.N. also is the foundation for advanced practice positions, like nurse practitioner or nurse midwife, and other advanced nursing roles, like educator or researcher.

 

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More to Love

Evidence of Penn State Behrend’s commitment to student success: Our nursing students’ passing rate for the NCLEX, the national examination for licensure as a Registered Nurse, is consistently well above the national average.

 

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An Option to Fit Your Experience

Four-Year B.S.N. Degree 

If you have never completed a nursing program and don't already have a bachelor's degree, this traditional four-year program is for you. This includes high school students, adult learners with no prior college experience, or students with less than 18 credits from a different institution.

In your studies, you'll build a foundation in liberal arts and science courses, including anatomy, microbiology, psychology, and nutrition, in addition to nursing courses designed to deepen your mastery of the field. 

Second Degree B.S.N. 

If you already have a bachelor's degree in a different field, this intensive, accelerated program is the path for you. The 16-month, cohort-based program runs in four full-time consecutive semesters, including summers, starting each fall.

Students in the program are expected to have already completed prerequisite coursework in certain areas. The academically rigorous, 60-credit program focuses on in-depth nursing courses and clinical experiences.

Admission to the Second Degree B.S.N. is very competitive, and Behrend is one of only three locations in the Penn State system that offer this program. Applications are accepted from August 1 to December 1 each fall for admission the next year. To learn more, attend a virtual info session on the Second Degree B.S.N. option.

Request info about the B.S.N. at Behrend

Accreditation for Nursing

The Penn State Behrend nursing program is offered through the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is one of the largest educators of pre-licensure students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students on 13 campuses. The college is positioned to lead the next generation of nurses and nurse scientists while enhancing the health of all people through quality care and education.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at The Pennsylvania State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001; 202-887-6791.

 

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.