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Program Overview
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) completion program at the University at Albany is designed for licensed or license-eligible registered nurses who wish to advance their careers in healthcare. The program provides a solid foundation in areas of population health, including public health, epidemiology, and health policy and management.
Career Preparation
Through coursework and 90 hours of clinical learning experiences, students enhance their health assessment and evidence-based practice abilities while advancing their careers. The program prepares students to work in traditional healthcare settings and community-based organizations, with skills in informatics and technology, safety, and leadership.
Full-time and Part-time Options
The BS in Nursing completion program can be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis, providing a flexible pathway for working RNs.
Program Eligibility
To enter the BS in Nursing completion program, students must have an associate of science (AS) in nursing or associate of applied science (AAS) in nursing from an institution accredited by ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA. This program is not for first-year or transfer students without an AS or AAS in nursing.
Program of Study
The bachelor's in nursing is a 60-credit completion program. The program evaluates coursework earned in the nursing associate degree for maximum transfer credit. The plan of study is based on the remaining credits needed to complete the BS, including 39 Nursing major credits, electives, and any general education courses not fulfilled through the associate degree.
Core Courses
- Health Assessment and Health Promotion
- Quality and Safety in Nursing
- Informatics and Technology in Nursing
- Population Health
- Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice
- Management and Leadership in Nursing
- Professional Role of Nurses
- Statistics
- Introduction to Public Health
- Concepts of Epidemiology
- How U.S. Health Care Works: Myths and Realities
Research Opportunities
Students have the opportunity to participate in meaningful research and projects to enhance their academic knowledge. Faculty at the College of Integrated Health Sciences work on pressing public health topics, and research centers such as the Cancer Research Center and the Center for Health Workforce Studies are housed within the College.
Career Outcomes
Earning a BSN puts students on a path to advance their careers. Many healthcare settings are actively seeking BSN graduates, including in the public health field. The bachelor's coursework builds upon the foundation in nursing, providing students with the ability to apply public health knowledge and contribute to leadership in the healthcare field.
Admission Requirements
- An AS or AAS in Nursing from an institution accredited by ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better
- Nursing coursework grades of "C+" or better
- Required courses with grades of "C" or better:
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II
- Microbiology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Composition I
- Proof of a current, unencumbered license as a registered professional nurse in NY by the completion of the first semester
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University at Albany is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Student Learning Objectives
The BS Nursing program outcomes are derived from the AACN 2021 Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education.
- Use clinical reasoning to make decisions in nursing practice based on synthesis of knowledge from nursing and liberal arts and sciences.
- Provide person-centered care including family/important others across the health care continuum.
- Collaborate with the interprofessional teams and stakeholders to support and improve equitable population health outcomes across the health care delivery continuum.
- Integrate research and evidence-based practice into nursing practice to improve health and transform health care.
- Apply principles of quality and safety across the health care continuum.
- Communicate and collaborate with interprofessional teams and stakeholders to optimize health care outcomes of patients and populations.
- Apply leadership principles when responding to and leading health care systems.
- Advocate for the use of technology, informatics and innovation in the delivery of care across the health care continuum.
- Integrate values, ethics, accountability, policies and regulations to provide diverse, equitable and inclusive nursing care.
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal growth, professional knowledge and capacity for leadership.
