Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Why study nursing at Northeastern?
Our Nursing program assembles foundational practices, clinical experiences, and hands-on simulations to prepare students for a successful patient care career. Our local educators and mentors come from some of the country’s finest teaching hospitals such as Boston Children’s, Mass General, Tufts Medical, and Brigham and Women’s.
Our world-renowned co-op program offers collaborative learning opportunities that prepare students to apply themselves as nurses in the 21st century.
Overview
Contact Information
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
120 Behrakis Health Science Center
617-373-3320
[email protected]
Curriculum
The undergraduate nursing curriculum provides the knowledge, skills, and professional values you will need for successful practice as a nurse in the new century. The curriculum draws on basic and behavioral sciences, the arts and humanities, and the art and science of nursing to help you understand the complexities of health and illness across the life span.
Your introduction to nursing courses begins in your sophomore year. The skills and procedures you learn in the nursing courses prepare you for the clinical courses to come. You will build confidence as you put your nursing skills into practice caring for patients during academic and co-op experiences.
Options for Nurses Seeking Additional Degrees
Many of our nursing specializations are offered at the advanced level for registered nurses who wish to combine a BSN with the MS, PhD, or DNP degree.
Options for Non-Nurses with Undergraduate Degrees
For students already possessing a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing, we have two different program options: the Direct Entry Nursing program and the Accelerated BSN program.
The Direct Entry Nursing program offers the opportunity to become a masters-prepared nurse in the specialization of your choice. Sixteen months of nursing-specific classes (including practica) prepare students to sit for the national licensing examination (NCLEX). After passing the NCLEX and working as a registered nurse for six to nine months in a full-time cooperative experience, students continue in the masters’ program.
The Accelerated BSN program allows undergrads with a non-nursing background the opportunity to fast-track into the nursing field.
Our world-renowned co-op program offers collaborative learning opportunities that prepare students to apply themselves as nurses in the 21st century.
The prelicensure programs at Northeastern University School of Nursing Boston campus are approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Sample Curriculum
Four-Year Track, 2 (6-Month) Co-op Option
Sample curriculum, subject to change.
Also 5-year, 3 co-op option available.
Year 1
Fall (Sep-Dec)
- Integrated Anatomy & Physiology 1 + Lab
- General Chemistry + Lab/Recitation
- Mathematical Thinking or Calculus
- Nutrition
- College: An Introduction
Spring (Jan-Apr)
- Integrated Anatomy & Physiology 2 + Lab
- Basic Microbiology + Lab
- First-Year Writing
- Foundations of Psychology
Summer (May-Jun)
- Elective
- Elective
Summer (Jul-Aug)
- Vacation
Year 2
Fall (Sep-Dec)
- Professional Development for Coop
- Health & Illness: Nursing Perspective
- Health Assessment & Fundamental Nursing Skills
- Int. Pathophysiology & Pharm Interventions
- Elective
Spring (Jan-Apr)
- Co-op
Summer (May-Jun)
- Co-op
Summer (Jul-Aug)
- Nursing Women & Families
- Clinical Developmental Psychology
Year 3
Fall (Sep-Dec)
- Nursing Care of Adults 1 + Clinical
- Adv Intervention & Assessment + Lab
- Promotion of Mental Health + Clinical
- Statistics for Health Science
- Elective
Spring (Jan-Apr)
- Co-op
Summer (May-Jun)
- Co-op
Summer (Jul-Aug)
- Intro to Research Methods and Applications
- Elective
Year 4
Fall (Sep-Dec)
- Nursing Care of Adults 2 + Clinical
- Nursing Care of the Child + Clinical
- Introduction to Sociology
Spring (Jan-Apr)
- Managing & Leading in Healthcare
- Comprehensive Nursing Practicum/Clinical
- Public Health Nursing + Clinical
- Advanced Writing in the Health Professions
Admissions Requirements for Transfer Students
Transfer students are required to have earned a minimum of 12 semester hours of transferable credits appropriate to the curriculum.
To be accepted into the program, transfer students must also have an overall QPA of 3.0 and have successfully completed the following courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II (with lab)
- Chemistry I (with lab)
- English I
- College Algebra and Psychology
Microbiology is recommended. Additional non-nursing courses applicable to the curriculum may be transferred into the school.
Experiential Learning
The School of Nursing has over 40 years’ experience providing cooperative education for nursing students.
Beginning in your second year, you will alternate semesters of academic study and semesters of paid employment.
You may work in some of the best teaching medical centers in the nation as well as in community hospitals, visiting nurse associations, and neighborhood health centers.
Through the Honors Program, undergraduate students interested in research can work directly with a faculty member. Graduate students can work as research assistants and complete required course assignments through participation in research studies.
Learn more about experiential learning and co-op at Northeastern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the undergraduate nursing program?
Students have the option to select either:
- 4 year program with 2 six-month co-ops
- or the 5 year program with 3 six-month co-ops
Do students take the same courses in the 4 and 5 year programs?
Yes, all nursing students take the same courses, regardless of which option they select. Students who complete the 4 year option may need to either use advanced placement credit or take courses on co-op to complete credit requirements for some electives.
When do students decide which program they’ll follow?
Students have until September 1st of the third year of study to make the decision regarding whether they will graduate in 4 or 5 years. Students also have the option to make that decision earlier in the program, if they would prefer.
How long are the co-op periods?
The co-op periods are 6 months in length. Spring/Summer I co-op schedule is from January to June and the Summer II/Fall co-op schedule is from July to December. This is the same co-op schedule that most undergraduate programs in the university follow.
Are nursing students able to gain international experience?
Yes, nursing students have access to international co-op opportunities and Dialogues of Civilization programs, just like all students in the university.
Can students live in Northeastern housing during co-op?
If the student lives in a residence hall and accepts a local position, then he or she may continue living in the residence hall. If the student accepts a position outside the Boston area, the housing deposit can be transferred to another semester.
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