Pathway to Nursing

Students interested in pursuing a career in Nursing can begin their studies at UMBC by following our Pre-Nursing curriculum, which consists of two years worth of pre-requisites (˜64 credits), followed by two years in a nursing program at another institution. As another option, students can decide to stay at UMBC to complete a degree in something other than nursing while also fulfilling pre-requisites for Pre-Nursing. Students will then be eligible to complete a second degree in nursing from another institution.

UMBC/UMSON Partnership

For incoming freshmen who are interested in nursing, UMBC is proud to offer a collaborative partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), a premiere school of Nursing in the country. Eligible students must indicate their intended program of study as Pre-Nursing prior to matriculation at UMBC. As part of this collaboration, each year UMBC secures thirty seats in the UMSON class (both at the Baltimore and Shady Grove campuses), offered to those who have met certain academic requirements. Please contact Ms. Kelly Simer, Pre-Nursing Advisor at 410-455-2729 or kellysimer@umbc.edu for more information.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Pathway

• Complete the necessary pre-requisites for all schools in which you are applying (˜2 years)
• Apply to accredited BSN programs
• Complete BSN degree (2 years)
• Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) licensure exams administered by the National Council of State Board of Nursing
• Begin practicing as a licensed Registered Nurse (RN)

Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)/
Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Pathway

• Complete a Bachelor of Science (BS)/Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at UMBC while also completing the necessary pre-requisites for all schools in which you are applying (˜4 years)
• Apply to accredited BSN (both accelerated and traditional) and CNL programs (the CNL program is only for students who will have completed a degree at UMBC first and is offered at an accelerated pace)
• Complete BSN/CNL degree (16 months-2years)
• Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) licensure exams administered by the National Council of State Board of Nursing
• Begin practicing as a licensed Registered Nurse (RN)

Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wages of registered nurses were $62,450 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $51,640 and $76,570.
(Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited May 23, 2013).