University of Colorado Colorado Springs Nursing School Review
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) is nestled in the mountains of Colorado and enrolls over 13,500 students each semester. UCCS offers 36 undergraduate degrees, 19 masters, and five doctoral degrees.
The Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has been training health care professionals for over 100 years.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Traditional
This is an entry level four year program for nursing students. Students must take the HESI Pre-Admission Entrance Exam to apply to the nursing program. The program requires a minimum of 126 credits of general education, science and nursing courses to graduate. Graduates of the program will earn a degree and be eligible to take the state Registered Nurse (RN) licensing exam (NCLEX-RN).
RN to BSN or DUAL Enrollment
The RN to BSN program is designed for RNs who wish to earn their BSN degree, and the DUAL Enrollment program is for students currently enrolled in an associate degree program in nursing. Courses are offered completely online. Students may obtain advanced placement in the program by transferring credit from previous studies or by challenging courses where they have knowledge of the subject. Placement in the BSN program will depend on how much credit is transferred or challenged.
Students need to have an active RN license to apply to the RN to BSN program.
This program is an intensive, 16 month course of study designed to train students who have a bachelor’s degree from another field to be RNs. Students will meet the same degree requirements as the traditional BSN program.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
The MSN program allows nurses to expand their education and take on roles in leadership, as well as apply theories and research to patient care. The MSN program offers all of its classes completely online.
Students may follow two areas of study, listed below. The core MSN program requires 21 to 23 credits, plus the credits required for the specialty areas, for minimum of 38 to 47 graduate level credits. Students must also maintain a B grade in all nursing courses, and complete their program within six years of starting.
MSN Nurse Practitioner (NP) Option
This online degree program allows students to focus in either Adult/Gero NP or a Family NP. Adult/Gero NP will require an additional 26 credits and 630 hours of practicum, while the Family NP requires 25 credits and 630 hours of practicum.
MSN Nurse Education Option
This online degree program trains graduates to teach nursing in bachelor’s and associate degree level programs and clinical settings. Students must complete 17 credits of Nurse Education graduate courses, plus 225 hours of practicum.
Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)
The DNP is an online program that prepares nurses to be leaders in nursing practice. This program builds on what the student learned in their MSN program.
Taken full time, this is a two year plan, or three years if taken part time. The program takes 35 credit hours to complete. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better, and will be required to complete and defend a Capstone research project.
The following certificate programs in nursing are available at UCCS. These programs are all offered 100% online.
- Forensic Nursing – Students interested in the undergraduate, graduate, or post-master’s certificate must register through the Extended Studies Department. This certificate takes 12 credit hours to complete.
- Nursing Education – This is available as a graduate or post-master’s certificate, and requires 12 credit hours to complete.
- Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner – This program requires 32 credit hours of classes and is awarded as a post-master’s certificate.
- Family Nurse Practitioner – Also a post-master’s certificate program, this program requires 31 credit hours to complete.
This program is designed for inactive or active RNs who want to update their skills. This course is two months long and is approved as 220 contact hours of continuing education.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
This six day, 64 classroom hour course trains RNs to provide care to victims of sexual assault. In addition to classroom time, student will complete 90 hours of clinical rotation and a judicial component that involves observing criminal trials and expert testimony.
To qualify to take this program, nurses need to have a minimum of 3 years of experience in direct patient care in women’s health, emergency nursing, acute care, or pediatrics.
University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918