University of Chicago

What you'll study

The programme combines core nursing science and practice with options to focus on clinical nursing, nursing administration or nursing research. Teaching blends classroom instruction, laboratory and simulation sessions, and supervised clinical placements across partner hospitals and community settings, emphasising evidence-based practice, patient safety and interprofessional collaboration.

Core topics and modules

• Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Nursing Assessment and Clinical Skills
• Adult, Maternal–Child, Paediatric and Mental Health Nursing
• Community and Public Health Nursing
• Research Methods and Statistics for Health Sciences
• Evidence-based Practice and Nursing Ethics
• Health Policy, Systems and Quality Improvement
• Leadership, Management and Organisational Behaviour in Nursing
• Capstone project or honours thesis integrating practice and research

Structure and clinical training

• Progressive clinical placements across hospitals, outpatient clinics and community organisations, supervised by university faculty and clinical preceptors.
• High-fidelity simulation and clinical skills laboratories to build assessment, technical and decision-making skills before and alongside placements.
• Elective pathways or concentrations to develop deeper expertise in Nursing Administration (leadership, resource management, policy), Nursing Research (research design, data analysis, clinical trials) or Clinical Nursing (specialist practice areas such as acute care, critical care, or community health).
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary study with departments such as public policy, social sciences, and biological sciences, and for involvement in faculty-led research projects.

Entry requirements

Admission is selective and based on a combination of academic achievement, relevant preparation and evidence of commitment to healthcare. Applicants should have a strong foundation in the sciences and numeracy from secondary education or equivalent, and meet the university’s standard undergraduate admission requirements.

• Prerequisite subjects typically include biology and chemistry; mathematics or statistics is strongly recommended.
• Applicants are expected to demonstrate relevant experience or exposure to healthcare through volunteering, paid work or shadowing.
• Selection elements commonly include academic transcripts, a personal statement, references or recommendation letters, and where used, an interview process.
• Successful applicants must satisfy professional and regulatory requirements prior to clinical placements, which may include immunisation, health screening, background checks and basic life support (CPR) certification.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to register and practise as professional nurses and may enter a wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles. The programme equips students for both frontline patient care and roles that influence service delivery, policy and research.

• Clinical roles: Staff Registered Nurse, specialist clinical practitioner, critical care nurse, community health nurse.
• Leadership and management: Nurse manager, ward leader, service improvement lead.
• Research and education: Clinical research coordinator, research assistant, nurse educator; progression to postgraduate study (Master’s, clinical MSc, Nurse Practitioner programmes, PhD) is a common route for research or advanced clinical practice.
• Policy and public health: Roles in health commissioning, policy analysis, and public health programme delivery.

Why study at University of Chicago

The University of Chicago provides a research-intensive environment with strong interdisciplinary links that enhance nursing education — connecting clinical practice with public policy, social sciences and biomedical research. Students benefit from partnerships with leading clinical providers, experiential learning in diverse care settings, and access to simulation facilities and active faculty research programmes.

• Research-led teaching that emphasises critical thinking and evidence-based care.
• Clinical partnerships offering diverse placement opportunities across tertiary hospitals and community services.
• Opportunities to undertake original research projects and to collaborate with experts across disciplines.
• Focused professional preparation for registration and for leadership, research or advanced clinical study.