University of Cincinnati

What you'll study

The BSN curriculum combines foundational sciences, core nursing theory and extensive supervised clinical practice. Early terms cover anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology and lifespan development, while nursing-specific courses introduce health assessment, fundamentals of nursing practice, clinical decision-making and evidence-based care.

Upper-year study moves into specialised streams. Students choose or are advised into content emphases such as:

• Clinical Nursing: advanced medical–surgical nursing, paediatrics, maternal–newborn, mental health nursing and critical care preparation, with progressive, high-fidelity simulation and practicum placements in acute and community settings.
• Nursing Administration: leadership and management in healthcare, healthcare systems and policy, quality improvement, staffing and finance, and strategic planning for nursing services.
• Nursing Research: research methods, biostatistics, evidence-based practice, quality and implementation science, and an independent or supervised research project or evidence review.

The programme concludes with a capstone clinical practicum that integrates clinical competency, interprofessional collaboration and leadership or research project work depending on the chosen emphasis. Throughout the degree students engage in simulation laboratory practice, community health experiences and reflective professional development.

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold a recognised secondary school qualification or equivalent. Required pre-requisite subjects typically include biology (with lab), chemistry and mathematics; courses such as human anatomy & physiology and developmental psychology are highly recommended. Selection is competitive and considers academic performance in prerequisite courses and overall grade point average.

Additional requirements for admission include demonstration of healthcare experience or exposure (volunteering, care roles or similar), evidence of current immunisations, basic life support (BLS) certification prior to clinical placements, and successful completion of any programme-specific assessments (for example, a nursing admissions test or situational judgement exercise) where required. Applicants must also be able to meet criminal background check and drug screening requirements set by clinical partners.

There are multiple entry pathways: a traditional four-year BSN for new undergraduates, an accelerated second-degree route for graduates of other disciplines, and an RN-to-BSN option for registered nurses seeking a baccalaureate qualification. Specific prerequisites and documentation vary by pathway.

Career prospects

Graduates are eligible to sit the national licensure examination to become Registered Nurses and enter clinical practice in hospitals, community health, primary care, mental health services and long-term care. With the Nursing Administration emphasis, graduates are prepared for charge nurse and first-line management roles and for career progression into nurse management, operations and quality roles.

The Nursing Research emphasis equips graduates to work in clinical research coordination, quality improvement teams or as research assistants in academic and industry-sponsored studies; it also provides a solid foundation for postgraduate study (Master of Science in Nursing, nurse practitioner programmes, or doctoral research degrees). Clinical Nursing graduates typically move into practice areas such as acute care specialties, emergency and critical care, paediatrics, obstetrics or community nursing.

Other career pathways include nurse educator roles, public health nursing, case management, healthcare policy, consultancy and positions in health informatics or clinical trials. Many graduates progress to graduate-level qualifications to specialise clinically or to move into advanced practice, leadership or academic careers.

Why study at University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati School of Nursing is embedded in a large academic medical environment and maintains long-standing clinical partnerships with local healthcare providers, offering diverse placement opportunities across tertiary hospitals, community clinics and specialised centres. Students benefit from access to modern simulation suites that recreate complex clinical scenarios and prepare them for real-world practice.

Faculty combine active clinical practice with research programmes in areas such as health systems, chronic disease management, patient safety and implementation science, allowing students to engage in research or quality-improvement projects. The university emphasises experiential learning, interprofessional education and community engagement, and provides advising and career services to support licensure preparation and graduate study progression.

Multiple delivery options and clear progression pathways (traditional, accelerated and RN-to-BSN) make the programme accessible to a wide range of candidates seeking clinical competence, leadership skills and research literacy in nursing.