Today's complex health care system requires the very best preparation for the professional practice of nursing. Education for nurses includes not only the best technical skills, but also skills in understanding patient needs at all levels. The Decker School of Nursing student receives this preparation in a four-year program firmly grounded in the liberal arts and sciences. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing examination (NCLEX-RN) to become registered professional nurses. Decker School of Nursing graduates continue to pass this exam well above the state and national average.
The curriculum for the bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing consists of 128 credit hours of study comprised of 52 credits of nursing courses, and 76 credits of general education courses, prerequisite requirements, and electives.
The academic experience of every nursing student includes the following General Education requirements which provide students with the opportunity to investigate a variety of subjects at Binghamton University and broaden their horizons by taking a wide range of classes.
The General Education requirements include:
In addition, depending on the high school performance, students may need one semester of a foreign language, and a United States history course.
Prerequisite coursework** that is required prior to starting upper division Decker School of Nursing undergraduate curriculum nursing courses:
*Introductory biology is waived for students who take microbiology and anatomy and physiology at another college.
**All courses must be taken for at least three credits. It is expected that anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, and physiology include a laboratory component.
Students begin the nursing major in the junior year. Most of the nursing courses have a clinical component, which provide students with the opportunity to apply theory to practice. Students care for patients in all age groups in hospitals, community health facilities, and long term care institutions from in and around the greater Binghamton area to Syracuse and Elmira. In the final semester of the senior year, students transition to practice as professional nurses through immersion in clinical experiences in practice settings in area hospitals and health organizations.
Students also choose from a number of two-credit nursing electives which enable them to study areas of particular interest within health care, such as holistic health, play and the hospitalized child, professional ethics, nutrition, sociocultural aspects of health care, computer applications in nursing health care, and health problems of the aging.
For a complete description of the nursing courses, see the University Bulletin.
View a sample four-year curriculum plan by clicking here.
Applicants must be graduates of accredited secondary schools or have an equivalent education. Admission is competitive and high school students must demonstrate strength in biology, chemistry and mathematics. In addition, candidates must submit test scores from either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT). For more information, see Binghamton University Admissions.
Applications for freshman admission should be made during the fall of the senior year. High school students in New York State may obtain applications from their guidance counselors. Out-of-state residents should request an application directly from the Undergraduate Admissions Office. All applications are available on-line through the Binghamton University Admissions page.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions staff host group information sessions and student-guided tours of the campus on most weekdays and selected Saturdays during the academic year. We encourage you to visit when classes are in session. Please call at least two weeks in advance for an appointment.
For information on financial aid, please see Binghamton University's Financial Aid web site.
Currently enrolled nursing students may be eligible for special aid programs including loans and local grants. The Decker School of Nursing offers a limited number of scholarships with specific eligibility criteria, including merit and/or residency requirements. The application deadline for these scholarships is March 1. Admitted students may obtain applications directly from the Decker School.
For more information about standard tuition and fees, see Binghamton University's Student Account Homepage.
Click here to see costs associated with program enrollment that students incur beyond University tuition and fees. NOTE: The figures itemized on the attached are estimated costs and are typically less than portrayed based on variations in the students' actual cost to purchase insurance coverage, textbooks, medical supplies, their distance traveled to clinical sites, etc.
