Major
	Nursing (BSN) from the College of Nursing
Four-year Graduation Plan
	Yes (for early decision students only)
Honors
	Yes
Competitive Admission
	128 students per year
Links
	Web Site Courses General Catalog

Note: Refer to the College of Nursing's web site for information about the RN/BSN program.

• Why Study Nursing at Iowa?
• Faculty and Students
• Admission
• Course Work
• For More Details
• Student Organizations
• Study Abroad
• Facilities
• Careers
• Scholarships

Why Study Nursing at Iowa?
Iowa’s College of Nursing is one of the premier institutions in the country for nursing education. It has a national reputation for excellence, and its graduate programs consistently win high marks in U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The college’s innovative undergraduate program combines in-depth learning with extensive patient contact. Its location on the University of Iowa health sciences campus puts it in close proximity to the educational and clinical resources required for educating nurses.

The college offers two bachelor's degree programs: the prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for entering first-year nursing students and the RN/BSN for registered nurses who want to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing.

All of the college's degree programs are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing. When you graduate, you’ll qualify to take the licensure examination required for practice as a registered nurse.

Faculty and Students
The College of Nursing faculty includes internationally recognized researchers who study the effectiveness of nursing interventions and outcomes. The college is well known for its research in geriatrics, clinical studies of skin integrity and pain management, health of school-age children, genetics, and informatics.

The inclusion of nurse historians and anthropologists on the faculty attests to the importance of the humanities in preparing nurses for the future.

Nursing students tend to be industrious, focused, altruistic, and dedicated people who enjoy contact with patients. In the college’s learner-centered environment, you’ll be treated as a junior colleague, coached and encouraged by both academic and clinical faculty as you prepare to enter the nursing profession.

Admission
Admission to the College of Nursing is competitive. The college admits 64 students in the fall and 64 in the spring. Meeting the Admission Requirements does not guarantee that you will be admitted. Entering students typically have a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.50.

Course Work
Nurses need a broad background of knowledge to succeed in their field, so as a first-year nursing student at Iowa, you’ll take courses in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Most students initially enroll in CLAS, then apply to the College of Nursing during the semester in which they are completing the college-level prerequisites for nursing.

As an undergraduate nursing student, you may do research by signing up for independent study or taking part in the Young Scientist Program, which provides yearlong mentored research experiences. You’ll complete approximately 800 hours of clinical experience throughout the curriculum, learning about professional practice areas that might be right for you.

You might decide to earn a second major or complete one of the University’s many certificate programs. Other learning opportunities include independent study, participation in the University of Iowa Honors Program, and cross-cultural nursing experience through study abroad.

For More Details
See College of Nursing in the UI General Catalog to learn more about the BSN and RN/BSN degrees, including admission requirements and the early decision program, and the college's graduate programs.

Student Organizations
As a College of Nursing student, you’ll be eligible for membership in a variety of nursing organizations. Sigma Theta Tau International, a nursing honor society, has a chapter on campus. The University of Iowa Association of Nursing Students, the undergraduate student professional organization of the college, meets bimonthly and offers nursing students the opportunity to develop leadership, management, and professional skills. The Minority Student Nurse Association meets regularly for social interaction, community service projects, and talks by speakers with varied health care interests and backgrounds. University of Iowa Men in Nursing welcomes all students in the college.

Study Abroad
The college offers study abroad programs in India and St. Lucia. Studying abroad gives you a chance to experience another culture and gain insight into how beliefs and values can influence health care choices in other parts of the world.

Facilities
The College of Nursing is an integral part of the University of Iowa health sciences campus, sharing in and contributing to teaching, research, and patient care that have earned international recognition. Faculty and students participate fully in University life and contribute their time, interests, and abilities to the many activities of a major research university.

In partnership with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the college operates the new, state-of-the-art Nursing Clinical Education Center, which features clinical labs where students practice sophisticated and complex nursing care in specialty and clinical situations. Nursing education also provides a wide range of clinical instruction at clinical agencies in 50 Iowa counties.

Careers
Iowa’s BSN program provides broad preparation in clinical, scientific, community health, and patient education skills and promises outstanding career options. With a BSN degree, you’ll be eligible to work as a staff nurse; flight nurse; a nurse on oncology, medical, surgical, pediatric, emergency, or intensive care wards; a nurse in outpatient or neighborhood clinics; or a home health care nurse.

Education at the master’s degree level prepares graduates for many roles, including advanced practice and nurse management, as well as for doctoral study. Doctoral education prepares nurse scientists to conduct research relevant to nursing practice and health care delivery.

One hundred percent of Iowa nursing students have jobs within six months of graduation.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for registered nurses will grow faster than most other occupations through 2016. The median annual salary for registered nurses was $62,627 in 2010. Nurses with graduate degrees command higher salaries.

Scholarships
The College of Nursing offers numerous scholarships to students who have been admitted to the college. For example, Rhodes Dunlap Honors Program Scholarships for $2,000 go to honors students in nursing, based on professional promise, academic achievement, and involvement with service activities.

Another scholarship, the Eva Erickson Fellowship Fund, is a $1,500 award for junior or senior nursing students with a GPA of at least 3.00 who demonstrate potential for graduate study and interest in nursing service administration.

Visit the College of Nursing web site for a complete list of nursing scholarships. Some scholarships require application before October 1, others before March 1.

Consult multiple sources for scholarship information, including the Office of Admissions, the Office of Student Financial Aid, and departmental web sites.