General Information and Requirements

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:

a discipline-based composition course a course in pluralism in the United States a global interdependence course a science laboratory course a mathematics/reasoning course an aesthetic perspective course a physical activity wellness course a humanities course a social science course an oral communications course

In addition, depending on the high school performance, students may need one semester of a foreign language, a specified introductory math course, and a United States history course.

Prerequisite Coursework that is required prior to starting core undergraduate nursing curriculum courses:

• two composition courses
• one descriptive statistics course
• eight science courses
  • introductory biology
  • two courses in human anatomy and physiology
  • two courses in general chemistry, including principles of inorganic, organic, and biochemistry
  • introductory psychology
  • developmental psychology
  • microbiology

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, computers in health care, and health problems of the aging.

For a complete description of the nursing courses, see Nursing Course Descriptions.

A Four Year Sample Curriculum Plan is available here.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must be graduates of accredited secondary schools or have an equivalent education. A high school grade average in the high 80s with strength in biology, chemistry and mathematics are major factors in admission. 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.

Application Procedures

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 Admission 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.

We wish the University to remain accessible to all who are offered admission, regardless of economic circumstances. Binghamton makes every reasonable effort to help candidates find the resources necessary to enroll in the University. This assistance, based on demonstrated financial need, supplements the resources of students and their families. Approximately 65% of our student body receive financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and/or employment.

Students apply for assistance by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), directing the processing agency to send information to Binghamton University, (SUNY), code number 002836. New York State residents will be sent the Express Tap Application (ETA) for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP code 0880). After the University receives the financial report from the processing agencies, students and/or their families may be required to submit additional documents to verify information. To be considered for assistance, applications must be postmarked by March 1 for the fall and November 15 for the spring semester.

For more information, see B.U. Financial Aid website.

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 May 1. Students may obtain applications directly from the Decker School.