College of Nursing - College of Nursing | University of South Carolina

When you choose nursing at South Carolina, you learn from skilled educators, clinicians and researchers. When you choose nursing at South Carolina, you join a team of caring, devoted and innovative professionals. When you choose nursing at South Carolina, you choose to be a leader.

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The South Carolina Advantage

As a South Carolina nursing student, you’ll get hands-on patient care training in our state-of-the-art simulation lab and learn from an accomplished faculty who’ve led recent classes to 100% passage rates on the national board exam. But your campus experience will stretch far beyond the classroom. Join the university’s healthcare living/learning community, study abroad with a healthcare service team or hone your leadership skills in one of several nursing student organizations. See why nursing is one of the most popular — and competitive — majors on campus.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

With admission to the Smart Start Nursing Honors Program, you will have automatic admission into the College's Upper Division with dedicated nursing honors classes as early as your freshman year.

Smart Start Nursing Honors Program

This unique program is for non-nurse baccalaureate prepared individuals to enter the nursing profession as master’s degree graduates.

Master's Entry to Practice Nursing

The South Carolina Advantage

Take your critical thinking skills to the next level as a bachelor’s-prepared nurse. The 100% online didactic coursework format allows you to learn as you work and is paced for your success at home, at work and at school. Advance your career in as little as 12 months with a bachelor’s degree from a renowned nursing education leader that has prepared nursing professionals for more than 75 years.

RN to BSN Program

The South Carolina Advantage

Advance your career in your preferred practice specialty area with a nurse practitioner degree from one of the nation’s top-ranked online graduate nursing programs. The online format offers you the chance to earn while you learn and is paced for your success at home, at work and at school. On-site practicums and a handful of on-campus immersion sessions provide you with practical learning experience.

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Learn to provide direct patient management in acute and complex care settings.

Master of Science in Nursing degree program

Doctor of Nursing Practice program

Family Nurse Practitioner

Learn to provide primary health care across the patient’s lifespan.

Master of Science in Nursing degree program

Doctor of Nursing Practice program

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Learn to provide holistic mental health care across the patient’s lifespan.

Master of Science in Nursing degree program

Doctor of Nursing Practice program

The South Carolina Advantage

Join this in-demand healthcare field through graduate study in informatics from one of the nation’s top online nursing graduate programs. Earn your master’s degree as a full-time or part-time student or enhance your master’s degree with an informatics certificate.

Master’s degree nursing informatics program

Certificate of Graduate Studies in informatics

(open to students who have already earned an MSN degree)

The South Carolina Advantage

Invest in your leadership skills with a master’s degree, graduate certificate or doctoral degree from one of the nation’s top online nursing graduate programs. Learn from faculty who are at the forefront of nursing leadership development through the college’s Center for Nursing Leadership. Showcase your leadership development to your employer through your field study organizational leadership projects.

Master of Science in Nursing degree in Nursing Administration

Certificate of Graduate Studies in informatics

(open to students who have already earned an MSN degree)

Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Nurse Executive Leadership

(open to students who have already earned a BSN or MSN degree)

Graduate-prepared nurses and graduate nursing students may also apply for the college’s competitive Amy V. Cockcroft Leadership Fellowship.

The South Carolina Advantage

If you’ve earned your MSN but seek to gain additional expertise and qualifications in a new clinical specialty, enroll in a graduate certificate program from one of the nation’s top online nursing graduate programs. The convenient online format allows you to earn while you learn, and most students complete their program within four to six semesters.

At South Carolina, choose from three Advancing Practice Nursing clinical specialty areas

Primary care concentration. Become certified as a family nurse practitioner.

Acute care concentration. Become certified as an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner.

Mental health concentration. Become certified as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Certificate of Graduate Studies

The South Carolina Advantage

Prepare for your nursing research career through an individualized program of study guided by world-renowned faculty with a proven track record for grant funding. South Carolina’s Ph.D. program is designed to be financially and logistically accessible for you. Most students receive substantial financial support to cover the majority of their tuition and fees for the first two years of the program, and the executive-style weekend program format offers you flexibility to work while you advance your studies.

Entry tracks are available for BSN, MSN or DNP graduates or students who have earned a master’s degree in another field.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science

The South Carolina Advantage

For more than 75 years, South Carolina has been a front runner in nursing education. Guided by innovative, accomplished faculty, you’ll gain the confidence and skills to become a healthcare leader whether you’re just starting your career or seeking advanced clinical practice, research or leadership skills.

Learn more about our academic programs and compare your options.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The BSN degree program prepares you to enter the nursing profession or increase your RN skill set. Choose from two options:

full-time on-campus program »

RN to BSN online program »

Master of Science in Nursing

Expand the scope of your clinical practice in a specialty area or train for a career as a nurse leader or informaticist.

Entry to Practice Nursing (MEPN)

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) »

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) »

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) »

Nursing Administration »

Nursing Informatics »

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The DNP program prepares you to be an advanced practice nurse ready to assume clinical and leadership roles. Build on your master’s-level studies or start the program after you’ve earned a BSN.

BSN entry degree options

Nurse Executive Leadership

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

MSN entry degree options

Nurse Executive Leadership

Advanced practice (no concentration); open to students who hold a certificate in advanced practice nursing

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science

The Ph.D. program prepares you to be a nursing researcher with career options in academic, clinical or health system settings.

The South Carolina Advantage

Conduct research alongside some of the most prominent and accomplished nursing leaders in the country. Whether you are interested in a clinical or research position, you’ll find opportunities to collaborate with faculty from across the college and the university in a research-intensive environment that supports innovation and scholarship excellence. The College of Nursing seeks dynamic leaders to fill newly created faculty positions spurred by new initiatives and growing graduate student enrollment.

Learn more about working here and review our open positions >>

College of Nursing Success Stories

Going Strong

The BSN class of December 2019 is the fourth cohort in a row to receive a 100% NCLEX first-time pass rate. Congratulations to the newest members to the alumni family on their hard work and dedication.

Frontline Gamecocks

Alumni and students on the front lines – we see you, hear you, and thank you for your committed and passionate service to patients and families around the globe.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.