College of St. Scholastica

What you'll study

Students study a sequence of sciences and nursing courses that progress from foundational knowledge to complex clinical practice. Typical topic areas include:

• Foundational sciences — human anatomy and physiology, microbiology and basic pharmacology that underpin nursing care.
• Nursing theory and practice — assessment, care planning, clinical decision-making, and skills labs for procedures and patient safety.
• Clinical rotations — supervised experiential placements across acute care, medical–surgical, maternal–child, pediatric, mental health and community settings to apply skills with real patients.
• Population and public health — community health, health promotion, disease prevention and working with diverse populations.
• Professional development — ethics, leadership, interprofessional collaboration and preparation for licensure and transition to practice.

Entry requirements

Entry typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent with recommended coursework in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Colleges commonly expect demonstrated academic readiness, satisfactory prerequisites, a background check and immunizations before clinical placements. Transfer applicants and those with prior healthcare credentials should review specific credit and progression policies.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to sit for the national licensure exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN) and work in acute care hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care, community health agencies, schools and specialty practices. With experience and additional credentials, BSN graduates can move into specialty nursing, leadership, case management, education or graduate study in advanced practice, administration or public health.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Prospective students should explore institutional scholarships, need-based aid, federal student loans and external nursing scholarships offered by foundations, professional associations and healthcare employers. Clinical-placement requirements may include costs for background checks, immunizations, uniforms and liability insurance; budgeting for these expected expenses and discussing payment plans with the college’s financial aid office is advisable.