Nursing Associate Degree
Experience learner-centered collaborative education, built on a legacy of preparing Pennsylvania’s nurses.
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences was founded as a nursing school more than 100 years ago. Today, our Associate in Science in Nursing degree builds on that legacy while offering best-in-class hands-on experience for students.
Students are able to hone their clinical skills by pairing rigorous classroom learning with time in the area’s most advanced simulation lab. From the day they’re accepted, our students are guaranteed clinical placements at some of the areas leading health care organizations.
We offer several paths to earning a nursing degree, for students at every stage of their life.
Degree Paths
Two-Year Track
If you’re passionate about nursing and driven to succeed, begin your career in nursing with an ASN degree. This degree gives you a traditional two-year track to an associate degree and sets you on a course for a career providing top-of-the-line patient care.
Three-Year Track
The evening/weekend track makes a nursing degree work with your schedule, with a full-time schedule in the first year followed by a reduced course load in the second and third years. Whether you’re a parent, student or working professional, you can begin your career as a nurse without pausing your life.
ASN+BSN
Nursing programs don’t have to put your life on hold. Get a head start on the general education requirements needed for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing while working on your Associate of Science in Nursing. This streamlined approach helps you get two degrees, in less time.
Once you have your ASN, you can take a break to work as a registered nurse before continuing on to your BSN. You’ll be able to earn your BSN faster and advance your career.
See the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job outlook.
Applicants for the ASN to BSN Nursing program must meet general admissions requirements.
LPN Advanced Placement
Licensed practical nurses are given a quicker path to an ASN with this advanced placement assessment module. This six-week course and assessment allow LPNs to bypass the first year of the ASN program. The course is offered part-time during the spring semester. Sessions meet on nights and weekends to make it easy for working nurses. A full-time summer session is also available. Additional requirements must be met to qualify.
Curriculum
Associate in Science in Nursing Program: Two-Year Track Total Credits: 67
Associate of Science in Nursing Program
| Year 1, Semester 1 | ||
| BIO 175 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| ENG 100 | English Composition | 3 |
| MAT 150 | Clinical Mathematics for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| NUR 101 | Foundations of Nursing Practice | 5 |
| NUR 111 | Foundations of Nursing Practice: Clinical Laboratory | 2 |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
| Year 1, Semester 2 | ||
| BIO 176 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| NUR 102 | Families Within the Community | 7 |
| NUR 112 | Families Within the Community: Clinical Laboratory | 3 |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Total Combined Credits | 34 | |
| Year 2, Semester 1 | ||
| BIO 185 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 250 | Nutrition for Life | 3 |
| NUR 201 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems | 7 |
| NUR 211 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems: Clinical Laboratory | 4 |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
| Year 2, Semester 2 | ||
| NUR 202 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems | 7 |
| NUR 212 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems: Clinical Laboratory | 5 |
| PHI 210 | Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences | 1 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Combined Credits | 67 |
RN to BSN
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ENG 300 | Advanced Composition for Health Care | 3 |
| IPC 302 | Introduction to Capstone | 1 |
| NUR 301 | Conceptual Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 310 or NUR 311 | Human Diversity and Health Care or Cultural Care in Nursing | 3 |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
| Spring Semester | Credits | |
| ECO 150 | Survey of Economics | 3 |
| IPC 322 | Teaching and Learning for the Nursing Professional | 3 |
| NUR 340 | Comprehensive Health Assessment | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | Credits | |
| ECO 310 | American Health Care System | 3 |
| PHI 330 | Ethical Issues in Health Care | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| IPC 401 | Research in Health Care | 3 |
| MAT 260 | Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | Credits | |
| NUR 410 | Issues and Trends in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 420 | Nursing Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NUR 430 | Nursing in a Global Society | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | Credits | |
| IPC 450 | Capstone | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| 300- or 400-level Elective | 3 | |
| Other Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Total RN to BSN Credits | 55 | |
| Total Combined Credits | 120 |
Associate in Science in Nursing Program: Three-Year Track Total Credits: 67
| Year 1, Prerequisites | ||
| BIO 175 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 176 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| Total credits | 8 | |
| Year 1, Semester 1 (Fall) | ||
| ENG 100 | English Composition | 3 |
| MAT 150 | Clinical Mathematics for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| NUR 101 | Foundations of Nursing Practice | 5 |
| NUR 111 | Foundations of Nursing Practice: Clinical Laboratory | 2 |
| Total credits for fall semester | 13 | |
| Year 1, Semester 2 (Spring) | ||
| NUR 102 | Families Within the Community | 7 |
| NUR 112 | Families Within the Community: Clinical Laboratory | 3 |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Total credits for spring semester | 13 | |
| Total Combined Credits | 34 | |
| Year 2, Semester 1 (Fall) | ||
| BIO 185 | Microbiology | 3 |
| NUR 203 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems Part 1 | 4 |
| NUR 213 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems Part 1: Clinical Laboratory | 2 |
| Total credits for fall semester | 9 | |
| Year 2, Semester 2 (Spring) | ||
| NUR 204 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems Part 2 | 3 |
| NUR 214 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems Part 2: Clinical Laboratory | 2 |
| PHI 210 | Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences | 1 |
| Total credits for spring semester | 6 | |
| Total Combined Credits | 49 | |
| Year 3, Semester 1 (Fall) | ||
| BIO 250 | Nutrition for Life | 3 |
| NUR 205 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems Part 1 | 4 |
| NUR 215 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems Part 1: Clinical Laboratory | 2 |
| Total credits for fall semester | 9 | |
| Year 3, Semester 2 (Spring) | ||
| NUR 206 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems Part 2 | 3 |
| NUR 216 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems Part 2: Clinical Laboratory | 3 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total credits for spring semester | 9 | |
| Total Combined Credits | 67 |
ASN to BSN
Associate of Science in Nursing Program
| Year 1, Semester 1 | ||
| BIO 175 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 |
| ENG 100 | English Composition | 3 |
| MAT 150 | Clinical Mathematics for the Health Sciences | 3 |
| NUR 101 | Foundations of Nursing Practice | 5 |
| NUR 111 | Foundations of Nursing Practice: Clinical Laboratory | 2 |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
| Year 1, Semester 2 | ||
| BIO 176 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 |
| NUR 102 | Families Within the Community | 7 |
| NUR 112 | Families Within the Community: Clinical Laboratory | 3 |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Total Combined Credits | 34 | |
| Year 2, Semester 1 | ||
| BIO 185 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 250 | Nutrition for Life | 3 |
| NUR 201 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems | 7 |
| NUR 211 | Acute and Chronic Health Problems: Clinical Laboratory | 4 |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
| Year 2, Semester 2 | ||
| NUR 202 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems | 7 |
| NUR 212 | Crisis and Complex Health Problems: Clinical Laboratory | 5 |
| PHI 210 | Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences | 1 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Combined Credits | 67 |
RN to BSN
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ENG 300 | Advanced Composition for Health Care | 3 |
| IPC 302 | Introduction to Capstone | 1 |
| NUR 301 | Conceptual Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NUR 310 or NUR 311 | Human Diversity and Health Care or Cultural Care in Nursing | 3 |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
| Spring Semester | Credits | |
| ECO 150 | Survey of Economics | 3 |
| IPC 322 | Teaching and Learning for the Nursing Professional | 3 |
| NUR 340 | Comprehensive Health Assessment | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | Credits | |
| ECO 310 | American Health Care System | 3 |
| PHI 330 | Ethical Issues in Health Care | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| IPC 401 | Research in Health Care | 3 |
| MAT 260 | Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | Credits | |
| NUR 410 | Issues and Trends in Nursing | 3 |
| NUR 420 | Nursing Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NUR 430 | Nursing in a Global Society | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | Credits | |
| IPC 450 | Capstone | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| 300- or 400-level Elective | 3 | |
| Other Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Total RN to BSN Credits | 55 | |
| Total Combined Credits | 120 |
Associate in Science in Nursing Program: LPN Track
Licensed practical nurses who successfully complete the LPN Assessment Module (NUR 010) have the opportunity for advanced placement into the two or three-year option. Additional requirements must be met to qualify.
Will I Be Successful?
| Graduation Year | *150 % Graduation Rate | **Employed % | ***Passed Certification % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 98.02% | ||
| 2016-17 | 72.9% | 95.40% | 95.16% |
| 2015-16 | 75.85% | 94.20% | 87.00% |
| 2014-15 | 80.10% | 88.50% | 84.00% |
| 2013-14 | 80.79% | 81.50% | 78.60% |
| *150% or 3 year graduation rate for fall starts. | |||
| **Employment rate from Graduate Survey and personal communication with graduates. This data is self-reported from the respondents. | |||
| ***NCLEX-RN pass rate for first time test takers from October to September | |||
Not sure if this is the right nursing program for you?
Our nursing degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. See more accreditation information.