Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Earn your nursing degree with Maine's leading health professions University. Launch a meaningful, successful career of helping others with an in-demand healthcare skillset.

Start Your Fulfilling Nursing Career with a B.S.N. Degree from UNE

Become part of the largest and most trusted segment of the health care workforce. At UNE, our nursing instruction utilizes a variety of innovative teaching strategies, including skill-building in a state-of-the-art Simulation and Innovation Center. As a comprehensive health sciences university, we emphasize interprofessional education, so you learn to work as part of a health care team. And with the highest three-year (2016-2018) average for NCLEX-RN first-time pass rates in the state of Maine, we are confident that you will emerge from our program with the training and experience you need to start making a difference in patients’ lives.

Title
Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs
Source
US News & World Report
Year
2023

Why UNE for your bachelor of science in Nursing

  • Our NCLEX-RN licensing exam pass rate has been above the national average since 2013
  • UNE is the #1 Maine University for students getting jobs after graduation — Zippia
  • Study for two years on our gorgeous coastal Biddeford Campus, and two years on our in-town Portland Campus
  • Learn clinical skills in a state-of-the-art, hospital-like simulation lab
  • Study abroad at UNE’s Morocco campus, specially designed for health professions students
  • Engage in fascinating service learning opportunities in the U.S. and abroad
  • Learn with students of other health disciplines, including future doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and others
  • Financial Aid, including merit awards 
  • Already have a bachelor’s? Accelerated 12-month B.S.N. program available 

What will you study? B.S. in Nursing Curriculum Overview

As a Nursing student, you will explore the domains of geriatrics, pediatrics, obstetrics, mental health, and more. The following are just some examples of the exciting courses that you will take:

  • Adult Health
  • Maternal/Child Nursing
  • Evidenced-Based Practice
  • Health Assessment
  • Pharmacology
  • Medical Surgical Nursing
  • Mental Health Nursing
  • Community Health Nursing
  • Older Adult Health
  • Nursing Leadership
  • Transitions to Practice

The School of Nursing is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing.

Curriculum

WCHP Core Requirements Credits
BIO 104/104L – General Biology with Lab 4
BIO 208/208L – Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab 4
BIO 209/209L or 209G/209LG – Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab 4
BIO 242/242L or 242G/242LG – Applied Microbiology with Lab 4
BIO 309 – Pathophysiology 4
CHE 130/130L – Principles of Chemistry with Lab 4
ENG 110 – English Composition 4
IHS 130 – Interprofessional First-Year Experience 3
IHS 310 – Ethics for Interprofessional Practice 3
MAT 120 – Statistics 3
NUTR 220 - Nutrition 3
PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology 3
PSY 250 – Lifespan Development 3
SOC 150 – Introduction to Sociology 3
One (1) ART (ART, ARH, MUS) Course 3
One (1) EXP (Explorations) Course 3
One (1) Human Traditions Course (276 or 278 with one of the following prefix:
ARH, ENG, HIS, LIL, PHI, PSC, REL)
3
General Elective 3
Total 61
Nursing Required Courses Credits
NSG 103 - Essentials in Nursing Knowledge and Practice 2
NSG 202 – Introduction to Nursing 3
NSG 307 – Adult Health I/Clin 6
NSG 315 – Adult Health II/Clin 7
NSG 327 – Health Assessment 3
NSG 328 – Mental Health/Clin 4
NSG 332 – Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) I 2
NSG 342 – Pharmacology 3
NSG 351 – Integrating Experience I 1
NSG 456 – Adult Health III/Clin/Preceptorship 9
NSG 409 – Adult Health IV 3
NSG 420 – Community and Public Health Nursing 3
NSG 424 – Maternal/Child/Clin 8
NSG 432 – Evidence-based Practice (EBP) II 2
NSG 442 – Integrating Experience III 1
NSG 445 – Leadership 2
NSG 447 – Transitions to Practice 2
Total Nursing Curriculum Credits 61
Total Credits 122

Graduation Requirements

A student in the nursing major may elect to pursue a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. This degree is only open to matriculated students at the University of New England. Special permission from the student’s advisor and the Dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions is required for enrollment in the B.S. in Health Sciences.

To learn more about the program see the Academic Catalog.

Changes were made to this program in an addendum to the 2022/23 academic calendar. Please see the 2022–2023 Catalog Addendum (PDF) for the most recent information. As always, it is recommended that students seek the guidance of Academic Advisors for course and program planning. In this way, you will be able to access all the most up-to-date information available.

Learn about UNE’s Nursing Skills Lab

A Passion for Helping Others

Career Paths for Nursing Majors

Providing a firm liberal arts foundation, UNE’s B.S. in Nursing will help you develop essential critical thinking and communication skills as well as theoretical, evidence-based knowledge of nursing science. And with more than 550 hours of hands-on learning, you will be well on your way to a fulfilling career in professional nursing. As a nurse, you may work in a variety of settings, including:

  • Acute care (hospitals)
  • Primary care
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Public and private schools
  • Federal, state, and local health departments
  • Home health care
  • Accountable care organizations

Career Advising in the Nursing Program

Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.

Nursing By The Numbers

15%

Expected rate of nursing job growth from 2016 to 2026, with 438,100 new nursing positions

#1

UNE is the top provider of health professionals in Maine

Experiential Learning in Nursing

Whether you’re practicing basic skills on fellow nursing students, learning emergency medical techniques with life-like simulation mannequins, or caring for patients in clinical practice settings, in UNE’s B.S. in Nursing program, you’re always learning by doing.

Service Learning

Our Service Learning Program enables you to care for vulnerable populations in our community. You may work with a variety of agencies and nonprofits, including:

  • Homeless Health Outreach
  • Partners for World Health
  • Cumberland County Jail
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging
  • Maine Access Immigrant Network

Cross Cultural Health Immersion

  • Travel to Ghana, Africa and learn how to integrate western health practices with folk medicine.
  • Broaden your worldview and begin the process of becoming a culturally sensitive health professional.
  • Evaluate health education curricula relevant to the population need.
  • Connect with UNE students from other health professions programs.

Watch: UNE Students in Ghana

Interprofessional Education

  • Prepare for modern, team-based care in UNE’s Center to Advance Interprofessional Education and Practice.
  • Work with students in a wide range of different health professions programs to provide quality, patient-centered care.
  • Reap the personal and professional benefits of graduating from one of only a handful of private universities with a comprehensive health care mission.

Global Education in Nursing

See The World

Unlike other nursing programs, we make it possible for you to spend a semester abroad — in fact, we encourage it. Choose from our programs in Morocco or Spain. Both offer lab sciences courses that will keep you on track for your nursing degree. Other short-term immersion experiences are available, including faculty-led trips to places such as Mexico, Italy, Iceland, Cuba, and Kenya; medical mission trips organized by the (IMM)UNE Club; and the unique Health Care Immersion Experience in Ghana.

Interested in studying abroad? Make a plan with your advisor.

B.S.N. Degree FAQ

How long does the B.S.N. program take and where is it located?

It takes four years (eight semesters) to complete UNE’s B.S.N. degree. In the first two years, classes are held on the Biddeford Campus. For the second two years, nursing students move to the Portland Campus as they begin their clinical education.

Is the nursing program accredited?

Yes, the B.S.N. program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing.

What is the NCLEX-RN pass rate at UNE?

The most up-to-date information about UNE graduates’ NCLEX-RN pass rates and employment can be found in the Annual Report for Communities of Interest (PDF).

What are the admission requirements for UNE’s B.S.N. program?

In addition to UNE general admission requirements, you must have taken high school chemistry and biology, two years of high school math, and have a high school GPA of at least 3.2, recalculated for science and math. As a Nursing applicant, you have the option to submit your ACT or SAT scores. Please see our undergraduate admission test policy for more information.

Does the B.S.N. program require pre-admission testing?

No, not at this time.

How do I apply to UNE’s B.S.N. program?

You can apply online using the Common Application or the UNE Application. Both are available on the UNE Admissions webpage. November 15 is the deadline for Early Action. February 15 is the application deadline. After that, applications are accepted on a space-available basis.

Is UNE’s B.S.N. a direct-entry program?

Yes. Once you are admitted as a nursing major at UNE, as long as you continue to meet progression requirements, you are guaranteed a clinical placement.

When will I start clinical nursing experiences?

Clinical coursework as a nursing student at UNE starts in the first semester of your junior year and continues in each semester until graduation.

Where do I go for clinical experiences?

UNE’s clinical partners include local acute care hospitals, community hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and community-based clinics, such as those in schools, and others.

Will I need a car as a Nursing student at UNE?

During the first two years, while you are living on the Biddeford Campus, you will not need a car. As part of UNE’s Green Initiative, you are encouraged to use campus bicycles, local buses, and shuttles. In your junior and senior years, nursing students are responsible for transportation to clinical sites. Carpooling is encouraged.

Will I be able to play a sport while I study Nursing at UNE?

Nursing coursework will take a lot of your time, but UNE’s Athletics Department and the Department of Nursing work together to support student athletes who want to continue their sport for all four years.

What opportunities can I expect as a UNE B.S.N. student?

  • Clinical Simulation Experiences, allowing students to safely practice patient care in state-of-the-art Simulation Labs.
  • Interprofessional Education as value-added content. Starting with your first class in the Westbrook College of Health Professions, you will learn and work with other members of the health care team, building skills you will use every day in your own practice. On the Portland Campus students have the opportunity for case-based learning with other health professions.
  • Service Learning Programs. Work with other UNE students and faculty on community-based service teams in local shelters, county jail projects, immigrant community centers, rural Maine immersions and other locations.
  • Study Abroad Opportunities. B.S.N. students can spend the fall of their sophomore year in Morocco or Spain without interrupting progress toward their degree. A cross-cultural immersion program in Ghana, West Africa, is available for junior and senior students.
  • Professional Involvement from day one. The UNE Student Nurse Association is affiliated with the National Student Nurse Association. Be a member, run for office, organize service activities, or attend a national conference.

How will I be supported in adjusting to college life at UNE?

UNE provides a First-Year Experience course that helps students navigate all available resources as well as develop study skills and manage time.

Accreditation

The University of New England's Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Contact ACEN
3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850
Atlanta, Ga. 30326
(404) 975-5000
info@acenursing.org
www.acenursing.org

The program has also been approved by the Maine State Board of Nursing.

REPORT TO COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST

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Ready to begin your future in UNE’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing? Get started today.