FAQ for Accelerated Nursing Programs

A bachelor’s degree in any field is required (BA or BS). The Accelerated Nursing Programs are designed to admit non-nurse baccalaureate graduates and provide education for generalist and specialist (advanced practice) nursing roles.

If completing a bachelor's degree after the application deadline, that is fine. You could be accepted to the program “pending successful completion of the bachelor's degree.”

Complete the Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program in 12 or 24 months (three or six  semesters). During this time, students complete all the nursing content of the bachelor's, or generalist, coursework for RN licensing. The 12-Month program moves at a very fast pace. 

There are limited slots for the Accelerated Master's Nursing Programs. The pool of applicants to our master's programs (which have many fewer total slots than the accelerated bachelor's) also includes students enrolled in the traditional master's specialty programs. Those admitted to the Accelerated Master's Nursing Programs complete the exact same first year as the accelerated bachelor's students, and then a slot is simply saved in one of our Nurse Practitioner programs. Years two and three are on the regular master's program schedule (four academic semesters).

Depending on when you begin the program, completion time for the entire program (including bachelor's and master's portions) will differ by a few months (those who have a May admission start date will complete the master's portion three years later in May; those who have January start dates will complete a few months later in May of the third year).

No one specializes at the basic nursing level (any program leading to RN licensure teaches you about all the areas of nursing because in order to pass the RN licensing exam, you are tested on all areas - pediatrics, maternity, psych, etc.). It is by working on a certain unit as a nurse OR by going on for the master's that you specialize in one area. Students in the Accelerated Bachelor's Nursing program get the opportunity to experience various specialty areas including med-surg, obstetrics, acute care, etc. to test each one out.

The Accelerated Master's Nursing programs are for those who already know exactly which Nurse Practitioner program or master's program they want. Keep in mind that there are also master's in nursing programs that do not lead to Nurse Practitioner certification. For example, we also offer master's degree in Nursing Education and a Clinical Nurse Leader concentration. Or you may prefer to get some practical experience in the work world before doing the master's program.

Many graduates choose to work as an RN at the University of Rochester Medical Center. These graduates can then complete using tuition benefits while working full time and earning the regular salary - another reason many choose the Accelerated Bachelor's Program.

The 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor's program is one calendar year, but three full semesters (summer, fall, spring), so we are essentially taking four traditional semesters of clinical and offering them in three semesters. They are NOT shortened, and in fact there are more clinical hours and lab hours than required by the state (our bachelor's portion of the program has 700 clinical hours and 90 lab hours).

Yes, students can work during either of the Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing programs. The student is responsible for determining appropriate workload and should carefully review the posted curriculums for each program prior to applying. Clinicals are typically scheduled on nights or weekends. Pursuing a nursing degree is so time-consuming because of the hours;

• in college, 1 credit = 1 clock hour a week
• in nursing school, 1 clinical credit = 4 clock hours a week.

Please note: The accelerated nursing programs are "cohort-style" programs, which means students start and finish their program together, and all follow the same course schedule. As a result, the School of Nursing cannot modify course schedules to accommodate work commitments. 

While not necessary, it might be helpful to have a vehicle, if you live beyond walking distance to classes, labs, simulations, and study sessions in Helen Wood Hall.

Additionally, while the majority of clinical hours will be completed at nearby Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital, there may be other clinical experiences that require a commute within the Rochester metropolitan area.

However, both the University of Rochester and the City of Rochester offer transportation services that students can utilize to commute throughout their time in the Accelerated Program.

Please visit the following links through the University of Rochester to learn more about both on-campus housing and off-campus housing opportunities. If applying for graduate housing through the University's Office for Residential Life & Housing Services, should select "Medical Center" when indicating University Affiliation.

Houses and apartments are available for rent that are within walking distance of the School of Nursing’s campus, including the nearby residential neighborhood adjacent to the Medical Center. Prospective students can learn about further housing opportunities by visiting Places4students.com.

In general, courses from accredited degree-granting colleges and universities can be transferred. Coursework from for-profit online learning platforms will not be accepted for transfer credit.

Learn more about our accreditation requirements.