Accelerated Master's Academics & Curriculum

Note: We are not currently accepting applications to the Accelerated Master's in Nursing program beyond the Summer 2025 entry term.

The Accelerated Master's in Nursing Programs begin with an immersive year-long experience to earn a second bachelor's degree in nursing. After becoming an RN, students pursue a clinical specialty in one of the nationally-ranked master's nurse practitioner programs.

Nurse Practitioner Students suturing in Skills Lab

The University of Rochester School of Nursing has long been a leader in the nurse practitioner role. Ranked as No. 21 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, our master's programs are among the best in the nation. They include six nurse practitioner specialties and concentrations in leadership in health care systems, clinical nurse leadership, and nursing education.

It was our founding dean, Loretta Ford, who co-developed the the nurse practitioner model in the 1960s. When she became dean in 1972, the nurse practitioner model flourished at the University of Rochester due to the collaborative and progressive environment at the Medical Center and in the community.

Students in this program are accepted to both the Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing Program (ABSN) and the Nurse Practitioner master's program in the specialty of their choice.

Earn a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and Pass the NCLEX

Students attentively listening to a lecture in a classroom setting.

Year 1

Earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing through the full-time 12-Month Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program and become eligible for the professional registered nurse licensing examination.

Year 1: ABSN Curriculum

Earn a Master's Degree as a Nurse Practitioner

Year 2-4

After graduating from the Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing program and passing the NCLEX, you will begin the master's portion of the program. Depending on specialty, the master’s program requires two to three years of coursework on a part-time to full-time basis.

A nurse practitioner student consulting with a patient in a clinical examination room.

Specialties

Choose from five different nationally-ranked nurse practitioner specialties:

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care

Diagnose and treat adult and older adult patients who are acutely or critically ill, including those who have conditions requiring complex chronic specialty care. 

Learn More

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care

Learn to diagnose and manage common acute and chronic primary health care problems for adults and older adults.

Learn More

Family

Provide primary health care for patients from infancy through older adulthood, including women’s health care.

Learn More

Psychiatric Mental Health

Develop expertise in assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology management of mental health challenges and psychiatric disorders for individuals of all ages.

Learn more

Pediatric

Provide high-quality health care to children across the health continuum (birth to age 21), from healthy children to those with acute and chronic health problems.

Learn more
Scroll to top of page