University of Missouri St. Louis Nursing School Review
University of Missouri was founded in 1960 as the youngest of the University of Missouri system. The university is located in Metropolitan St Louis and therefore has a great cultural diversity of city life. The university was established as a junior college on a former country club grounds through a land grant and has since developed to acquire more campuses on Normandy and Bel-Nor and Marillac College. The junior college was granted a university status in 1963 and joined the University of Missouri System the same year.
Nursing Programs- UM-St Louis
The College of Nursing is mandated to offer nursing degrees in University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL). The College has programs from the baccalaureate level to doctorate degree in nursing. All the nursing programs at the college are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and are approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Four baccalaureates and two Master of Science in nursing tracks are offered in addition to the two terminal nursing degrees as explained below:
Undergraduate Nursing Programs
Four baccalaureate nursing tracks offer coursework leading to the Bachelor of Science in nursing degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Traditional
The Bachelor of Science in nursing pre-licensure is meant for transfer for students from a pre-nursing program or fresh entry level nursing candidates. The coursework for this program is designed to be completed in 1.5 year periods for general education courses and 2.5 academic years for the clinical nursing courses component. On this note, transfer students who have already completed the general education courses join the program at the 2nd semester of the sophomore year to start on the clinical portion.
However, three nursing courses are offered at each semester of the first 1.5 year period and transfers students must take them during the first semester of the 2.5 year period. 124 credits are required to graduate and eligibility to apply to write the NCLEX-RN exam for initial licensure.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Accelerated
This is a 15 month accelerated degree for candidates seeking a second degree in nursing. The 15 month period is meant to cover 58 nursing major credits if the candidates have already completed all general education requirements for the BSN. Completion leads to the award of a second degree Bachelor of Science in nursing.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Part Time
For students who have completed all general education requirements, the BSN part time option at University of Missouri-St Louis is the perfect choice. The program is designed to help all undergraduate BSN students to complete a nursing career on a flexible mode. Classes are offered in the evening and weekends; Saturdays and (or) Sundays.
Flex RN to BSN Program
The Flexible Learning Experience (FLEX) program is a very well designed program to cater for RNs who wish to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The Flex program is offered on a two-year part time basis and students can choose from the following options
i) Flex Online
The online RN to BSN offers coursework is delivered through the internet and web-based modes. Students start and progress as a cohort starting from every fall semester.
ii) Flex Campus
The campus-based RN to BSN at UM-St Louis takes in students every fall semester of odd-numbered years. Classes are offered once a week in the evening at the main campus.
iii) Flex Outreach
The outreach-RN to BSN students complete their curriculum at three outreach sites around St Louis. Cohorts are admitted every spring semester at University of Missouri- ST Louis West County Continuing Education center and every fall semester in St Charles Community College and St Louis Community College. All admissions for this option take place in even-numbered years.
Graduate Nursing programs
MSN Program
The Master of Science in nursing is meant to help RNs with BSN degrees to pursue advanced nursing practice. There are Nurse Educator and Nurse Practitioner tracks with the following NP specialty roles:
- Adult Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s health management Nurse Practitioner
Unlike the Columbia and Kansas City campuses of University of Missouri system, St Louis is still accepting applications for their Nurse Practitioner roles.
Post MSN Studies
Two post master’s certificates are available for offer at University of Missouri-St Louis for Nurse Educator and Nurse Practitioner MSN-prepared nurses. Students may also apply for a second advanced practice certification whereby, credits from the previous certificate may be validated and received towards the second certificate.
DNP Program
The DNP program at St Louis is offered in collaboration with University of Missouri- Kansas City. Eligible candidates are those who hold a MSN degree with an advanced practice RN specialty as a Nurse Practitioner. The program is offered only on a part time basis of two academic years of six semesters and an extra summer session touching on a third year.
PhD
The doctor of philosophy in nursing is designed for both BSN and MSN students who want to become nurse scholars and researchers. Full time and Part time study plans are available taking 3 and 4 years respectively. For Bachelor of Science candidates, the period of study is prolonged and differs since each candidates of this entry option have individualized study plans.
Contact:
University of Missouri St. Louis
1 University Blvd, St. Louis,
MO 63121
