Columbus State's Associate Degree Program in Nursing prepares graduates to provide health care services to clients of all ages located in a variety of settings in the community and home.

The  program is sequential and integrates theory from biological and social sciences with reasoning and communication skills to develop a graduate who can think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively. Opportunities are available to complete the nursing program in seven, nine, or eleven quarters depending on the student’s needs.  Students who go out-of-sequence in the Nursing program may join the program sequence with a subsequent class, providing space is available and petitioning requirements are met. Students entering subsequent nursing classes will meet the catalog requirements for graduation in place for that class.

Nursing classes are structured to promote student participation and learning through lecture, seminar, laboratory practice, and clinical experiences.  Two program tracks are available, the traditional track and the online track. In the traditional track lecture and seminar activities take place on campus in the classroom.  In the online track lecture and seminar content are done using an online format,  but as with the traditional track, laboratory practice and clinical experiences will be hands on. These learning opportunities are designed to encourage the student to apply concepts and utilize critical thinking skills in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health of clients. Students learn to work collaboratively with other health team members within the health care delivery system.

Students take 54 credit hours of nursing courses and 51 credit hours in the arts and sciences. An elective of at least 2 credit hours is required.  Students participate in 4-16 hours of clinical experience each week in a variety of health care settings under the direction of a registered nurse.   Two nursing outcome exams are given during the nursing program.  Students must achieve a minimum percentile score on these exams in order to continue to the next nursing course or to graduate.

Students who successfully complete the Associate Degree program are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).