UMBC is excited to offer two Pathways to pursue a career in Nursing; our BSN Pathway, which consists of two years worth of pre-requisites (~60 credits), followed by two years in a nursing program at another institution, and our Second Degree Pathway, which consists of students earning a BS/BA degree from UMBC while fulfilling pre-requisites for nursing and then applying to a second-degree program in nursing at another institution. More information can be found about these pathways below, including specific Partnership Programs that we offer in collaboration with the University of Maryland, School of Nursing (UMSON).
Pathways to Nursing from UMBC
BSN Traditional Pathway– For students who are interested in completing the pre-requisite courses and applying to nursing school, this pathway offers the most direct option for earning your bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Click here for the list of common pre-requisite courses required by local nursing schools.
Timeline for BSN Traditional Pathway:
- Complete the necessary pre-requisites for all schools in which you are applying (˜2 years)
- Apply to accredited BSN programs
- Complete BSN degree (2 years)
- Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) licensure exams administered by the National Council of State Board of Nursing
- Begin practicing as a licensed Registered Nurse (RN)
Examples of Schools with Traditional BSN Pathways:
- Bowie State University
- Notre Dame of Maryland
- Stevenson University
- Towson University
- University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON)
Second Degree Traditional Pathway– For students to paln to attend UMBC to earn their BS/BA degree before attending nursing school, or who switch into nursing later in their academic career, this pathway is a great option. Students will follow their academic passions while also completing pre-requisite courses for nursing, ultimately having the opportunity to apply to a Bachelor (BSN), Accelerated Bachelor (ABSN), and Entry to Practice Master’s (MS/MSN/MSN-E) programs. This pathway is more flexible and can be added when students begin at UMBC, or along their academic journey and offer students the additional opportunity to complete their nursing curriculum at an advanced graduate level, focusing on impacting patient care, improving outcomes, and leading health care teams.
Timeline for Second Degree Pathway:
- Complete a Bachelor of Science (BS)/Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at UMBC while also completing the necessary pre-requisites for all schools in which you are applying (˜4 years)
- Apply to accredited BSN (both accelerated and traditional) and Entry to Practice Masters programs (these are only for students who will have completed a degree at UMBC first)
- Complete BSN/ABSN/MS/MSN-E degree
- Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX) licensure exams administered by the National Council of State Board of Nursing
- Begin practicing as a licensed Registered Nurse (RN)
Examples of Schools with Second Degree BSN & MSN Pathways:
- Coppin State University (Accelerated BSN)
- Johns Hopkins University (Entry to Practice MSN)
- Notre Dame University (Accelerated BSN)
- Salisbury University (Accelerated BSN)
- University of Maryland, School of Nursing (UMSON- MSN-E)
- Towson University (Entry to Practice MS)
UMBC/UMSON Partnership Pathways
In addition to our traditional pathways, UMBC is proud to offer a collaborative partnership with the University of Maryland, School of Nursing (UMSON), a premier school of Nursing in the country to eligible students. Students can indicate an interest in one of two ways:
BSN Partnership Pathway (Two-Three Year)
For incoming freshmen, we offer a two to three year pathway, which ultimately leads to earning your BSN degree from UMSON. Students will be eligible to sit for their RN license upon graduation. Eligible students must indicate their intended program of study as Pre-Nursing prior to matriculation at UMBC. As part of this collaboration, each year UMBC secures seats in the UMSON fall and spring cohorts (both at the Baltimore and Shady Grove campuses), offered to those who have met certain academic requirements (see here for more information and timeline for this pathway).
MSN-E (Entry-into-Nursing) Second Degree Partnership Pathway (Four Year)
Incoming freshmen, current students and transfer students all have the opportunity to indicate an interest in our MSN-E Pathway, which requires students to earn their BS/BA degree first from UMBC, then continue at UMSON to complete their MSN-E degree in nursing. This Entry-into-Nursing degree offers students the opportunity to complete their nursing curriculum at an advanced graduate level, focusing on impacting patient care, improving outcomes and leading health care teams. As part of this collaboration, each year UMBC secures seats in the UMSON fall and spring cohorts at the Baltimore campus. These seats are offered to those who have met certain academic requirements (see here for more information and timeline for this pathway).
Students interested in either pathway should contact Ms. Kelly Simer, Pre-Nursing Advisor, at 410-455-2729 or email kellysimer@umbc.edu for more information. Current students should meet with Ms. Simer early in their academic career at UMBC to determine eligibility and requirements.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in 2024.
(Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses, on the Internet here (visited May 13, 2025).