Saint Joseph College was founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy
and is consistently cited on the national level for the quality
of its academic programs and for providing an optimal learning
environment with up-to-date technology.
Prepared with a Saint Joseph College bachelor's degree in
nursing, some graduates pursue a master's degree, while others
are employed in hospitals, schools, private corporations and
other health care organizations. Clinical placements begin in
your sophomore year in our on-campus nursing learning center and
in many notable health care facilities with hands-on experience
that includes direct patient/family care, physical assessment,
care planning, therapeutic communication and health teaching.
Second Degree BS
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The Second Degree BS program is structured over 3 traditional
academic years.
Accelerated Second Degree BS
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An Accelerated Second Degree (ASD) student takes the program's
sophomore work during a summer session, then her junior work
during the school year, and completes her senior work during the
second summer. The required GPA to accelerate is 3.0.
RN-BS Prime Time (Weekend College) Program
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Applicants to the RN-BS Weekend (Prime Time) College program must
be licensed Registered Nurses (RN) who:
- May have previously earned an associates degree.
- Are graduates of a hospital diploma program and have
successfully completed the NCLEX exam.
Students typically transfer credits from their previous education
that satisfy many of the science and liberal arts prerequisites.
Upon completion of the first nursing course, an additional 27
credits (validation for prior learning) are awarded. RN-BS
students must have a valid Connecticut nursing license and must
maintain a GPA of 2.8 while in the program. All undergraduate
degree and residency requirements must be met and a total of 128
credits are needed to graduate.
Master of Science, Nursing
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This program is designed to prepare RNs for leadership roles in
health promotion and therapeutic clinical practice. Students are
also prepared to deliver, administer, consult, educate and
research as part of the advanced practice role in nursing.
Students complete a scholarly project and participate in clinical
learning experiences at local health care agencies. Programs
cater to working professionals with classes offered in the late
afternoon and evening hours. Additionally, the course
requirements qualify and prepare students for the National
Certification Examinations.
Concentrations include:
Family Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioners are prepared to deliver primary health care
to families across the life span. The Family Nurse Practitioner
track is designed to be completed on a part-time basis.
Family Health Clinical Nursing Specialist
Designed to be completed on a part-time basis. Students can
select cognate courses in the areas of
administration/management, education or clinical practice and
complete a thesis as a requirement of the program.
Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
This graduate program is designed to be completed on a
part-time basis and prepares the RN for advanced practice and
board certification. The curriculum is designed for the adult
patient, however a plan of study can be developed to meet
certification and practice criteria in Child/Adolescent
Psychiatric/Mental Health.
Dual Degree Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (RN to BS/MS)
Nursing Program
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This program is designed for the RN who intends to concurrently
earn the baccalaureate and masters degrees in nursing. Applicants
must have an associate's degree in nursing or have earned a
hospital diploma, be licensed in Connecticut as an RN and
demonstrate the capacity to be successful with graduate-level
study.
Post-Master's Certificate Program
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This program allows RNs who hold a master's degree in nursing to
expand their clinical competency. In addition to cognate course
requirements, the student will choose courses from these tracks:
- Family Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist