A medical professional working with a young patient.

Bachelor of Science in
Nursing 1+2+1

Become a Practicing Nurse in Three Years or Less

From providing essential care to promoting good health and wellbeing, in the nursing program at UAlbany you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to turn your drive to help people into a rewarding career you’ll love.

Unlike many traditional nursing programs, UAlbany’s Nursing 1+2+1 BS program allows you to graduate with your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at the end of your third year and begin working as a registered nurse (RN) while you finish your academic coursework in year four.

With these credentials, you’ll be well situated to pursue leadership positions and work in the setting that best suits you, including clinics, hospitals, schools or government agencies where nurses are in demand.

Additional Program Information

Undergraduate Bulletin  |  Course Catalog  |  Contact: Mae Jobin-Davis

 

Why is it called the 1+2+1 Program?

There are three stages to your education— comprised of one year, two years and one year:

Year 1: General education and pre-requisite courses at UAlbany. 

Years 2 and 3: Core nursing courses at St Peter’s College of Nursing with supportive courses at UAlbany. At the end of year 3, you will graduate from St. Peter’s and sit for your NCLEX (the nursing licensure exam) to become a Registered Nurse (RN). 

Year 4: While you work as a nurse, you’ll take courses at UAlbany to earn your bachelor’s degree in nursing— required for all nurses in New York State within ten years of receiving their RN.

Program Eligibility

The BS in Nursing 1+2+1 program is for first-year or transfer students without an associate of science (AS) in nursing or associate of applied science (AAS) in nursing. 

If you have an AS in nursing or AAS in nursing from an institution accredited by ACEN, CCNE or CNEA, please consider our RN to BS in Nursing completion program.

Program of Study

programofstudy

Year One

  • General education and prerequisite requirements
    • Anatomy and Physiology 1+2
    • Intro to Psychology
    • Intro Writing and Critical Inquiry
    • Lifespan Development
    • Three General Education courses
  • Nursing foundational courses
    • Nursing 100 Care and Caring  
    • Nursing 110 Foundations of Professional Nursing

Years Two and Three

  • Nursing classes at partnering schools and at the University at Albany
    • Nursing Courses 1,2,4, BH and 5 at St Peters College of Nursing
    • Pharmacology for Nurses  
    • Microbiology for Health Sciences with Lab  
    • Evidence Based Practice Nursing
  • Clinical experience and NCLEX preparation at St. Peter’s Health Partners
  • Bachelor level nursing courses at UAlbany required for your degree
    • Intro to Statistics
    • General Chemistry one with lab
    • Five General Education requirements

Year Four

  • You must successfully complete the NCLEX prior to entering fourth year of study
  • You can begin working as a nurse
  • Completion of bachelor level nursing courses at UAlbany
    • Transformational leadership and management
    • Community and Public health nursing with 45 clinical hours  
    • Nursing elective
    • Transition to Professional Practice/Senior Practicum with 120 clinical hours
    • Transcultural Nursing
    • Two Upper Level Electives
    • Three Electives 

Year 4 courses are offered in a hybrid format for flexibility, requiring in-person attendance every other week. These classes are designed to support you in your transition to professional nursing, with assignments tailored to your  interests (e.g., labor and delivery, emergency room, ICU). 

Clinical Component

During your clinical component in years two and three, you’ll work in various learning environments at St. Peter’s Health Partners, which could include:

  • Medical-Surgical  
  • Geriatrics
  • Rehabilitation  
  • Outpatient clinics  
  • Operating and Procedural rooms
  • Labor and Delivery  
  • Post-partum  
  • Pediatrics  
  • Behavioral Health  
  • Critical Care  
  • Emergency Department 

 

City bus lines enable you to attend your clinical component free of charge. All UAlbany students ride the Capital District Transport Authority (CDTA) buses for free with their UAlbany ID card.

Hands-On Skills

In addition to your clinical component, you’ll learn through doing, utilizing advanced technologies like VR headsets, high-fidelity simulations and other immersive tools to enhance your nursing skills and enable you to practice clinical scenarios.

You’ll also review and build confidence in your skills through in-person “validation exams”, which enable you and your mentors to assess your competency in a particular area before moving on to more advanced coursework. You’ll be asked to set up a sterile field, assess vital signs and insert a catheter, to name a few. 
 

Nurse in a mask kneeling down to talk to a patient.

 

 

Career Paths in Nursing


As the nationwide nurse shortage continues alongside an increasing demand for nurses with bachelor’s degrees, nursing is a thriving career path. In fact, employment opportunities for registered nurses are projected to continue growing faster than the national average through 2028, and salaries are keeping pace – the average nurse’s salary in New York State is currently at almost $98,000/year.

With the in-demand skills you’ll develop through earning your BS in Nursing (BSN) at UAlbany through the 1+2+1 program, you can find a position offering desirable benefits, such as competitive pay and flexibility, in a community or healthcare setting that works best for you.

 

 

Potential employers for UAlbany BSN graduates include:

  • Birth centers
  • Clinics
  • Community health organizations
  • Correctional healthcare facilities
  • Elementary, middle or high schools
  • Government agencies (like local and state health departments)
  • Hospitals
  • Insurance companies
  • Outpatient settings
  • Physician offices
  • Private practices
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Universities and colleges
careers

Admission Requirements


The nursing curriculum is rigorous and relies heavily on scientific reasoning and mathematical skills. To be admitted to the program, you must complete each of the following high school or college level courses with grades of 85 or above for high school courses, B or above for non‐credit bearing/remedial courses, or C or above for credit bearing college courses:

  • Algebra I and II
  • Biology with lab
  • Chemistry with lab

The TEAS exam is required before entering clinical rotations in year two but is not required for admission into the first year of this program.

 

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University at Albany is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

admission
Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science

UAlbany’s BS in Nursing program outcomes are derived from the AACN 2021 Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education.  

Each student graduating from the University at Albany BS in Nursing program will:  

  1. Integrate knowledge and skills from a liberal arts education in applying evidence-based solutions and technology to communicate, manage, educate and support decision making across the continuum of lifespan and care settings and is committed to life-long learning. (BSN Essentials I, III, IV & VIII)  
  2. Manage health information and evolving communication technologies to improve care coordination, mitigate errors and provide safe, efficient care. (BSN Essentials IV)  
  3. Integrate critical thinking skills using theory, observation, evidence and practice experiences to help promote and maintain health, prevent disease and manage illness. (BSN Essentials III, VII, IX)  
  4. Demonstrate leadership and professional accountability in advocating for and influencing policy decisions to improve healthcare that is ethical, effective, timely, efficient and equitable for all members of society. (BSN Essentials II, V, VI, VIII)  
  5. Collaborate within nursing and inter-professional teams fostering open communication, mutual respect and shared decision making in a safe caring environment, which results in high quality patient outcomes for diverse populations. (BSN Essentials II, VI)  
  6. Deliver safe, holistic, person-centered care, demonstrating a commitment for embracing diversity and cultural differences in promoting health for self, individuals, families and communities. (BSN Essentials VIII, IX)

 

 

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