To help address a growing need for nurses throughout the state, students at community colleges can now transfer additional credits to NAU’s School of Nursing.
In January, the Arizona Board of Regents increased the number of lower-division credit hours that could be transferred from community colleges to NAU’s School of Nursing from 64 to 82 credits.
“We really mean it when we say we are going to streamline processes for students,” said Liz Grobsmith, NAU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “We want to count every course that fits a student’s curriculum and remove any duplication of coursework.”
The increase will allow students to take lower-division classes at community colleges without having to duplicate them to earn a bachelor of science in nursing from NAU.
It decreases barriers for students to complete a nursing degree by allowing them to complete the required prerequisites and general studies requirements at a community college without the loss of transferability of these courses and credit hours to the university.
Donald Johnson, director of Nursing at Coconino Community College, said transferring additional credits is a huge benefit to his students.
“Prior to this decision, students often had to take courses over again at the university level,” Johnson said. “Now transfer students will be able to concentrate on completing their advanced level nursing classes at the university.”
NAU’s bachelor of science in nursing program builds on the knowledge and skills that registered nurses have acquired through a diploma or associate degree program. It is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education agency and approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. NAU offers an accelerated nursing program as well as online coursework.