Undergraduate Traditional BSN

Top 2%

of BSN Programs in the nation, U.S. News and World Report 2023

8 to 1 Student to Faculty to Ratio

in undergraduate clinical groups

98% average NCLEX passing rate

May 2020 class had 100% NCLEX pass rate for first-time test takes.

The University of Kentucky College of Nursing's four-year, traditional BSN in Nursing program prepares our graduates to meet the ever-changing challenges of today's health care needs. Some of our BSN program highlights include:

Varied learning experiences -- Students will learn through a combination of classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinical-setting instruction. Learn about our Clinical Simulation and Learning Center.
Modern practices: Our expert faculty and staff consistently evaluate the latest in nursing research and how to apply it in clinical practice
Professional development: Students can gain valuable experience and build their resumés through internships in nursing practice, research, and the skills lab.
Nursing organizations: We have several student organizations for students to join: NSNA (National Student Nurses Association), UNAAC (Undergraduate Nursing Activities and Advisory Council), and UK's Delta Psi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honors society.

Traditional BSN Curriculum

To obtain a BSN in Nursing, students must satisfy the University requirements for graduation, including the UK Core requirements, and obtain a 2.0 grade-point average in nursing degree programs. A grade of C or better must be attained in all courses required in the nursing curriculum in order to proceed to the next clinical course or to graduate. A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation.

View a list of UK Core and nursing courses needed to obtain a BSN in Nursing, along with sample plans of study:

BSN in Nursing degree requirements *with course descriptions (University Catalogs website)
Sample Plan of Study

NOTE: The State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) is required for students to start in Nursing School at UK. The license is not required unless they plan to work as an SRNA. Completion of the SRNA is not required to apply for the program, and students have until the summer before starting Nursing to complete the course. UK does offer an SRNA program, and you can learn more about it on our SRNA info page.

Cognate Courses/Guided Electives

Cognate courses/guided electives facilitate student exploration of specialty areas in nursing. Specialty areas may include but are not limited to, pediatrics, obstetrics, public health, critical care, psychiatric, or other unique fields in nursing. Six cognate course/guided elective credits are required for a BSN degree, and three of those six credits must be earned from the UK College of Nursing.

Pairing cognates from the College of Nursing with courses from other colleges may lead to the award of a badge that signifies accomplishment in a specialty area. For example, students interested in pediatrics might pair a CON pediatric cognate with a developmental psychology course to earn a badge in pediatrics.

List of approved cognate courses

Cognate exceptions

If you have taken a course at UK or elsewhere that is not a designated College of Nursing cognate, you may petition the BSN Cognate Subcommittee to grant an exception to allow the course to satisfy a Cognate requirement. To request a cognate exception, read and complete the below Cognate Exception Request document.

Cognate Exception Request

Things to consider when contemplating a career in nursing:

Figure out whether you can handle the sights, sounds, and smells associated with sick people
Volunteer, shadow or work part-time in a hospital, nursing home, or assisted-care facility
Complete a certified nursing assistant (CNA) course (some high schools offer this)
Talk with nurses to find out “what it’s really like” and ask how/why they became nurses
Take high-level or advanced placement science classes
Join a health careers club or HOSA, the Health Occupations Students of America
Visit the Kentucky Board of Nursing website to research the various options of nursing careers and education required (for example, BSN or RN degrees are required to enter advanced nursing degrees such as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist).
Register for a UK College of Nursing BSN program information session to learn more about our admission and program requirements

There are three steps to become a registered nurse:

Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Pass the NCLEX exam (nursing boards)
Apply for a nursing license in the state where you plan to work. If approved, you become a registered nurse (or RN). The RN designation is the license you receive to practice as a nurse; it is not the degree you receive.

Questions? Contact us.

College of Nursing Student Services

Email: conss@uky.edu
Phone: 859-323-5108

Apply Now

Begin your transformative journey into the world of nursing by applying to our BSN program.

BSN Admissions