Frequently Asked Questions
Jump to a Track: Traditional B.S. Nursing | Fast Track B.S. Nursing | M.S. Nursing
Traditional Student FAQs
Below are some of the more frequently asked questions regarding the traditional B.S. Nursing program:
What courses do I have to take?
See the Required Courses-Traditional Program page.
When do I apply to the nursing program?
Application deadlines are the last Friday in June for the Spring class and the last Friday in January for the Fall class.
How long does the nursing program take?
Once you are accepted into the nursing program at the University of Central Oklahoma your course work will be completed in 5 semesters.
Is there an accelerated program for people with a non-nursing bachelor's degree?
Yes. If you have already completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be interested in our Fast-Track Program. You can get more information by emailing FastTrackNursing@uco.edu
Can students work full-time and complete this program?
This will be dependent on your work schedule. For the majority of individuals, it is difficult to work full-time and go to school full-time.
Can the nursing program be completed as a part-time student?
At this time, the Nursing Department at the University of Central Oklahoma does not have a formal part-time option.
Can the nursing program be completed as a night student?
Currently, traditional nursing courses are only offered during the day with day and evening clinics.
What is the length of the program?
Traditional students typically take two years to complete general university core and pre-professional courses. After acceptance to the nursing program, the professional nursing courses can be completed in 5 semesters.
Are the classes on campus or online?
For the traditional student, many of the courses take place on the UCO campus with some of the course requirements completed online. Each instructor determines how much of the course work may take place in the online environment. Currently, NURS 1221 Introduction to Nursing and NURS 3512 Service Learning and Health Promotion are both offered as online-only courses.
What is the approximate cost of the nursing program?
Please refer to the current admission fees for cost per credit hour. In addition, there will be lab fees, uniforms, books, standardized testing fees, and OSBI fees. Tuition and fees can be calculated by using the tuition calculator.
What is the process to have my transcript evaluated?
The Academic Advisor for Nursing will evaluate your transcript for official recognition of courses that will transfer to UCO and courses remaining for the nursing department. You may contact the Nursing Advisor at kdavis49@uco.edu
How do I know which courses will transfer to UCO?
To find out which courses will transfer to the University of Central Oklahoma, check the Transfer Equivalency Database.
How do I get admitted to UCO?
For general admission to the University of Central Oklahoma, please visit Undergraduate Admissions.
How many students are admitted to the nursing program?
On average, 72 students are admitted each spring and fall semester. While the minimum retentive GPA for admission is 2.5, the average GPA for students accepted is above that number.
How do I get an application for the nursing program?
Applications are available online. The link to apply will become available on or before June 1st. Fall applications for the Spring semester are due the last Friday in June, and Spring applications for the Fall semester are due the last Friday in January.
Which standardized test do I need to take for admission to the nursing program?
The nursing department no longer requires a standardized test for admission.
Fast Track B.S., Nursing FAQs
Below are some of the more frequently asked questions regarding the Fast Track B.S. Nursing program:
What courses do I have to take?
See the B.S., Nursing degree sheet.
When do I apply to the program?
Application deadlines are the second Friday in April for the fall class.
How often does the Fast Track admit?
Once per year in the fall.
How long does the Fast Track in nursing take to complete?
Once you are accepted into the Fast Track program at UCO, your coursework will be completed in 16 months.
Can students work full-time and complete this program?
This will be dependent upon your work schedule. For the majority of individuals, it is difficult to work full-time and go to school full-time. Working full-time is not recommended.
Can the nursing program be completed as a part-time student?
No, the Fast Track does not have a part-time option.
Can the nursing program be completed as a night student?
Currently, Fast Track nursing courses are only offered during the day with day and evening clinicals.
Are the classes on campus or online?
All Fast Track in Nursing courses are hybrid (at least 51% online).
What is the approximate cost of the nursing program?
Please refer to the current admission fees for cost per credit hour. In addition, there will be lab fees, uniforms, books, standardized testing fees, and OSBI fees. Tuition and fees can be calculated by using the tuition calculator.
What is the process to have my transcript evaluated?
The Academic Advisor for Nursing will evaluate your transcript for official recognition of courses that will transfer to UCO and courses remaining for the nursing department. You may contact the Nursing Advisor at FastTrackNursing@uco.edu
How do I know which courses will transfer to UCO?
To find out which courses will transfer to the University of Central Oklahoma, check the Transfer Equivalency Database.
How do I get admitted to UCO?
For general admission to the University of Central Oklahoma, please visit Undergraduate Admissions.
How many students are admitted to the nursing program?
On average, 56 students are admitted each fall semester.
How do I get an application packet for the nursing program?
Please see the Fast Track Nursing page for more information: https://www.uco.edu/programs/cms/program-nursing-fast-track
Which standardized test do I need to take for admission to the nursing program?
The nursing department no longer requires a standardized test for admission.
M.S., Nursing FAQs
Below are some of the more frequently asked questions regarding the M.S. Nursing program:
My GPA does not meet the requirement, are there any options?
Application may be made for conditional admission by students having an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50 or at least 2.25 with five years that have passed since the date of the first bachelor’s degree.
When are applications accepted?
Applications are accepted at any time. Preference for admission is given to individuals who submit applications by August 1st for fall admissions and December 1st for spring admissions.
Where do I apply?
You can submit an online application for admission to the Jackson College of Graduate Studies (JCGS).
Is there a separate nursing program application?
No, the nursing program utilizes the graduate college application.
When will I be notified if I have been admitted?
The Jackson Graduate College Advisor will send out letters within three weeks of the Nursing Department's accepted application.
Do I need to take an admission exam such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Millers Analogies Test (MAT)
No, these exams are not required.
How much experience is required to apply?
No experience is required. Applicants must be licensed as a registered nurse in the state of Oklahoma
What if I don't have an Oklahoma registered nurse license?
Individuals who are not licensed as a registered nurse in the state of Oklahoma or licensed in a state participating in the enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) must obtain licensure prior to acceptance into the program.
Can I take all of my coursework online?
Yes. All graduate-level nursing courses are 100% online.
When are the classes?
Classes are offered in 8-week lengths in Block 1 and Block 2 in fall and spring semesters and an 8-week course in the summer.
What if I want to take an elective from a program other than nursing?
Permission from the graduate coordinator, Leann Laubach, Ph.D., is required. Students who choose to take electives from other UCO programs will need to attend those courses in the format it is offered. Courses from other programs may not be offered in the 100% online format.
Is there a part-time option?
Students may progress in the program full-time or part-time. Full-time students can complete the program in four semesters taking two courses per 8-week block. Part-time students can complete the program by taking one course per block in seven semesters.
How are the practicum/clinical experiences coordinated?
Practicums will be individualized to each student in NURS 5414 Practice Immersion Experience. Faculty will work with students to locate a practicum/internship site that will provide a valuable experience suited to the individual’s learning needs related to the student's pathway (leadership or education).
What does a typical week look like in terms of schedules/assignments?
Study includes discussion boards and small scholarly papers/projects. Study from several courses assists the student in formulating work, culminating in their final course with a graduate project. Study includes ongoing mentoring from faculty in small classes.
Is there an Associate to Master’s degree option?
This option is not available at this time.
Are there clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner options?
Those options are currently not available.
What are the study focus areas?
The UCO nursing graduate program has two pathways for study: leadership and education.
Can I transfer credit from another university into this degree?
A maximum of 10 semester hours of graduate credit from an appropriately-accredited, degree-granting institution may be transferred to a graduate degree program at the University of Central Oklahoma. Courses that have been used to satisfy degree requirements at other universities, generally cannot count toward degrees at UCO.
Is the program accredited?
Yes, the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). For more information, see the Department of Nursing home page under the Accreditation heading.
Where may I find more information about admission requirements and academic regulations of the graduate college?
The graduate college catalog can be found online in PDF format.
What are the estimated costs of the program?
Tuition costs for the graduate nursing program are a fixed cost of $15,000 for 34 graduate-level credits.
How many credits are in the degree?
The Master in Nursing degree at UCO is a 34-credit program. The degree consists of 22 core credits, nine pathway credits, and three elective course credits for a total of 34.
How long will it take me to complete the degree?
A student attending two courses per 8-week block per semester can complete the degree in four semesters (counting a summer semester).
I took undergraduate courses at UCO, do I still need to provide transcripts to the graduate college?
As a courtesy to students, the Jackson College of Graduate Studies prints transcripts from UCO. Transcripts that have already been submitted to UCO do not need to be resubmitted.