For those researching accredited nursing degree programs in Mississippi, the Magnolia State offers a number of highly ranked and academically rigorous options at both private and public institutions. Mississippi boasts the lowest cost of living in the United States, making it an ideal place to pursue higher education and a career upon graduation. Mississippians also rank consistently well in terms of charitable giving, which no doubt contributes to the state’s other nickname of “the Hospitality State.” Nurses who graduate from the programs outlined below should also expect good career opportunities since the state is in need of high-quality health practitioners.
Delta State University
Robert E. Smith School of Nursing
Founded by a legislative act in 1924, Delta State University held its first classes in the summer of 1925. The school began as a teaching college, and it continues that tradition by focusing on academic programs that center around the field of education while incorporating contemporary degrees in various subjects. Today, nearly 4,000 students attend the school at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The school has not raised its comparatively low tuition rate in three years, and students here enjoy a small student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. Noted academic programs include aviation, the Delta Music Institute and the Geospatial Information Technology.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
For students interested in nursing careers, Delta State offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing under the direction of the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing. This program is designed for students who are not yet practicing nurses. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to attain licensure by sitting for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, which will result in licensing as a registered nurse. The school values experiential learning. As such, nursing students gain the benefits of face-to-face feedback sessions with experienced faculty as well as a “skills and simulation” lab that presents students with real-life examples and training opportunities. The degree requires 63 hours of non-nursing support courses, which cover topics such as microbiology, nutrition, English composition and sociology. In addition, students will complete program-specific courses on subjects such as nursing for adult clients, mental health nursing, and basic pathophysiology. Graduates must also pass a writing exam to earn the degree.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Delta State University
Robert E. Smith School of Nursing
Highway 8 West
Cleveland, MS 38733
Phone: (662) 846-4255
Email: nursing@deltastate.edu
Website: http://www.deltastate.edu/school-of-nursing/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing/
Mississippi College
School of Nursing
Mississippi College holds the distinction of being Mississippi’s oldest university and the second-oldest Baptist college in the country. Founded in 1826, the school continues to uphold its religious background by striving to be “recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ,” and its curriculum is centered on several core values: fidelity, integrity, knowledge, service, respect, excellence and stewardship. U.S. News and World Report ranks the college at a tie for number 32 on its list of the best regional schools in the South. Those looking for accredited nursing degree programs in Mississippi will appreciate Mississippi College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Mississippi College’s School of Nursing has been educating nurses since 1969, and more than 1,500 people have graduated from the program since its inception. Students can pursue the bachelor’s degree on campus or online. In addition to the general education requirements in the liberal arts and sciences, the nursing degree requires students to complete 60 hours of nursing-specific coursework, covering topics such as health assessment, pharmacology and research. Once students complete the degree requirements and graduate, they can take the NCLEX licensing exam. Mississippi College graduates boast a pass rate of 99.8 percent, which means that students who attend the school stand a high chance of successfully entering the nursing field. Nursing students at Mississippi College also have access to international learning experiences and missions-based trips, and they can participate in three distinct nursing student organizations. The school’s annual Career Day also draws over 20 health agencies to recruit future nurses.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Mississippi College
School of Nursing
Box 4037
200 S. Capitol Street
Clinton, MS 39056
Phone: (601) 925-3278
Email: ksharp@mc.edu
Website: http://www.mc.edu/academics/majors/undergraduate/nursing/
Mississippi University for Women
College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology
After more than two decades of planning and campaigning, Mississippi University for Women opened in 1884 to become the first state-supported university designed solely for women in the United States. The school was initially called The Industrial Institute and College, and it sought to educate women for technical vocations. Over the past 130 years, the school has evolved to encompass a wide range of academic programs, and while it has remained largely a women’s college, the university has accepted men since the 1980s. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school at number 18 on a list of the best regional schools in the south.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Students who are interested in accredited nursing degree programs in Mississippi can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing under the direction of Mississippi University for Women’s College of Nursing & Speech-Language Pathology. The BSN program is designed as a generalist program, which means that students will gain exposure to a broad range of academic subjects and scenarios in an effort to promote well-rounded college graduates. Students who graduate will be able to pursue higher-level education as well as general careers within the field of nursing. In total, the undergraduate degree program requires completion of 128 credit hours, about half of which are focused on nursing-specific subjects such as therapeutic interventions, sociocultural responsibility and pharmacology. The remaining credit requirements cover general education, math courses, communication courses and liberal arts studies. The school also offers an advanced RN-to-BSN program that has been ranked as one of the best hybrid programs in the country.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
Mississippi University for Women
College of Nursing & Speech-Language Pathology
1100 College Street
Columbus, MS 39701
Phone: (662) 329-7301
Email: bsn@muw.edu
Website: http://www.muw.edu/nslp/bsn/bsn
University of Mississippi Medical Center
School of Nursing
Approximately 3,000 students attend the University of Mississippi Medical Center, a unique institution centered on health-based careers. As the only academic health science center in the state, UMMC provides training through six distinct schools: dentistry, graduate studies, health-related professions, medicine, nursing and pharmacy. UMMC acts as the health sciences portion of the University of Mississippi, and while it was founded in 1955, its origins trace back to 1903 with the establishment of a resident medical school at the Oxford campus of its parent school. The medical center is also one of Mississippi’s largest employers with more than 10,000 people under its payroll.
Traditional BSN
As a branch of the University of Mississippi, the UMMC enables students looking for accredited nursing degree programs in Mississippi to explore a wide variety of educational opportunities via its School of Nursing, which is the oldest nursing school in the state. Students who want to become nurses can pursue a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing by completing the school’s general education requirements combined with nursing-specific coursework. The school’s unique learning environment includes the state’s only Level 1 trauma center as well as the only children’s hospital in Mississippi. Future nurses will gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting. The nursing program at UMMC is a “2+2” program, which means that students complete an initial set of general prerequisite courses at any college before enrolling in the actual nursing program, which starts in May each year. Nursing candidates must complete 62 hours of prerequisite coursework in order to apply to the BSN program.
Accelerated BSN
For those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a different field, UMMC offers an accelerated program leading to licensure as a nurse. The Accelerated BSN program gives post-baccalaureate students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing without the added educational requirements of a first-time student. The program takes 12 months to complete on a continuous, three-semester system. Once completed, students will earn their BSN degree and be eligible to sit for the nursing licensing exam. Students can pursue this option at either the Jackson or Oxford campus, and the accelerated program has been nationally ranked as well as accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Due to the nature of the program, students are encouraged to forego working while enrolled since part-time enrollment is not permitted. The Jackson program starts in January while the Oxford program starts each August. Details about each campus’s program can be found online.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
University of Mississippi Medical Center
School of Nursing
2500 N. State St.
Jackson, MS 39216-4505
Phone: (601) 984-1000
Email: admissioncounselor@umc.edu
Website: https://www.umc.edu/son/
University of Southern Mississippi
College of Nursing
The University of Southern Mississippi was established as the Mississippi Normal College in 1910 for the purpose of educating future teachers. Today, the university boasts an impressive number of academic programs, with more than 140 options at the undergraduate level and over 200 graduate-level and doctoral tracks. Fall 2015 enrollment saw just over 14,500 students attending classes through one of the school’s two main campuses, five research centers and online platform. The university prides itself on being a “haven for the arts,” and students who attend classes here will have ample opportunity to explore a variety of arts-based activities and athletic programs.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Those looking into accredited nursing degree programs in Mississippi will appreciate the Bachelor of Science in Nursing offered by Southern Miss’s College of Nursing. According to the department’s website, the school seeks to “prepare the graduate for entry level positions in a variety of health care services,” and those who complete the program will be able to pursue graduate-level degrees as well. To apply for the BSN program, students need to maintain a 2.5 GPA in non-nursing prerequisite coursework, earn an ACT score of 21 or higher, complete three of the five science prerequisites, and submit proof of the following: a physical exam, appropriate immunizations and vaccines, a TB skin test and CPR certification. The degree requires completion of 128 credit hours, 59 of which are general education and liberal arts courses. The remaining 69 come from upper-division nursing courses on topics such as evidence-based practices, chronic conditions and health care systems.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
University of Southern Mississippi
College of Nursing
Elizabeth Harkins Hall (EHH), 110
118 College Drive, Box #5095
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Phone: (601) 266-5454
Email: Contact form available online
Website: https://www.usm.edu/nursing/bachelor-science-nursing-bsn
William Carey University
Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing
William Carey University started out as a boarding school in 1892, but several natural disasters and the Great Depression of the 1930s forced the original school and its successive buildings to close, evolve and become the college it now is today. Originally intended as a women’s college, the university now offers academic degree programs to men and women alike at its two physical campus locations and through its online platform. The school’s motto is based on its longstanding history as religious institution and pays homage to the university’s namesake, missionary William Carey: “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Once students have completed the non-nursing prerequisites outlined by William Carey University, they can apply for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered through the college’s Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing. The nursing program itself has been designed at an accelerated pace, and upon entering the program, students can complete the nursing requirements in about 18 months. Students can start the nursing program during spring or fall semesters at either the Hattiesburg or Tradition campus. Nursing courses cover a broad range of topics, including gerontological and psychiatric nursing, community health nursing, and women’s and children’s health nursing. Coursework is divided into different levels as a student progresses through the program. Non-nursing coursework includes topics such as anatomy and physiology, nutrition and diet therapy, developmental psychology and humanities courses. To apply for the nursing program, students need to maintain a grade of “C” or better in prerequisite coursework.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Contact
William Carey University
Joseph and Nancy Fail School of Nursing
Hattiesburg campus:
498 Tuscan Ave.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: (601) 318-6147
Email: akrebs@wmcarey.edu
Tradition campus:
19640 Highway 67
Biloxi, MS 39532
Phone: (228) 702-1825
Email: rdennis@wmcarey.edu
Website: http://www.wmcarey.edu/baccalaureate-degree
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses will enjoy greater job security over the next several years. By 2022, job growth is expected to reach 16 percent, much faster than the average for other occupations. Nurses play an integral role in everyday life, and obtaining the right education ensures success in the field. When searching for accredited nursing degree programs in Mississippi, prospective students will find a variety of options at the schools outlined above.
