This is good news: Western to offer nursing degree / QCTimes.com

Western Illinois University has received final approval to begin offering its four-year bachelor of science in nursing, or BSN, degree program this fall.

The announcement was made Wednesday after approval came from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The new 125-semester-hour degree is designed for individuals who wish to become registered nurses and obtain a bachelor’s degree. Western’s program will allow students to begin their education at WIU as a freshman in the pre-BSN option, complete two years of general education and nursing support courses, and then apply for admission to the School of Nursing.

“A lot of hard work and support from President Al Goldfarb, Dean (Inessa) Levi and Provost (Jack) Thomas has made this program a reality. I’m excited that Western will now provide a pre-licensure program for students seeking bachelor’s nursing education,” said Lea Monahan, the director of the WIU School of Nursing. “We are accepting applications from those students who have completed the general education curriculum and the nursing support courses or are in the second semester of their sophomore year.”