Plan ahead What is the most streamlined sequence for students interested in the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program?
- Start as a first-year student in health and exercise science, human development and family studies, or nutrition science and select the Pre-Nursing Concentration. (Students who start at CSU in another major or Exploratory Studies should change their major to one of these three in the first year to ensure eligibility).
- To ensure eligibility to apply, students must take all prerequisite classes by the end of the third semester (before applying to the 3+2 Program) and during the fourth semester (while awaiting admissions status).
- Apply to the 3+2 dual degree program in the fall of your second year. The application for the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program opens every fall semester.
- Qualified candidates will be invited to participate in interviews. Learn your admission status by early March.
- Complete prerequisites and B.S. required coursework during the spring, summer, and fall terms following application submission.
- Coursework in the Nursing program begins one year after admission to the program, in the spring semester.
- Complete all coursework in Fort Collins and earn both degrees designed to be completed in five years.
3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program at CSU FAQs
How do I know if the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program is right for me?
- You’ve always dreamed of being a nurse and know it’s the right career for you.
- You are a highly motivated, high-achieving student ready for an academically challenging and focused path to nursing.
- You want to spend five years in Fort Collins, where you can delve into your interest area in one of three undergraduate majors (health and exercise science, human development and family studies, or nutrition science) and connect with world-class scientists at a Carnegie R1 research institute.
- You are a first-time first-year student. New first-year students transferring credits from high school or community college should check with academic advisers to understand how those credits will be applied to the required coursework in the degree program.
What situations are not ideal for the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program at CSU?
The 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program is not recommended for students who are not first-time, first-year students, such as sophomores, juniors, seniors, and transfer students.
Why? The 3+2 program is a five-year program. Additional years to your anticipated graduation year may negatively impact financial aid eligibility.
What other options are available if I start at CSU but decide nursing is not for me?
The 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program is not for everyone. CSU offers pre-nursing concentrations that are designed for students interested in pursuing their interests in health and exercise science, human development and family studies, or nutrition science, to provide many other education and career options to explore. Consult with your academic adviser and Health Career Pathways Advisers and decide what’s best for you.
Students who don’t apply to the 3+2, aren’t accepted, or transfer into the pre-nursing concentrations can graduate with a B.S. that includes prerequisites to apply for an accelerated Postbaccalaureate nursing degree at another institution. Learn more on the Health Career Pathways Advising nurse page.
Students who start with a pre-nursing concentration can also switch to other concentrations or majors and graduate from CSU with a degree that prepares them for many career and graduate education opportunities in healthcare and many other industries.
Does the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program include a B.S.N. degree?
No. The undergraduate degrees associated with the 3+2 Dual Degree Program in Nursing at CSU are the B.S. in health and exercise science, B.S. in human development and family studies, and B.S. in nutrition science. The 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program pairs each of these undergraduate degrees with the Master of Science degree in nursing from CSU Pueblo, which qualifies graduates to take the NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse.
Can I earn a B.S.N. in Fort Collins?
No. CSU Pueblo’s School of Nursing does not offer a B.S.N. in Fort Collins, and Colorado State University does not offer any nursing degree programs — only the non-nursing bachelor’s degree programs in health and exercise science, human development and family studies, and nutrition science, which offer pre-nursing pathway concentrations that pair with CSU Pueblo’s 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program.
Students may pursue a B.S.N. and other CSU Pueblo School of Nursing degree options at the Pueblo campus and online. CSU’s Health Career Pathways Advising Nurse page provides a list of accredited nursing programs in Colorado.
Can I complete the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program with the HDFS or HES Accelerated Program?
No. The sequential prerequisite coursework required in the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program is offered in specific semesters and cannot be accelerated. Please consult with your academic adviser to learn more about your specific degree plan.
Can I participate in the Honors Program and the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program?
No. The 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program follows a highly structured academic plan that allows students to progress efficiently into nursing coursework.
Because the program requires more than 80 credits in the first five semesters and begins nursing coursework in semester six, students do not have the flexibility needed to complete Honors Program requirements concurrently.
Can I study abroad and participate in the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program?
Studying abroad may be possible during your first year before applying to the 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program. However, once admitted to the program, students follow a structured course sequence that does not provide flexibility for study abroad experiences.
If studying abroad is an important goal for you, talk with your academic adviser early to explore your options and determine how they align with your academic and career plans.
Is the Pre-Nursing Concentration offered online?
No. The Pre-Nursing Pathway Concentration degree programs are offered only in person at the Fort Collins campus. Some individual courses may be available online; however, most courses and all experiential learning courses will be on campus or on-site.
Are there scholarships available for the program?
While you are taking pre-nursing concentration classes and classes for your undergraduate major, you are eligible to apply for CSU scholarships through the CSU Scholarship Application.
While you are taking nursing classes for your Master’s in Nursing, you are eligible to apply for CSU Pueblo scholarships.
How much is tuition and fees for the 3+2 program?
While you are taking pre-nursing concentration classes and classes for your undergraduate major, you will pay CSU undergraduate tuition and fees.
While you are taking nursing classes for your your Master’s in Nursing, you will pay CSU Pueblo tuition and fees.