The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN/BSN) program at South College is designed to promote a strong academic and clinical foundation as you build on your knowledge and skills as an LPN including the fundamental skills required of a nurse generalist, including the basics of medical care, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and technical competence required for taking required certification/licensure exams.
Nursing is a challenging field and in the BSN program, you will learn aspects of being a key part of the healthcare team providing collaborative, interdisciplinary care, leading to better outcomes for patients. With classroom, laboratory, and clinical training from our experienced team of instructors, you can gain the knowledge and skills that are most important in delivering superior patient care.
The first two years of South College’s traditional BSN program consist of general education/core prerequisite courses that provide the liberal arts framework for the more advanced portions of the program. In the upper division nursing courses, students undertake a rigorous schedule with about 20 hours of in-class time per week.
To deliver the highest-quality education, we use tools such as case studies, presentations, Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) resources, and other creative teaching approaches.
As you work toward your future professional goals, review the related information at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The BSN program requires you to be committed, focused, and eager to provide the best possible patient care. A commitment to lifelong learning, critical thinking, inquisitiveness, and collaboration are all important as well. This program entails extensive work outside of the classroom, including reading and analysis. For every hour of class time, students should expect about 2 hours of independent study. You must use your time wisely and develop a strong work ethic to meet the program’s demands.
South College is dedicated to supporting all of our students during their academic journeys. Our experienced instructors are available to mentor each student, and we also provide tutoring and help with core skills through the Math Lab and Writing Lab. Our relationship with local healthcare providers allows us to arrange excellent clinical placements that offer a variety of experience, including the latest cutting-edge techniques and equipment. We are committed to preparing each student to take the NCLEX-RN exam, utilizing proven teaching and testing methods to help ensure success.
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN NURSING, CERTIFICATE IN PRACTICAL NURSING
State Authorization (Asheville, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Nashville, Orlando, & Pittsburgh)
The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received initial approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in December 2003, with full approval granted in September 2008. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2016. The Master of Science in Nursing program received approval in November 2016. The Doctor of Nursing Practice program received approval in February 2020. The Post-Graduate Certificate programs received approval in August 2021. The South College Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Asheville Learning Site received initial approval from the North Carolina Board of Nursing in February 2016, with full approval granted in May 2019. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Atlanta Learning Site received initial approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing in September 2018. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Orlando Learning Site received initial approval from the Florida Board of Nursing in November 2021. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Indianapolis campus received initial approval from the Indiana Board of Nursing in July 2022. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered at the Pittsburgh campus received initial approval from the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing in April 2023.
The South College Associate of Science in Nursing program (Knoxville & Nashville Learning Site) was approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing in November 2022. The Associate of Science in Nursing program offered at the Orlando Learning Site was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing in January 2023. The Associate of Science in Nursing program offered at the Atlanta Learning Site was approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing in March 2023. The Associate of Science in Nursing program offered at the Pittsburgh Learning Site was approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing in November 2023.
The South College Certificate program in Practical Nursing offered at the Parkside Learning Site (Knoxville) received approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing in February 2018. Approval for the addition of the Nashville Learning Site was granted in November 2018. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing for the Atlanta Learning Site in May 2019 to begin the first class in June 2020. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Florida Board of Nursing for the Orlando Learning Site in November 2021. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing for the Pittsburgh Learning Site in March 2023. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing was approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing for the Asheville Learning Site in May 2023. The Certificate program in Practical Nursing at the Indianapolis campus received initial approval from the Indiana Board of Nursing in July 2023.
Programmatic Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs offered at South College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program was granted initial accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) effective October 13, 2021. The address for COA is: 10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906, Rosemont, IL 60018-5603, Phone number: 224-275-9130, website address: www.coacrna.org. Additionally, during the same October 2021 accreditation meeting, the COA granted the following two items for the South College DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program: (1) Approval of Distance Education Courses, and (2) Approval of Waiver of Graduate Degree Requirement.
Amounts for tuition, fees, books, and supplies are subject to change. South College follows the required methodology provided by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the reporting of employment information for graduates. This information is compiled on an annual basis and published via the institution website each year for graduates during the most recently completed reporting year (July 1-June 30). For more detailed information related to the calculation of graduate employment rates, please click here.
It was not something I needed to learn to do, it was something I was supposed to do [becoming a nurse]. After 38 years it was just something that was kicking in.
- Charlie Lee, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
While I was looking at programs, South College’s DPT program had a unique atmosphere and was a program that was challenging the traditional brick and mortar DPT education model. It was something I wanted to be a part of, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the top PTs and educators in the country.
- Audrey Sherles, Doctor of Physical Therapy
You never feel like part of a headcount, and you can have conversations with your professors. I don’t think other schools give you the personal touch South College does.
- Lisa Farmer, Bachelor in Nursing (BSN- Accelerated)
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