Establishment of Programs

The Division of Nursing at the University of South Carolina Aiken was established in 1971 to offer the associate degree in technical nursing and graduated its first class in May 1973. In 1985, the University received approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education to grant the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to registered nurse students who held an associate degree or diploma in nursing. As a result of university-wide reorganization of academic programs, the division of nursing became the School of Nursing in 1986. The School of Nursing received approval to offer the baccalaureate degree in nursing to traditional students beginning fall 2000. The associate degree program was eliminated in December 2005.

Differentiated Education

The School of Nursing provides for articulation of associate degree and diploma graduates into the RN/BSN Completion track following the Statewide Articulation Model. Students are awarded 34 hours of major credit toward the BSN and credit for general education courses that are applicable to the degree. The RN/BSN Completion program of study is offered asynchronously online.