Traditional Nursing Bachelor's Program
Join Colorado's #1 two-year BS in Nursing program
Need a little extra time?
The Summer 2025 TRAD application deadline has been
extended to February 1, 2025.
The Traditional Pathway is a full-time, 24-month Bachelor of Science option, designed for students who may or may not have earned a degree in the past. This program includes classroom, clinical simulation, and clinical practice as part of the curriculum. The Traditional Pathway program will be primarily offered at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. However, Traditional students may be required to attend some classes or labs at the CU South Denver location in Lone Tree. Students interested in the Traditional Pathway option apply through NursingCAS before the application deadline. Once admitted, students begin their program the following summer semester. The pace of the Traditional Pathway facilitates the integration of learning and acknowledges that students balance a number of responsibilities while completing their nursing education. However, please note that this is a full-time program of study; many students find it difficult to work more than 10-20 hours per week.
Example Plan of Study
Following is the current plan of study for the traditional BS Nursing pathway: BS Traditional Study Plan.
- Display novice, professional nursing leadership qualities to promote quality and safe care.
- Engage in effective communication and collaboration in intra– and interdisciplinary teams across a variety of contexts.
- Provide socially just, ethical, and inclusive care to diverse populations across the continuum of care.
- Apply principles of healthcare informatics as a meaningful user of health information systems and technology.
- Reference relevant theoretical frameworks to improve patient and population health outcomes across a range of settings.
- Integrate evidence-based practice into patient-centered care using the nursing process across a range of settings.
- Articulate how policy, advocacy, finance and regulatory environments influence healthcare delivery.
A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in nursing provides a wide variety of career choices. Upon successful completion of the BS nursing program and the national licensure examination (NCLEX), baccalaureate prepared nurses are able to choose from a wide variety of practice settings.
Additionally, unlike graduates prepared with an associate degree in nursing, bachelor's prepared nurses are able to pursue advanced degrees in nursing including careers as an adult or pediatric nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife or certified nurse anesthetist. Doctorate level education is also possible for bachelors prepared nurses who wish to pursue a PhD or DNP (doctor of nursing practice).
Examples of potential practice areas for a bachelor of science graduate include:
- Providing patient care in the hospital settings (the most popular choice of nursing graduates).
- Caring for patients in community based settings.
- Providing nursing leadership through nursing management positions.
- Pursuing a nursing career at Magnet designated hospital facilities.
- Providing nursing care to individuals, families and communities internationally.
- Working in clinical research by coordinating human subject studies.
- Helping shape future nursing clinicians through teaching opportunities.
View the BS Alumni Report 2016 to see which positions and settings
our undergraduate alumni move on to following graduation.
For more information on the wide variety of career options available to BS in nursing graduates, please visit the Johnson and Johnson Discovering Nursing website.
Please see the following notice: Nursing Certification Disclaimer.
