Skip to Main Content

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

1+2+1 Dual Degree Program

Apply today
Request More Info (Undergrad Short Program Form)

Request More Info

Choose Saint Rose for Your Bachelor of Science in Nursing

You are a caring, compassionate person with a drive to help others. You’re looking for a rewarding career in healthcare with flexibility, competitive pay, and leadership opportunities.

At Saint Rose you’ll graduate with two degrees — an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing — and the knowledge and skills to secure a job that you’ll love in a thriving career field. Additionally, you will round out your education with exciting electives and leadership opportunities you wouldn’t experience in a traditional nursing program.

With a growing demand for baccalaureate-prepared nurses and a nation-wide nursing shortage, earning your BSN now is a smart investment in your future.

Our Mission

Grounded in the distinctive and diverse liberal arts courses offered at the College, the 1+2+1 Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, consistent with the mission of The College of Saint Rose, prepares the graduate to pursue professional excellence and advocate for social justice in the provision of safe, quality nursing care.

The College of Saint Rose nursing graduate is prepared with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve as a partner in the advancement of health care and through leadership, affect the determinants of holistic health for every individual and population.

Learn From The Best

Preparing the next generation of nursing professionals is a serious job. That’s why we partnered with two top-tier nursing schools through St. Peter’s Health Partners to provide you with a comprehensive education.

Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing and St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing have a long tradition of preparing nurses who excel in their careers. Their students have a near-perfect pass rate for the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) and score consistently higher than the average pass rate in New York State.

St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing Heinrich Medicus Patient Pavilion SamaritanSamaritan Hospital School of Nursing

You will spend your sophomore and junior years split between traditional learning at Saint Rose and clinical preparation at either school. Transportation to these locations will be provided.

Admission to The College of St. Rose  1+2+1 program is competitive.  The following are the criteria for consideration of admission to the program.

  • First-year students only*
  • Minimum cumulative high school GPA of 85%, B or 3.0
  • Must have taken the following high school courses and earned at least an 85, 3.0, or B grade: Biology with a lab, Chemistry with a lab, Algebra I, Algebra II
  • One Letter of Recommendation – from your school counselor, teacher, coach, employer, volunteer coordinator, or another professional who can discuss your qualifications for admission. The letter may not be written by a relative.
  • An in-person or virtual interview
  • A personal essay

*The 1+2+1 sequence is specific to first-year students. However, if you are a transfer student and are interested in our nursing program, please reach out to Director of Transfer Admissions, Sandra Battaglino to discuss opportunities at battagls@strose.edu.

Program Highlights

Take nursing courses as early as your first year
Nursing courses start as early as the first semester of your first year and are designed to prepare you for clinical work and the rigors of the program.

Gain more than 922 hours of clinical experience
Work in geriatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics, and pediatrics, preparing you for a variety of career settings and leadership opportunities.

Be prepared to take your NCLEX exam at the end of year 3
Receive your associate degree in nursing and become a Registered Nurse (RN) in three years, once you take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

  • Live within walking distance or a short drive from the Capital Region’s top medical centers, hospitals, birthing centers, and state agencies, such as Saint Peter’s Health Partners, Albany Medical Center, and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
  • Live on campus all four years and experience other opportunities outside of academics, such as joining student clubs, participating in activities, and making life-long friendships.
  • Complete your bachelor’s degree one year after receiving your associate degree — so you won’t have to worry about a New York State law (like many states) that requires nurses to receive their BSN within 10 years of receiving their nursing license. You’ll already have met the requirements upon graduation, making you an even more appealing job candidate and opening up many more employment opportunities.
  • Participate in a white coat ceremony after your first year and before you begin clinical hours at St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing or Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing, celebrating the beginning of your nursing career.
  • To provide students with exceptional, innovative learning opportunities in the liberal arts and nursing.
  • To prepare safe, knowledgeable, caring graduates capable of serving individuals, families, and local, national, and global communities through safe, quality, person-centered, culturally sensitive, evidence-based, holistic nursing care.
  • To develop nurses who lead with integrity, are knowledgeable in nursing science, adept in research, comfortable with technology, and confidently prepared for the challenge of working within a changing healthcare environment.
  • To instill in students a passion for life-long learning.
  1. Integrate knowledge and skills from a liberal arts education in applying evidence-based solutions and technology to communicate, manage, educate, and support decision making across the continuum of lifespan and care settings and is committed to life-long learning. (BSN Essentials I, III, IV, &VIII)
  2. Manage health information and evolving communication technologies to improve care coordination, mitigate errors, and provide safe, efficient care. (BSN Essentials IV)
  3. Integrate critical thinking skills using theory, observation, evidence, and practice experiences to help promote and maintain health, prevent disease, and manage illness. (BSN Essentials III, VII, IX)
  4. Demonstrate leadership and professional accountability in advocating for and influencing policy decisions to improve health care that is ethical, effective, timely, efficient, and equitable for all members of society. (BSN Essentials II, V, VI, VIII)
  5. Collaborate within nursing and inter-professional teams fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision making in a safe caring environment, which results in high quality patient outcomes for diverse populations. (BSN Essentials II, VI)
  6. Deliver safe, holistic, person-centered care, demonstrating a commitment for embracing diversity and cultural differences in promoting health for self, individuals, families, and communities. (BSN Essentials VIII, IX)

Faculty and Staff

Receive dual advisement from both Saint Rose faculty and the experts at our clinical partners.

Get to know our exceptional team of educators who will act as your mentors throughout the academic and clinical aspects of the program.

Cassandra Marshall, DNP, RN Chair of Nursing

Doctor Marshall’s nursing experience includes Med-Surg Urology/Oncology, Cardiac/Telemetry, and school nursing. She has served as a course chair at Saint Peter’s College of Nursing, as well as a capstone educator and peer evaluator.

I love the lightbulb effect! It truly amazes me to watch students use their experiences to expand their scope of practice and application into the clinical environment. While I have several different areas of expertise, my passion has always been rooted in education. I am driven to continue to be an integral part of students educational journey by empowering them to use their knowledge to gain confidence and transform the nursing profession.”

Education:
Capella University | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT
MS Nursing – Education

Russell Sage College | Troy, NY
BS Nursing, Psychology Minor

Angela Cox Dean of Student Services at St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing

Angela has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Counseling both from The College of Saint Rose.

She has worked in higher education for 30 years in admissions, academic advisement and student services.

She loves nursing education because she enjoys seeing the transformation of the students into critical thinkers and compassionate care givers. It is very fulfilling to be a part of their journey.  Additionally, she loves that their nursing degree is often life changing for many of our graduates, allowing them to pursue a multi-faceted career with various employment opportunities and good earning potential.

Mariam Gawdat PHARM. D Adjunct faculty

Dr. Gawdat is an actively practicing pharmacist both in the community and in pharmaceutical research.  She is passionate about teaching, especially her favorite fields of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. Dr. Gawdat is pleased and honored to be part of the College of Saint Rose community. She aspires to continue making positive differences in the lives of her patients, students, and healthcare team.

Education
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany NY- Professional science Masters 2022

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany NY- Doctor of Pharmacy degree with a nephrology concentration 2019

Siena College, Albany NY- Bachelors of Biology degree with minors in Health Studies and in Franciscan Service and Advocacy 2015

Melody Sardella MSN, RN Full time Faculty

Professor Sardella’s nursing experience includes maternity nursing and working in the Pre-Admission Testing department, both at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. This will be her second year teaching at the BSN level.

Professor Sardella is passionate about providing evidence-based, compassionate care. She loves teaching, sharing her clinical experiences and interacting with students. Nursing leadership is a strong passion of hers. She hopes to be a strong role model and mentor to all her students; helping them become caring, compassionate future leaders in the profession.

Education
SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY- BS Human Development 2013

Southern Vermont College, Bennington, VT- BSN 2016

SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY- MSN in Nursing Administration 2021

SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY- Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Nursing Education 2022

Cassandra Marshall, DNP, RNChair of Nursing

Doctor Marshall’s nursing experience includes Med-Surg Urology/Oncology, Cardiac/Telemetry, and school nursing. She has served as a course chair at Saint Peter’s College of Nursing, as well as a capstone educator and peer evaluator.

I love the lightbulb effect! It truly amazes me to watch students use their experiences to expand their scope of practice and application into the clinical environment. While I have several different areas of expertise, my passion has always been rooted in education. I am driven to continue to be an integral part of students educational journey by empowering them to use their knowledge to gain confidence and transform the nursing profession.”

Education:
Capella University | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT
MS Nursing – Education

Russell Sage College | Troy, NY
BS Nursing, Psychology Minor

Angela CoxDean of Student Services at St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing

Angela has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Counseling both from The College of Saint Rose.

She has worked in higher education for 30 years in admissions, academic advisement and student services.

She loves nursing education because she enjoys seeing the transformation of the students into critical thinkers and compassionate care givers. It is very fulfilling to be a part of their journey.  Additionally, she loves that their nursing degree is often life changing for many of our graduates, allowing them to pursue a multi-faceted career with various employment opportunities and good earning potential.

Mariam Gawdat PHARM. DAdjunct faculty

Dr. Gawdat is an actively practicing pharmacist both in the community and in pharmaceutical research.  She is passionate about teaching, especially her favorite fields of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. Dr. Gawdat is pleased and honored to be part of the College of Saint Rose community. She aspires to continue making positive differences in the lives of her patients, students, and healthcare team.

Education
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany NY- Professional science Masters 2022

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany NY- Doctor of Pharmacy degree with a nephrology concentration 2019

Siena College, Albany NY- Bachelors of Biology degree with minors in Health Studies and in Franciscan Service and Advocacy 2015

Melody Sardella MSN, RNFull time Faculty

Professor Sardella’s nursing experience includes maternity nursing and working in the Pre-Admission Testing department, both at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. This will be her second year teaching at the BSN level.

Professor Sardella is passionate about providing evidence-based, compassionate care. She loves teaching, sharing her clinical experiences and interacting with students. Nursing leadership is a strong passion of hers. She hopes to be a strong role model and mentor to all her students; helping them become caring, compassionate future leaders in the profession.

Education
SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY- BS Human Development 2013

Southern Vermont College, Bennington, VT- BSN 2016

SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY- MSN in Nursing Administration 2021

SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, NY- Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate in Nursing Education 2022

History of Nursing at Saint Rose

Throughout its history, the Saint Rose nursing program combined theory with practice, including a full foundation of academic study followed by practice in affiliate hospitals throughout New York State.

In 1932, Saint Rose inaugurated the first five-year nursing program in the Eastern U.S., supporting its charter of helping students cultivate their cultural and creative gifts while serving their community. Initially a five-year course of study, the program was later shortened to four years. In 1943, to aid the war effort by preparing nurses more quickly, Saint Rose added a three-year RN option to the B.S. in Nursing. Due to changes in the field, Saint Rose discontinued its nursing program in the late 1950s, but we were proud to announce its return in fall 2020.

Career Outlook

Today, professional, competent nurses are in demand.

Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the national average.

National average salary for nurses in 2018 $75,510
In New York State, the average salary for nurses in 2018$85,610[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]

Explore your career opportunities

Not all nurses work at hospitals or healthcare centers. There are a variety of career settings and paths you can take after graduation.

  • Hospitals
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • outpatient settings
  • physician offices
  • clinics
  • insurance companies
  • government
  • community health
  • elementary or high schools
  • universities
  • correctional healthcare facilities
  • private practice
  • Indian Health Services
  • legal systems
  • birth centers

If you pursue a graduate-level degree in an applicable field and become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, these skilled professionals go on to rewarding careers as:

  • nurse practitioners
  • clinical nurse specialists
  • nurse-midwives
  • nurse anesthetists

Contact Us

Of course, if you have any questions, please reach out. We’re here to help.

Contact Information

Undergraduate Admissions

518.454.5150

Got Questions?

Got Questions? (Undergrad Short Program Form)
Request More Info
Schedule a Visit
Apply Now

Get Our Nursing Guide!