Undergraduate Preparation: The most common route for a Roanoke graduate interested in pursuing a career as a nurse is to enter a program that is specifically designed for individuals holding a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. These programs typically are referred to as "Accelerated Second Degree Programs" or "BA/BS to RN Programs." Depending on the school, the program requires 15 months or two years. Students can major in any academic discipline, but should have at least a 3.0 grade point average and have completed the following courses with no grade below a "C":

• Anatomy and Physiology (2 courses)
• Basic Chemistry (1 course)
• Microbiology (1 course)
• Statistics (1 course)
• Psychology (1 course)
• Sociology (1 course)

Prerequisites may vary from school to school.  See this list for some local schools offering accelerated second degree programs.