Frequently Asked Questions

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers two new undergraduate programs — a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. PC’s existing Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Management is also offered through the school. Other future undergraduate and graduate health-related degree programs will be explored.

Students will have opportunities to share their talents within the local community through service-learning initiatives and the option to experience global perspectives in healthcare while studying abroad. Currently students studying health policy and management can study abroad in one of more than 20 HPM-endorsed programs in Europe, Africa, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. With the addition of the nursing and health sciences majors, the school has partnered with the Center for Global Education to enhance our catalog of offerings. The programs under development, including programs in London and Puerto Rico, provide opportunities for students to experience cultural immersion and language learning through a nursing and health sciences lens. They are also shorter than the traditional semester-long programs to accommodate curricular scheduling challenges, particularly for nursing students.

Nursing is more than a career — it’s a calling. Grounded in Providence College’s Catholic and Dominican tradition, PC’s nursing program will provide a holistic approach to healthcare education. Whether students decide to immediately enter the field or pursue advanced nursing degrees, they will learn to be compassionate healers who positively impact patients and communities. With demand for qualified nurses at all-time highs nationwide, and a burgeoning healthcare scene in Rhode Island, there’s no better time (or place) to answer the call.

Admission is only offered to prospective students applying for first-year admission as a full-time undergraduate day school student. If you are not admitted to the Nursing major, you will not have the opportunity to pursue a nursing degree as an undergraduate student at Providence College. Also, due to the limited number of spaces in the Nursing program, students admitted to Providence College as undeclared majors are not eligible to switch into the program.

Yes. Providence College, including the nursing program, is accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Additionally, the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education granted initial approval for the program on September 12, 2022. Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, graduates will be qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a registered nurse. The College will also apply for an additional level of national recognition and accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in Fall 2026 which will assure national accreditation status prior to the first class of nursing students graduating. This national accreditation will facilitate the admission of our Nursing graduates into graduate programs and also enhance their promotions to leadership roles in nursing and health care.

Clinical instruction will take place in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, community-based clinics, and long-term and acute-care facilities. PC has commitments for clinical placements for nursing students at leading healthcare providers in Providence and beyond.

Yes. For convenience, we have condensed separate or miscellaneous fees and items to be purchased throughout the curriculum into one comprehensive program fee paid each semester. There is no mark-up made by the College or program on any of the items comprising the program fees. Our intention is that a consolidated fee for each program will eliminate the need for students to track down and pay for materials and resources they would otherwise need to purchase on their own. For nursing majors, there is a program fee of $675 per semester. This fee covers essential resources such as an iPad complete with specific pre-loaded software, plus multi-year access to essential study modules, test prep, and practice tutorials for the NCLEX exam. Also included in the program fee are items such as, NCLEX exam registration, scrubs, a lab coat, and required medical equipment such as a stethoscope. The iPad will be the property and responsibility of the student. It is not meant to take the place of a personal laptop or desktop computer, rather it provides a technologically compatible device for required coursework. This College issued iPad, ensures a consistent student academic experience and allows for managed app deployment, updates, and technical support for each device. We are committed to making your education as affordable as possible and therefore the program fees described above will be applied when determining your total financial aid needs. Please note that the Nursing program fee does not include the lab fees which will be assessed separately for each science lab course in the curriculum.

Providence College’s interdisciplinary approach to health sciences stands apart. PC’s rich liberal arts core and Catholic and Dominican tradition will prepare students for careers in a wide range of fields related to health, wellness, and healthcare. The flexible curriculum (e.g., lots of electives for customization) will allow students to satisfy necessary pre-requisites for future graduate study in nursing, physical therapy, speech pathology, laboratory technicians, occupational therapy, dietetics, and other clinical and non-clinical careers. Regardless of the role students choose in the healthcare system, PC’s health sciences students will graduate prepared to deliver healthcare with empathy and compassion.

The health sciences program includes the study and application of promoting and maintaining human health. Rigorous coursework will combine a strong STEM foundation with interdisciplinary learning that centers on courses, laboratories, mentored research, and professional internship experiences. In addition to the same liberal arts core of all PC majors, sample courses include anatomy and physiology, biology in health and disease, chemistry for the health professions, careers in health sciences, equity in healthcare, global health, senior internship, and capstone preceptorship. For more detailed information visit the About Health Sciences Major page.

Health Sciences majors will have a first-year program fee of $850, which covers the cost of the College-issued iPad and required software. This technology will be embedded into certain courses and assignments of the Health Sciences curriculum to enhance the learning experience and academic progress. The iPad will be the property and responsibility of the student. It is not meant to take the place of a personal laptop or desktop computer, rather it provides a technologically compatible device for required coursework. This College issued iPad ensures a consistent student academic experience and allows for managed app deployment, updates, and technical support for each device. We are committed to making your education as affordable as possible and therefore the program fees described above will be applied when determining your total financial aid needs. Please note that the Health Sciences program fee does not include the Lab Fees which will be assessed separately for each science lab course in the curriculum.

For more than three decades, PC’s Health Policy and Management (HPM) program has prepared students for challenging careers in the healthcare industry and has provided a strong foundation for graduate study. Today, HPM is one of PC’s most popular areas of study, with approximately 175 declared majors. HPM’s growing popularity at PC will be further enhanced by the program’s migration to the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. By providing students with endless opportunities for academic, clinical, and educational collaboration and career exploration, PC will develop future leaders who will navigate the complexities of the healthcare system with competence and compassion.

In addition to required coursework, the HPM major requires a structured field experience during the senior year so that students may apply the concepts and skills learned in the classroom to real-world settings. This internship offers students meaningful opportunities to link theory with practice, learn from practitioners, and practice professional skills. It also allows for the exploration of potential careers and the development of valuable networking opportunities prior to graduation.