Dual Degree in Nursing (DDN)

The Dual Degree in Nursing (DDN) program at the University of Rochester is a four-and-a-half year, ten-semester program in which you complete both a bachelor of arts or science at the College, and a bachelor of science in nursing at the University’s School of Nursing (SON).

Semesters one to seven: Complete all graduation requirements for the College and pre-requisite* coursework for the School of Nursing.

Semesters eight to ten: Transition to the accelerated bachelor’s program for non-nurses (ABPNN) at SON, where you’ll complete the requirements for the bachelor of science in nursing in the following winter, summer, and fall semesters.

*You are required to achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete the following pre-requisite courses prior to enrolling in the SON. These pre-requisites can be completed through the SON FastTrack online courses, the College, and/or outside the University, as approved by the undergraduate DDN program advisor:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs*, Microbiology with lab*, Statistics, Nutrition, Human Growth and Development
• Microbiology
• Developmental Psychology (also called growth and development)
• Nutrition
• Statistics

*Hard science prerequisite coursework must be completed within the last five years.

To learn more about the prerequisite requirements for the Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses, please visit our webpage.

To apply to DDN, you need to:

1. Indicate your interest in DDN through the Common Application or the Coalition for College Application.
2. Complete your personal statement, describing your motivation to pursue a career in nursing and how the DDN program will help with your goals.
3. Complete your application to the University of Rochester by our Regular Decision deadline of January 5.

If you are selected as a finalist, you will be offered the opportunity to participate in an on-campus interview in February and will hear about your admission to DDN and the College in March.

If you are not selected, you will be notified in early January but will still be considered for admission to the College alone. You will receive a decision by April 1.

The DDN program combines the resources of the College and the SON at Rochester. It allows incoming first-year students to combine their interests in nursing with a specific academic discipline offered at the College. In addition, the DDN program offers the following advantages to admitted students:

• Guaranteed admission to the SON in the eighth semester, provided all requirements are successfully met
• Tuition-free access to FastTrack online prerequisite nursing courses in the first seven semesters. Students will need to register for these courses through the School of Nursing, indicate “financial aid” as method of payment, and complete the SON Scholarship form to ensure costs are waived. (Costs relating to texts and lab kits required for the courses are not covered.)
• Ability to select a major in any discipline in the College
• Flexibility to study abroad before the seventh semester
• Personalized academic and career advising to support your educational and experiential development
• Eligibility for on-campus housing through the eighth semester
• Access to premier clinical and research facilities*
• Access to SON faculty, at least 75 percent of whom maintain a clinical practice, bringing current, real-life experience to the classroom
• An 8:1 student-faculty ratio at the SON, allowing for small clinical group instruction and individualized attention
• Simulated learning experiences as a component of each clinical course
• Enhanced clinical and community health learning opportunities among underserved populations, culminating in a 100-hour individualized clinical capstone course

*Students benefit from the extraordinary resources of our two teaching magnet hospitals, Strong Memorial Hospital (and its Golisano Children’s Hospital) and Highland Hospital. The University also has a broad range of longstanding affiliations with other hospitals, health systems, and community-based organizations throughout the Greater Rochester region. Many graduates of the School of Nursing go on to work for our own University-affiliated hospitals and become leaders on their units.

You’re more likely to be a successful applicant to the DDN program if you:

• Exemplify diverse and passionate commitments to both nursing and a specific academic discipline offered at the College
• Take challenging classes (honors, AP, IB, college-level classes, etc.)
• Do well academically (strong applicants typically have a 3.7 unweighted GPA and rank in the top 15 percent of their graduating class)
• Take a rigorous math and science curriculum
• Participate in extracurricular activities related to nursing (e.g., community or volunteer service, educational experiences, personal or family experience with health care)

In the first seven semesters, you’ll be charged tuition as a student of the College and will receive financial aid information from the College.

In semesters eight, nine, and ten, you’ll be charged SON tuition and receive financial aid information from SON for the twelve-month ABPNN program (spring, summer, and fall).

Speak with your financial aid counselor once you’re admitted to discuss financing your education both at the College and the SON.