Nurses are advocates and health educators for patients, families, and communities. When providing direct patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians during treatments and examinations; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. Some nurses work in an independent capacity, depending on credentials, education, and state of practice. For a more detailed description of nursing opportunities and median income please see the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook.
There are multiple avenues to becoming a nurse and multiple levels of nursing credentials.
The NursingCAS Comparison Chart summarizes the different avenues students can take to pursue a career in nursing. There are many things to consider when deciding about your nursing education, and we hope to illuminate several of the options here, but it is important that you speak to the Nursing Advisor, Aaliyah, to see which path is best suited for you. For a complete list of nursing programs in the United States please visit The American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Use their Nursing Programs Search database to search for nursing programs by type and/or state filters.
Methods:
- Attend a Community College and earn an ADN degree
- Attend a Four-Year College or University and earn a BSN
- Attend a Four-Year College or University and earn an ABSN (for career changers who already have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field)
- Attend a Four-Year College or University and earn an entry into practice MSN (for career changers who already have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field)
Degrees:
ADN - Associate Degree in Nursing
BSN - Bacehlor's Degree in Nursing
MSN - Master's Degree in Nursing (Has tracks for APRN options)
DNP - Doctor of Nursing Practice (Has tracks for APRN options)
PhD - Doctor of Philosphy in Nursing (Research)
DNS - Doctor of Nursing Science (Has tracks for APRN options)
Positions:
RN - Registered Nurse, must pass the NCLEX for liscencing and have at least an ADN
APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Umbrella group of nurses that have credentials to practice in specific capacities (below).
NP - Nurse Practitioner, requires an MSN (NP specific) or DNP
CNM - Certified Nurse Midwife, requires an MSN or DNP
CCNS - Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist, requires an MSN or DNP
CRNA - Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, requires a DNP
| The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) has a Guaranteed Pathway Program in partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore (UMSON). Students who do not qualify for the program would be Traditional applicants to their nursing schools of choice. | |
| Traditional | Students may complete two years of prerequisite courses at the University of Maryland College Park, and then apply for admission into a professional nursing school to complete two years of professional course work, which includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical education. After these four years, the student will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the school where they completed their final two years. Please note that UMCP does not guarantee admission to nursing school for those outside of the specified Guaranteed Admission Pathway. UMCP does not have a nursing or pre-nursing major for students to choose from outside of the pathway. You can follow any major of your choosing, which allows you to complete your prerequisite courses on your timeline. Some students decide to complete a bacehlor's degree along with nursing prerequisites, and then go on to a BSN, ABSN, or MSN program. |
| Guaranteed Pathway | See the Guaranteed Pathway drop down for more information. |
Pre-Nursing is not a degree-granting program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Admission to professional schools is competitive and is not promised outside of the guaranteed nursing pathway. Admission requirements vary depending upon the institution and prerequisites are subject to change. Contact programs for most current requirements.
The most common prerequisites are:
- Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 with labs
- Microbiology with lab
- Inorganic Chemistry with lab
- Nutrition
- Statistics
- Human Growth and Development
*Additional information is available on the HPAO Canvas Course. Students are encouraged to meet with HPAO if they need help determining which UMD courses can be used to fulfill these requirements.
In addition, there are many Minors that cover topics critical to expanding understanding of the various determinants of health. Coursework related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can be helpful in developing cultural awareness, cultural humility, and an understanding of systemic discrimination in the health care system. Even if your academic plan does not permit adding a minor, it is worth reviewing the curated course lists for courses that will stretch you, increase your language for difference and disparity, show your intellectual curiosity, and improve your critical reasoning skills.
Example 4 Semester Plan for Traditional and Guaranteed Path Students
Pre-Nursing Planning Template for Traditional and Guaranteed Pathway Students (File > Make a copy to edit).
This completed form is required prior to scheduling an appointment with the Nursing Advisor.
Most nursing programs do not require clinical experiences for applicants, however, we highly recommend students make the time to shadow nurses in different fields. This gives you good insight into what your career could look like and what patient population interests you most. Many students elect to gain their CNA certification to gain paid nursing experience. Active participation in pre-nursing and health organizations are a great way to network with peers and industry professionals.
Academic Resources
- Join HPAO's Pre-Nursing Canvas Course
- Join HPAO's Pre-Health Canvas Course
- Nursing.org
- Explore Health Careers
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- University of Maryland Association of Nursing Students at Shady Grove
- Information on becoming a Nurse Practitioner
- Direct Entry MSN programs
Financial Resources
Institutional Scholarships: Nursing programs often provide merit and need based scholarships to students at the time of application and/or during students tenure. UMCP institutional scolarships and financial aid will not follow you to any other institition, including UMSON. See links below for more resources:
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) offer a Guaranteed Nursing Pathway for high-performing UMD students interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
The pathway provides eligible students with a streamlined route from UMD to UMSON. Students typically matriculate to the School of Nursing after four semesters at UMD and must matriculate within three years (six standard semesters).
Students in the pathway may choose to attend either UMSON's Baltimore campus or its Universities at Shady Grove campus.
Some students are invited to join the pathway upon acceptance to the University of Maryland annually in the spring. For students not directly invited, after meeting the pathway requirements, they can request to change their UMD major to UMB Nursing. Once in the pathway, students complete the required prerequisite coursework at UMD before transitioning to UMSON.
Students must continue to meet the pathway's academic requirements throughout their time at UMD.
Important: The Guaranteed Nursing Pathway is different from applying to UMSON as a traditional applicant. Students who do not enter the pathway may still apply to UMSON through the traditional admission process.
Students who were not directly admitted to the Guaranteed Nursing Pathway when they entered UMD may be evaluated for the pathway after completing at least one qualifying science course within their first 30 credits.
To request a major change to UMB Nursing, students must:
- Complete General Biology BSCI 170 and BSCI 180 (formerly BSCI 171) with a minimum grade of C-.
- Complete at least one qualifying science course:
- General Chemistry | CHEM 131 and 132
- Anatomy & Physiology I | BSCI 201
- Anatomy & Physiology II | BSCI 202
- Microbiology | BSCI 223
- Earn a minimum 3.0 science GPA in qualifying science coursework completed at the time of evaluation, with no more than one grade below a C-.
- Earn a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.
All attempts at a course are included when calculating the science GPA. Freshman Forgiveness does not apply.
Once you meet the eligibility requirements, you can request to change your major to UMB Nursing through TerpEngage.
Before submitting your request, complete the following steps:
1. Complete Pre-Nursing Preparation
If you are not yet ready to request a major change, begin by:
- Joining the HPAO Pre-Nursing Canvas Course
- Watching the Pre-Nursing Introduction Workshop (in Canvas Course)
- Reviewing the Guaranteed Nursing Pathway Agreement (in TerpEngage)
- Completing the UMD-UMSON Nursing Pathway Major Change Quiz with a score of 100% (in TerpEngage)
- Completing the Pre-Nursing Planning Template
Your Pre-Nursing Student Ambassador can help you with the planning template during the fall and spring semesters.
2. Understand Your GPA
Before requesting a major change, calculate your cumulative and science GPAs.
Your science GPA includes all attempts at:
- General Chemistry | CHEM 131 and 132
- Anatomy & Physiology I | BSCI 201
- Anatomy & Physiology II | BSCI 202
- Microbiology | BSCI 223
Your cumulative GPA includes all college coursework completed for a grade at UMD or another institution, including dual-enrollment coursework completed in high school.
3. Attend a Change of Major Workshop
Students must attend a Change of Major Workshop before submitting their request.
Workshops are offered during the last two months of each semester and during winter and summer breaks. These workshops and are designed to help you understand the pathway requirements, plan your remaining coursework, and complete for the major change process.
Major change requests must be submitted two semesters before your planned matriculation to UMSON.
For example, a student planning to begin at UMSON in Spring 2027 must attend a Change of Major Workshop and submit their major change request no later than the end of Spring 2026.
4. Submit Your Request
After completing the required preparation, submit your request to change your major to UMB Nursing through TerpEngage.
Follow all instructions carefully. Incomplete or incorrectly submitted requests cannot be processed.
Students in the Guaranteed Nursing Pathway must:
- Maintain a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 science GPA.
- Follow their approved pre-nursing plan and complete prerequisite courses as required.
- Earn at least a C- in non-science prerequisite courses.
- Matriculate to UMSON within three years (six standard semesters) at UMD.
Students should meet regularly with an HPAO pre-nursing advisor to ensure they remain on track.
Not meeting the Guaranteed Nursing Pathway requirements does not mean you cannot become a nurse.
Students who are not eligible for the pathway can continue working with an HPAO pre-nursing advisor to explore other routes to nursing.
Students may also apply to UMSON through the traditional admission process and, if admitted, may matriculate to the School of Nursing before completing their bachelor's degree at UMD.
- Pathway students may use up to 16 college credits from outside institutions toward the required 59 credits, with no more than 4 outside credits applying to a single science prerequisite.
- Transfer students may be eligible to join the pathway if they meet the pathway requirements. The 6 semester limit is based only on semesters completed at UMD.
- UMSON accepts qualifying AP scores of 4 or 5 and IB scores of 6 or 7 for prerequisite credit. AP and IB credits do not count toward the 16-credit outside-institution limit.
- UMD and UMSON reserve the right to modify pathway requirements or discontinue the agreement in accordance with institutional policies and admission trends.
