Providence College School of Nursing and Health Sciences: A Comprehensive Overview

For the first time in its history, Providence College is offering academic programs in nursing and health sciences through a newly established School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Grounded in the liberal arts and embedded in Providence College’s Catholic and Dominican tradition, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences is comprised of two academic departments. This article provides a detailed look into the Providence College School of Nursing and Health Sciences (PCSNHS), its programs, partnerships, facilities, and distinctive approach to nursing and health sciences education.

A New Era for Providence College

A new school in nursing and health sciences will complement our Catholic and Dominican identity. In the Fall of 2023, the Department of Nursing began to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The nursing program is only available to first-year students. The establishment of a nursing program was a goal set by College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G, in his inaugural address on Oct. 1, 2021. A nursing program was a goal announced by College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. Father Sicard said both nursing and health sciences are a natural fit with the college’s commitment to the liberal arts. Both require the study of science and the mastery of competencies in critical thinking. “These academic initiatives will enhance Providence College’s impact on society in ways that honor the institution’s mission and heritage,” said Christopher K. Reilly ’84, chair of the Board of Trustees.

Academic Programs Offered

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a range of academic programs to prepare students for various roles in the healthcare industry. These programs include:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at Providence College has initial approval by the Rhode Island Board of Nurse Registration. The BSN Program is in compliance with 216 RICR-40-05-3, Title 216 - Department of Health, Chapter 40 - Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation, Subchapter 05- Professional Licensing, Part 3 - Licensing of Nursing and Standards for the Approval of Basic Nursing Education Programs. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is seeking initial accreditation for the spring of 2026 from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Providence College is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2026.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires 22 nursing and health sciences courses, including seven clinicals and a one semester internship which will culminate in over 700 hours of clinical experience. The major requires 22 nursing and health science courses for 76 credits. This includes nine clinical experiences for 35 credits. Additional courses will fulfill the college’s core curriculum, including the Development of Western Civilization, as well as nursing proficiencies and core requirements.

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Coursework is designed to provide an innovative educational experience for students and graduates to share the global mission of Providence College with the world community and its diverse populations. Under the direction of highly qualified, experienced, and cross-disciplinary faculty, students will complete a variety of required courses in the nursing program and choose electives from several other disciplinary fields. With a focus on students’ personal and professional growth, our nursing curriculum fosters critical thinking and decision-making abilities, along with the technically advanced knowledge and skills needed to be successful as registered nurses practicing in diverse healthcare settings.

The nursing curriculum will prepare students to successfully complete the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States,” said Brother Perkins.

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. Admission to the Nursing major is competitive. Students at Providence College are reviewed holistically, but due to the nature of the nursing program, a more thorough review occurs for students applying to the Nursing program. For the Class of 2027, offers of admission were extended to approximately 35% of nursing applicants with 50 spaces available in the class. As part of our application review process for prospective nursing students, the Office of Admission invites all applicants to the nursing program to submit an additional supplemental essay. This essay is optional but provides an opportunity for students to elaborate on their interest in a career in nursing and in the Providence College School of Nursing and Health Sciences. This supplemental essay will be available on student’s portals following the submission of their Common Application. The deadline for Providence College’s optional nursing supplemental essay is November 9 for Early Action and Early Decision I applicants, and February 1 for Regular Decision and Early Decision II students. Due to the timeline for application review, we are unable to accept submissions after these dates. Regardless of the application round, admission to the Nursing major is more selective than the applicant pool overall. With all majors at PC, students are only considered for admission to the program that they indicate an interest in on their Common Application. For example, if a student applies as a Nursing major they will only be considered for admission to the Nursing program. Science - 3 years minimum (biology, chemistry, and 1 other lab science), 4 years preferred.

Any applicant for initial licensure as a registered nurse who has a criminal conviction(s) and/or past or pending disciplinary action against a professional/trade/license/certificate should contact the Board of Registration in Nursing in the state in which he/she plans to practice to determine if his/her court record or disciplinary action will be a barrier to eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse. Please note: a previous court conviction does not automatically preclude someone from eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse.

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS)

The bachelor of science in health sciences requires 16 health sciences courses for 52 credits. Students in the BSHS degree program will apply their classroom knowledge to real-world experiences in a variety of settings under the supervision of practicing healthcare clinicians, public health professionals, clinical or faculty researchers, and others in their respective fields of interest. The health sciences degree program is a diverse area of study involving a variety of disciplines that contribute to the science and practice of healthcare. Students are exposed to an array of courses that include chemistry, microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, biostatistics, and psychology. Additionally, students have opportunities to study various topics in-depth, including health and society, data science, medical technology, public health, epidemiology, and more.

The program prepares undergraduate students for entry-level positions in a multitude of health care settings, and prepares students for graduate school in a wide array of allied health professions.

Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Management (HPM)

The bachelor of science in health policy and management requires 10 Health Policy and Management courses for a total of 30 credit hours. The HPM program prepares students for positions in health services management, health policy-making, and public health practice, and provides a strong foundation for graduate study. Required coursework builds on the student’s liberal arts background and fosters the value of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of health and healthcare. Gain on-site, hands-on practice through the department’s required field experience course (HPM/HSC 450). Participate in a summer, semester, or full-academic year study abroad or domestic study away experience.

The program prepares undergraduate students for entry-level positions in health services management, health policy making, and public health practice and also provides a strong foundation for graduate study. Graduates of the Department of Health Sciences work in many different areas both within and outside of the health care industry. This page provides an overview of various career options for Health Sciences majors and offers background information on the roles and tasks associated with different career options, along with a brief discussion of relevant graduate school programs for each career path.

Minor in Spanish for Health Professions

A minor in Spanish Minor for Health Professions is offered to students within the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and students in complementary disciplines like biology or social work. The coursework provides a combination of language and culture studied through didactic classes along with immersive “real world” opportunities in community-based medical settings where there will be significant interaction with patients and health care professionals.

Partnership with MGH Institute of Health Professions

Providence College School of Nursing and Health Sciences (PCSNHS) and the MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) announced a new partnership that creates a seamless route for nursing students to advance their careers. By joining forces with MGH IHP, we are creating a bridge between education and advanced practice nursing, further propelling our students from aspiration into action,” Father Sicard said. “We are offering our students a chance to grow in knowledge and wisdom while serving in some of the most respected healthcare settings in the country. The program will be based at the MGH IHP’s Boston campus and will offer clinical placements throughout the Mass General Brigham system and its affiliates, including acute care, community health, and long-term care settings with further expansion into the Greater Providence region. Providence College’s nursing program is based on some of the very foundations as the MGH Institute’s - health equity, inter-professionalism, and evidence-based practice, and that’s one of the reasons this partnership will be successful,” Dr. Milone-Nuzzo said. Students will be able to choose between part-time and full-time study, with most Providence College graduates expected to enroll part-time while working within the Mass General Brigham system. Through advanced study at MGH Institute of Health Professions, they will be on a clear pathway to becoming nurse practitioners, gaining the clinical skills and experience needed to make a meaningful impact on patients and the healthcare workforce.

Read also: Providence College Transfer Guide

Faculty and Leadership

The inaugural dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences is Kyle J. McInnis, Sc.D. McInnis previously was provost at Johnson & Wales University and led the establishment of a new School of Health Sciences, with a nursing program, at Merrimack College. A PC nursing degree will be distinctive because of a mission-focused approach that is aligned with our Catholic and Dominican identity,” McInnis said. Development of the curriculum has involved PC faculty from multiple disciplines and consultation with Brother Ignatius Perkins, O.P. Brother Perkins, a registered nurse with a doctorate in gerontological nursing and higher education administration, is professor emeritus and former chair of the Spalding University School of Nursing in Louisville, Ky.

Clinical and Experiential Learning

Students in the Providence College School of Nursing & Health Sciences with clinical placements must confirm vaccination and/or bivalent booster requirements with the Director of Clinical Education. Providence College has conducted a review of whether the nursing program’s curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure for each state and District of Columbia, and can be viewed here. territories. Additional licensure requirements may vary widely from state to state including, but not limited to, the number of required clinical hours, specific coursework, documentation verifying citizenship (i.e. social security number) as well as criminal background checks/fingerprinting.

The college has a long history of training students for medical and health professions. From its earliest days, its graduates have pursued careers in medicine, dentistry, and research. Today, many Catholic institutions within the region and across the country - Salve Regina, Boston College, Fairfield, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, Saint Anselm, and Villanova among them - offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing. Health sciences students will follow an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes internships and capstone experiences in healthcare settings,” McInnis said.

Clinical placements are available at various healthcare facilities, including:

Boston Medical Center
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Rhode Island Free Clinic
Rhode Island Hospital
Roger Williams Medical Center
St. Joseph Hospital

Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences

The Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences opened in January 2025 as the academic hub for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Providence College. Designed to prepare students for the complexities of modern healthcare, the facility provides active and immersive learning experiences that develop the clinical judgment skills essential for today’s nurses. The building features a state-of-the-art clinical simulation suite, where students practice patient care scenarios in a realistic, controlled environment, as well as anatomy and physiology labs that deepen their understanding of the human body. Additional resources, including a student resource center, faculty innovation labs, and a chapel, create a supportive environment that fosters academic excellence, professional growth, and compassionate care. Planning is underway for a new academic building to open on campus in 2025. It will include the latest teaching-learning, research, and innovation facilities and equipment. In the meantime, construction has begun on a temporary space on the fourth floor of the Feinstein Academic Center that will include anatomy and physiology laboratories, a state-of-the-art patient simulation center, tutoring and study space, faculty offices, and additional resources to support student success. The college has hired the architectural firm SLAM, which designed the Ruane Center for the Humanities, the Science Complex addition, and other PC projects, to design the School of Nursing and Health Sciences building. A architectural rendering by SLAM of a proposed simulation room in the new nursing building.

Admission Information

For the first year of the nursing program, enrollment will be limited to 50 students. Fifty health science majors will be added as well, increasing the size of the Class of 2027 by 100 students. In the future, enrollment will be capped at 75 students per year for each program, or 150 total, making PC’s a modest-sized program compared with competitor institutions.

Mission and Values

The University of Providence nursing programs develop nursing professionals who are competent, empathetic and guided by their passion for caregiving. The mission of the Division of Nursing at the University of Providence is to prepare graduates at all levels of nursing to be leaders of healthcare. Graduates of UP nursing programs are excellent communicators, clinicians and change agents.

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