Rosemont College has partnered with Drexel University on a new 4+1 Biology and Nursing Double Degree program. This unique program, which started in spring of 2018, allows students to earn their BA in Biology at Rosemont College before entering the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions’ Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) program to complete their BSN.
Rosemont is the only college in Pennsylvania partnered with Drexel University School of Nursing and Health Professions and offering this opportunity for students to earn two degrees in five years. With the partnership, Drexel University will reserve five percent of the seats in their nationally-recognized ACE program for Rosemont students who meet the requirements.
“We are excited to be partnering with Drexel University’s highly-acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions as part of our commitment to bring more opportunities to our students who wish to further their education in the field of nursing,” said Dr. Sharon Latchaw Hirsh, President of Rosemont College. “This new 4+1 program places Rosemont in a position of continued growth and demonstrated academic leadership within our geographic region.”
As a small, private college with a 10:1 student-teacher ratio, Rosemont is able to provide individualized attention and research opportunities for each student. Rosemont’s hands-on approach to mentoring students, paired with the focused coursework in their biology program, ensures that each student graduates prepared for medical school or a career in healthcare or pharmaceutical industries.
The addition of the 4+1 program creates yet another avenue for biology students who wish to further their education and career beyond graduation, building on the success of Rosemont’s existing partnerships with the Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“Drexel’s ACE students are sought after by the region’s best healthcare systems because of our reputation for developing knowledgeable, compassionate, and leadership-driven nurses,” said Dr. Donna Ruelens-Trinkaus, Department Chair, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions. “We are very excited about this partnership with Rosemont. The reputation of their science department for a very thorough and advanced education assures us that their students will be ready for the rigors of the ACE program.”
Drexel’s ACE program prepares a student for a position as a registered nurse in several types of settings, including hospitals, out-patient clinics, and insurance or pharmaceutical companies. The program boasts a National Council Licensure Exam pass rate of 97–100 percent, along with expansive clinical affiliations, reputable faculty, and an innovative curriculum. Unlike a traditional four-year BSN program, ACE affords students the opportunity to complete their degree and fast-track their nursing career in four consecutive ten-week terms — less than a year.
According to Dr. Aikaterini Skokotas, Associate Professor and Biology Department Chair at Rosemont College, a degree in biology will provide an excellent foundation for any student seeking a career in the health care industry. Moreover, Dr. Skokotas is confident that the coursework at Rosemont will prepare students for the intensity of Drexel’s ACE program.
“Although Drexel’s accelerated nursing program is rigorous and intellectually challenging,” she said, “Rosemont students will adapt well to the curriculum, because they’ll already have research experience, as well as a thorough understanding of cell biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology.”
Founded in 1921 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Rosemont College is a private, coeducational Catholic institution. Rosemont offers a comprehensive education through small group and experiential learning experiences while providing campus-wide academic, spiritual, and professional support. The College respects and embraces diversity and individuality and promotes students’ lifelong success. For more information, visit rosemont.edu.