📘 Nursing Degree Programs

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

East Carolina University offers a variety of undergraduate nursing pathways designed to meet students where they are—whether beginning their journey, returning as a working RN, or accelerating through a second-degree track.

Accelerated BSN Option – An intensive, 12-month pathway for students with a prior bachelor’s degree—designed to fast-track entry into professional nursing with focused clinical preparation and academic rigor.

Accelerated RIBN Program - The aRIBN program offers a three-year, dual-enrollment pathway to the BSN for students already accepted into a partnering community college nursing program. With dedicated support and lower overall cost, aRIBN provides an accelerated, affordable route to a BSN.

RIBN Program - Begin your nursing journey at a partner community college while taking one ECU course per semester online. After earning your associate degree and passing the NCLEX, transition seamlessly into ECU’s RN to BSN program to complete your bachelor’s degree—often while gaining hands-on experience as a working registered nurse. This dual-enrollment pathway offers an affordable, supportive, and efficient route to the BSN.

RN to BSN Early Assurance Bridge Option - A seamless bridge for community college nursing students, ECU’s Early Assurance RN to BSN option offers a clear path to the bachelor’s degree—providing early admission and a smooth transition to advanced study while completing associate-level coursework. RN to BSN Pathway – Flexible online format allowing working RNs to complete their bachelor's degree while maintaining employment.

Traditional BSN Program – Designed for aspiring and advancing nurses, East Carolina University’s BSN program equips students with the knowledge, clinical experience, and leadership skills to excel in hospitals, communities, and specialized care settings across today’s healthcare system.

Graduate Programs

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

ECU offers eight distinct MSN options—each built to provide the expertise, flexibility, and support today's nurses need to thrive in specialized roles and evolving healthcare environments:

Clinical Nurse Specialist: Adult-Gerontology - Helps advance your career as a CNS focused on adult and older adult care. Learn to lead care teams, improve outcomes, and drive innovations across acute and chronic healthcare settings.

Clinical Nurse Specialist: Neonatal - Train to deliver expert care to high-risk newborns in NICUs. Gain advanced skills in neonatal assessment, intervention, and family-centered support during the earliest stages of life.

Health Systems Leadership - Prepare for leadership roles in healthcare organizations. This track emphasizes strategic management, policy development, and operational excellence to improve system-wide efficiency and care delivery.

Nurse Anesthesia - Become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Learn to administer anesthesia safely and independently in surgical, trauma, and obstetric procedures through advanced clinical and pharmacological training. Nurse - Midwifery - Support women's health from adolescence through menopause. This program trains you in prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum support, and well-woman services with a focus on holistic, evidence-based care. Nurse Practitioner: Psychiatric-Mental Health - Provide mental health care across the lifespan. Learn to diagnose, treat, and manage psychiatric conditions using therapy, medication, and collaborative care in outpatient and inpatient settings. Nurse Practitioner: Neonatal - Specialize in the care of critically ill neonates. This program equips you with the clinical expertise to lead NICU teams and support medically fragile newborns and their families. Nursing Education - Become a nurse educator ready to teach in academic and clinical settings. Learn curriculum design, student evaluation, and instructional methods to shape the future of nursing. Doctorate Level Nursing East Carolina University’s terminal nursing degrees empower nurses to lead in clinical practice and academic research. These programs emphasize innovation, healthcare transformation, and advanced expertise in high-impact roles. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – A practice-focused doctoral program preparing advanced nurse leaders to apply evidence-based care, drive quality improvement, and lead healthcare innovation across diverse clinical settings. PhD in Nursing – A research-intensive doctoral program training nurse scholars to conduct original research, influence health policy, and educate future generations in academic and scientific environments. Nursing Leadership Pathways East Carolina University offers leadership-focused graduate programs for nurses ready to drive change in healthcare systems, lead interdisciplinary teams, and influence policy and operations at the highest level. Health Systems Leadership Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Develop advanced leadership and administrative skills to manage healthcare teams, improve system efficiency, and elevate patient outcomes across clinical and organizational settings. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Prepare for executive-level roles by applying evidence-based strategies to lead quality improvement, healthcare transformation, and organizational change within complex systems. Dual Degree: MSN/MBA – Combine advanced nursing leadership with core business acumen to excel in healthcare management, finance, operations, and strategic decision-making. Dual Degree: DNP/MBA – Position yourself at the intersection of clinical excellence and executive leadership with this dual doctoral and business degree, designed for transformative system-wide impact. Professional Certificates Designed for working professionals, ECU’s nursing leadership certificates offer focused, flexible training in specialized areas of health systems management and emergency preparedness. Emergency Healthcare / Disaster Certificate – Gain critical skills to lead response efforts and coordinate care during public health emergencies, natural disasters, and mass casualty events. Health Systems Leadership Certificate – Strengthen your ability to lead healthcare organizations by mastering operations, quality initiatives, and team-based care models in a rapidly evolving system.