Dual Degree: BSN/BLA
Dual Degree Nursing Pathway Designed for Adults
Your dream of becoming a nurse doesn’t have to wait. Xavier’s BSN/BLA Pathway is built for adults (24+) who have prior college credit but have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree or entered a traditional nursing program. This dual-degree option allows you to earn both a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (BLA) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the same time.
You’ll complete all coursework online, while participating in in-person labs, simulation experiences, and clinical rotations at one of our two Ohio sites: Columbus or Cleveland. Each campus provides expert faculty, personalized support, and hands-on learning that prepares you for a confident start to your nursing career.
Why Xavier
Flexible: Designed for adults with prior college credit, this pathway starts with liberal arts courses and leads into an accelerated four-semester BSN program.
Online Learning & In-Person Experience: Complete your coursework online while participating in hands-on clinicals and simulation labs—held exclusively at our Columbus or Cleveland satellite campuses.
Jesuit, Values-Driven Education: Rooted in Xavier’s Jesuit tradition, the program emphasizes compassionate care, ethical leadership, and service—preparing you to lead and serve with integrity.
Supportive & Career Focused: Receive personalized advising, access to expert faculty, and career resources designed to help adult learners thrive in a high-demand healthcare field.
Eligibility & Program Requirements
To Begin Nursing Coursework, You Must:
- Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7
- Complete the following nursing prerequisite courses (with a C or higher in each):
- Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab)
- Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab)
- Microbiology (with lab)
- Statistics
- Developmental Psychology or Psychological Disorders
- English Composition
- Intro to Sociology or Survey of Social Work
- Complete all required co-requisite courses, including Xavier’s transfer core curriculum requirements (as applicable, depending on transfer credits)
Students work toward both the BLA and BSN simultaneously. Liberal arts and nursing coursework are completed online, while labs, simulations, and clinicals take place in person at Columbus or Cleveland.
⚠️ Please Note: Xavier University does not offer an RN to BSN program. The BSN/BLA Pathway is for students who do not yet hold a nursing degree or RN license.
Have questions about your eligibility? Contact Wendy Steinberg, Assistant Director of APEX Recruitment and Admissions, at steinbergw@xavier.edu.
Practice with Purpose
Graduates of the BLA/BSN Nursing Pathway are prepared to step into meaningful roles across healthcare settings, including but not limited to:
- Hospital & Acute Care – Medical-Surgical Nurse, ICU Nurse, Emergency Room Nurse
- Primary & Specialty Care – Clinic Nurse, Family Practice Nurse, Pediatric Nurse
- Community & Public Health – Public Health Nurse, Health Educator, Immunization Coordinator
- Mental & Behavioral Health – Psychiatric Nurse, Addiction Recovery Nurse, Crisis Intervention Nurse
- Long-Term & Home-Based Care – Geriatric Nurse, Hospice Nurse, Home Health RN
- Care Coordination & Advocacy – Nurse Case Manager, Patient Navigator, Wellness Advocate