The College of Staten Island (CSI) will launch the first four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered by a public institution on Staten Island, beginning Fall 2026. Students will complete 120 credits combining liberal arts, sciences, and nursing coursework, with opportunities for hands-on learning through clinical rotations, practice labs, and simulation experiences. Graduates will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) licensing exam and enter the workforce as professional nurses.
This new degree program makes CSI the fourth CUNY college to provide a direct-entry BS in Nursing pathway.
Commenting on the new program, Dr. Nathalia Holtzman, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at CSI said, “CSI is proud to lead as the first public institution on Staten Island to offer a four-year Nursing degree, expanding access to high-quality education and addressing the region’s critical need for healthcare professionals. The program’s blend of academic rigor, clinical experience, and community partnership embodies our mission and showcases the excellence of our faculty.”
Upon completion of the program, students will begin their careers as Registered Nurses, having earned the degree needed for clinical positions, promotional opportunities, and a robust foundation for graduate study.
Graduates will be well-prepared to immediately launch their careers in a variety of healthcare settings, having met the BS educational regulation upon graduation. This degree provides a solid academic foundation for advanced study, research, and leadership roles in healthcare.
Graduates will be eligible to apply for advanced study in master’s- and doctoral-degree nursing programs.
Some of the degree’s selling points include affordable CUNY tuition; offering a high-value degree recognized nationally for cost effectiveness, an emphasis on state-of-the-art simulation and practice labs, local clinical partnerships providing real-world training opportunities, and a pathway to graduate education with CSI’s existing Master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.
The program will be staffed by expert faculty with specialties in adult health, psychiatric nursing, pediatrics, women’s health, obstetrics, medical-surgical nursing, leadership, and community health. Faculty members bring credentials that include doctoral preparation, national certifications such as Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), certifications in clinical expertise, and extensive experience in both clinical and teaching settings. Select faculty are involved in research and have presented their research both nationally and internationally.
The new BS degree will augment CSI’s Nursing program, which was re-accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) through 2031. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked CSI a Best School for its Nursing Master’s program.
The new four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has received letters of support from Northwell Health and Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, and the curriculum is aligned with national standards, including ACEN, AACN, NLN, and NCSBN.
By Terry Mares
