Columbia Nursing, a leader in graduate nursing education, prepares nurse clinicians and researchers to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities domestically and internationally.
Our reputation for innovation and excellence attracts highly motivated students who are eager to apply the knowledge they acquire and practice at the highest level of the profession.
The Online Prerequisites for Entry to Nursing (OPEN) program allows individuals who are interested in a nursing or health professions program to complete non-matriculated courses at Columbia Nursing.
All courses are taught by Columbia University faculty and are undergraduate-level. Course offerings are available three times per year with each session lasting ten weeks. The courses were developed to allow students to take the courses at their own pace, simultaneously or one course per term, no prerequisites needed. Upon completion, all grades are posted on an official transcript from Columbia University.
10 Weeks
Deadline: April 1, 2025 | Starts: June 2025
The Masters Direct Entry (MDE) Program is a full-time accelerated nursing program for non-nurse college graduates who wish to become registered nurses (RNs). This program prepares students in the provision of evidence-based nursing care with an emphasis on care coordination and religio/cultural care to patients along the wellness/illness continuum and across all care settings.
15 Months
October 2025
February 2026
June 2026
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia Program is for experienced critical care RNs who hold a bachelor's degree and wish to become certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). It is a 36-month, full-time, front-loaded program that includes a 21-month clinical anesthesia residency.
36 Months
October 2025
December 2025
June 2026
The Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (DNP) prepares nurses to be certified and licensed as an Advanced Practice Nurse in order to provide fully accountable and comprehensive care to patients.
Columbia Nursing offers the DNP program in five specialty areas: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family Primary Care, Midwifery, Pediatric Primary Care, and Psychiatric-Mental Health. Students can enhance their educational experience with the addition of one of our sub-specialties, Women's Health and Oncology.
2.5 Years
January 2025
March 2025
June 2026
Columbia Nursing's Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is a full-time, research-intensive curriculum that prepares nurses for careers as nurse scientists who will conduct research across a broad range of populations and health conditions. Much of our research is focused on health disparity populations with the long-term goal of informing health policy and clinical practice across the lifespan.
3-4 Years
December 2025
March 2026
September 2026
"Most of the nursing schools I researched offered bachelor’s degree programs, but Columbia Nursing's Masters Direct Entry (MDE) program allows me to get my master’s degree in 15 months, and leads directly into a doctoral program without having to apply again to school. And, as soon as I graduate I can sit for the licensing exam to become an RN. Also, the MDE program offers a lot of clinical hours starting from day one, which was a big draw. I had concerns about transitioning from a different field, and I wanted to be able to get hands-on experience working with patients right away. Columbia Nursing facilitates that."
