The Ames-based Iowa State University board of regents approved officials' plan to create a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program, according to KCRG-9 News.
The program was developed through a partnership between Iowa State, Mary Greeley Medical Center — a 220-bed hospital in Ames — and Ankeny, Iowa-based Des Moines Area Community College.
The program was designed as a continuation degree program for registered nurses seeking a bachelor's degree. Any individual with an associate nursing degree is eligible to apply to the program. To graduate, students will be required to obtain approximately 40 hours of credit. Officials said the program will be flexible and provide alternative scheduling, with classes taught on campus and in various other formats, according to the report.
University officials expect to begin accepting program applications by the end of the year for its inaugural 50-person fall 2018 class. The program is pending approval from the Iowa Board of Nursing.
Once the program is up and running, the university will seek accreditation status from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, according to the report.