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In this competitive program, students will focus on their public health course work for the first six semesters in the program, and on the ABSN program their final three semesters – this includes 12 credits hours over the summer between year 4 and 5. Students will pay undergraduate tuition throughout their time in both programs.

This is a competitive admission process – there are currently twenty open spaces for the program each academic year. Students admitted to the program who remain in good standing with the program and complete all required coursework as outlined on time will have guaranteed admission to the ABSN program as long as they meet all academic and legal program eligibility requirements.

A supplemental application to the Public Health Nursing Scholars program is needed.

Eligibility Requirements

  1. Eligibility for initial admission to the Public Health Nursing Scholars Program:

    • Admission to the University of Kentucky.

    • High School GPA of 3.0.

  2. Eligibility requirements for admission to the UK CPH BPH:

    • Admission to the University is sufficient for lower-division admission as a pre-Public Health student.

    • Upper-division admission into the Public Health degree program is necessary to be granted a baccalaureate degree from the College of Public Health.

    • To be considered for upper-division admission in Public Health, an applicant must have attained a 2.75 or higher grade-point average cumulative, completion of CPH 201 with a letter grade of a B or higher, and completion of all additional pre-major required course with a letter grade of C or higher. More details can be found at the Bachelor of Public Health website.

  3. Eligibility requirements for admission to UK College of Nursing: 

    • After completing the Year 2 spring semester, and before beginning the fall semester in their 3rd year in the Bachelor of Public Health program, students will apply to the UK CON accelerated BSN (ABSN) track before the fall enrollment deadline, in anticipation of starting the ABSN track in August of the following year.

    • Eligible students will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and science GPA of 2.5 or higher at the time of application and will provide a written letter of endorsement from the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Bachelor of Public Health.

    • Once accepted to the ABSN track, students must maintain all UK CON admission requirements to be considered eligible to transition into the Accelerated Nursing Program at the beginning of the 4th year. More details can be found at the ABSN Website.