In downtown Detroit, Wayne State University offers several academic programs for prospective nurses. The school carries programs for baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. The traditional bachelors degree program is three years in length. The school also offers a second career program for individuals who have already earned a bachelors degree in another field. This accelerated program allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 18 months. The masters degree courses allow students to specialize in an advanced nursing field, such as geriatric or pediatric nursing; it consists of between 37 and 47 credit hours, depending upon specialty. Doctoral programs include a PhD program and a doctorate of nursing practice (DNP), the lengths of which depend upon the degree candidate's education level upon entry into the program.
Located in the suburb of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College offers an award-winning curriculum for students interested in the nursing field. Since this is a community college, it offers an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree. Students must pass all classes with a minimum grade of "C" for a combined total of 65 credits. The program can be completed within five terms. Graduates from the program may sit for the exam to become registered nurses in the state of Michigan. Licensed practical nurses who wish to attain an associates degree are able to begin the program in their second semester. Classes include pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and nursing.
In the western suburb of Livonia, Madonna University's College of Nursing and Health offers academic programs for bachelors, masters and doctoral programs. The baccalaureate programs accept between 64 and 72 students each fall and winter semester, and provide undergraduate students with the education required to sit for the nationally recognized National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The school also offers a program that puts current RNs on an accelerated path to a BSN, as well as one that provides an adapted curriculum to prepare LPNs for the pre-licensure exam. The masters program allows students to choose a specialty, and students can complete their program of study in as little as two and a half years or as many as six for part-time students. The DNP program is for students wishing to work in health care rather than research.
Continually one of the best medical schools in the U.S. according to the National Institute of Health, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is just outside Detroit's metropolitan area, 43 miles from downtown in Ann Arbor. The School of Nursing offers degree programs for baccalaureate, masters and doctoral students. The traditional BSN program is a 128-credit program for undergraduate students interested in the field; they also offer an accelerated 57-credit second-career BSN program for individuals with bachelors degrees in other fields. The masters degree programs offer specialized courses of study which vary in length depending upon specialty. These include psychiatric, occupational health, and pediatric nursing, to name a few. Doctoral programs at the school include a PhD program for nursing students seeking careers in research, and a DNP program designed for students pursuing careers in high-level clinical work.