Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.

• Nursing, Associate in Applied Science
• Practical Nursing (PN), Certificate

The College of DuPage Associate Degree Nursing Program curriculum incorporates established professional standards, guidelines, and competencies.

• Safety: Provide safe and holistic nursing care throughout the lifespan to a culturally diverse society grounded in science and the nursing process.
• Patient-Centered Care: Apply nursing judgment to ensure the delivery of patient-centered care and promotion of health for patients within a family and community context.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborate effectively within nursing and interdisciplinary health care teams to foster open communication, respect and shared decision-making.
• Evidence-Based Practice an Quality Improvement: Incorporate a spirit of inquiry to make evidence-based clinical judgments and management decisions for quality improvement.
• Informatics: Integrate information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, and support decision making in the practice of nursing care.
• Professionalism: Assumes accountability for practice in accordance with professional, legal and ethical standards.

If you are new to College of DuPage, you should start by talking to an Admissions Representative at (630) 942-2626.

If you have taken classes at COD before, you should start by attending an Advising Session; these are posted online. 

Attending an advising session should be the first thing you do whether you are a current or prospective student.  

• Group session
• No registration; no fee
• Plan to attend the entire session

You need to complete CNA prerequisites in order to apply. There are three ways you can show proof you've completed the CNA requirement: 

1. Be listed on the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Health Care Worker Registry or
2. Submit certification of completion to hsdmissions@cod.edu or
3. Take the NURSA 1105 course at College of DuPage

The following are the prerequisite courses that must be completed by the date specified in the ADN admissions packet:

• Math 1102, equivalent or higher with grade C or better
• Micro 1420, equivalent or higher with grade C or better
• A&P 1551 and 1552, OR 1571 and 1572, equivalent or higher with grade C or better. 

Review the ADN admissions packet for more information on completion deadlines.

Only A&P 1551/71 and 1152/72 prerequisite courses expire as they need to be completed within five years. Refer to the ADN admission packet for more information.

A&P 1500 is not an acceptable course for the ADN program.

You can register online for the HESI A2 through the Testing Center. The exam cost is $60 and is non-refundable.

HESI A2 test scores are valid for two years from the date of the examination. You are allowed to repeat the test every 30 days, for a total of three attempts in one calendar year. Refer to the ADN admission packet for more information.

Once you have made the decision to pursue the 3+1 nursing program with either Benedictine University or Governors State University, you need to fill out a 3+1 program application.

The application ensures you are receiving the most up-to-date information for anything related to the 3+1 Nursing programs.

After you have been accepted into College of DuPage's Associate Degree Nursing program and you are approximately a semester away from completing the program, you need to submit an admission application to either Benedictine University or Governors State University for their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, and follow their application process.