ProgrammeExplorerApply now ↗
Nursing
Prepare for entry-level professional nursing practice through a demanding blend of scientific study, evidence-based care, clinical experience and leadership development.
Programmes at a Glance‹
Become the nurse patients trust—and health systems need.
Offered by Excelsior Community College in collaboration with The University of the West Indies, Mona, this four-year degree brings science, professional judgment and extensive clinical practice together. You’ll learn to care safely for individuals, families and communities across the life cycle, use evidence to guide decisions and grow into leadership. Graduates may apply to sit the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration, opening a route to registration and professional nursing practice in Jamaica and across the CARICOM region.
What you’ll explore
Entry requirements
Your path to ECC may begin in different ways. This programme accommodates multiple admission routes, and our Admissions team can help you understand how your qualifications fit.
Applicants must be at least seventeen (17) years old at the beginning of the academic year of entry.
At least five (5) CSEC/CXC/GCE subjects are required. English Language, Mathematics and Human & Social Biology or Biology are compulsory. No more than two subjects may be at CXC General Grade III or GCE O-Level Grade C. The other subjects may include Agricultural Science, Geography, Caribbean History, a Modern Language, Social Studies, Religious Education, Food & Nutrition, Home Economics Management, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, English Literature, Information Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Integrated Science or Economics.
Applicants must complete the ECC application and also apply online to The University of the West Indies, selecting Excelsior Community College as the TLI campus and uploading the required documents.
Supporting documents include an up-to-date CV, two recommendations—one from the last school attended—two identical passport photographs, civil-status documents where applicable, academic certificates, TRN, any tertiary transcript and the UWI confirmation letter. Original documents must be presented for verification.
Applicants must sit the UWI English Language Proficiency Test unless exempted under the University’s English Language regulations.
Programme structure
Explore each published study period, from your first foundation courses to the experiences that prepare you for work and further study.
Full-time4 years11 published study periodsStudents without the published English prerequisites take the year-long FOUN1019 course instead of FOUN1014. Mental-health and older-adult nursing courses are scheduled across Year 3 Semester I and the summer period, and a free elective is taken only once. Progression requires passes in the preceding level; NURS2117 and NURS2118 are prerequisites for Year 2 Semester II, while NURS4017 and NURS4018 require successful completion of all other courses.
＋
Year 1 • Semester I＋
NURS1108Anatomy & Physiology 13NURS1014Biochemistry3NURS1111Microbiology3FOUN1014Critical Reading and Writing in Science and Technology and Medical Sciences3PSYCH1000Introduction to Psychology3FOUN1101Caribbean Civilization3Year 1 • Semester II＋
NURS1109Human Anatomy & Physiology 23NURS1114Health Informatics3SOCI1002Sociology for the Caribbean3NURS1113Epidemiology3SOCI1005Introductory Statistics for the Caribbean3NURS1013Nutrition3LING1819 / FOUN1031Beginner’s Caribbean Sign Language OR Law, Governance, Economy & Society in the Caribbean3Year 2 • Semester I＋
NURS2117Health Assessment3NURS2118The Nursing Process3NURS2124Human Pathophysiology3NURS2015Introduction to Professional Nursing3NURS2019Concepts Applied to Nursing3Year 2 • Semester II＋
NURS2010Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Nursing3NURS2011Health Promotion3NURS2112Patient & Health Care Worker Safety3NURS2020Concepts Applied to Nursing Clinical Practicum3LING2821Sign Language for Medicine and Dentistry — free elective; prerequisite LING18193Year 2 • Summer＋
NURS2213Nursing Care of Adults4NURS2214Nursing Care of Adults Clinical Practicum4Year 3 • Semester I＋
NURS3136 / NURS3015Mental Health Nursing / Nursing Care of Older Adults3NURS3137 / NURS3016Mental Health Nursing Clinical Practicum / Nursing Care of Older Adults Clinical Practicum3NURS3018Diet Therapy3NURS3017Principle of Life Support and First Aid3NURS3030Research Methodology3Year 3 • Semester II＋
NURS3000Parent Child Nursing3NURS3001Parent Child Nursing Clinical Practicum4NURS3019Community Health Nursing3NURS3020Community Health Nursing Clinical Practicum3Year 3 • Summer＋
NURS3015 / NURS3136Nursing Care of Older Adults / Mental Health Nursing3NURS3016 / NURS3137Nursing Care of Older Adults Clinical Practicum / Mental Health Nursing Clinical Practicum3Year 4 • Semester I＋
NURS4010Nursing Care of Children & Adolescents3NURS4011Nursing Care of Children & Adolescents Clinical Practicum4NURS4014Research Project3ELECTIVEFree elective — only if not completed earlier3 if outstandingYear 4 • Semester II＋
NURS4015Leadership & Management in Nursing3NURS4016Leadership & Management in Nursing Clinical Practicum4NURS4012Nursing Care of Patients in Specialized Care Settings3NURS4013Nursing Care of Patients in Specialized Care Settings Clinical Practicum4Year 4 • Summer＋
NURS4017Clinical Internship4NURS4018Senior Nursing Review0The structure shown is a guide. Course or unit sequencing and availability may be adjusted to reflect enrolment levels, faculty availability and programme scheduling requirements. Offerings may therefore move to a different semester or position in the sequence.
You may be a strong fit if you…
feel called to care for people with compassion, discipline and respect for every patient’s dignity.
are ready for demanding scientific study, skills laboratories, clinical practice and professional accountability.
want a nursing foundation that can lead to registration, practice and later specialist or graduate study.
Main Campus
Your academic home is ECC’s Main Campus. Laboratory and supervised clinical learning extend the classroom into approved healthcare settings, helping you develop confidence with real patients and professional teams.