The College of Nursing offers you a variety of opportunities to enhance your education: you may study abroad for a year, minor in a subject, engage in service learning or pursue preparation for a military career through Naval, Army or Air Force ROTC programs.

Study Abroad Opportunities

"The Villanova University Nursing program provided me with an incredible opportunity to study abroad my sophomore year at University of Manchester in England. Too often universities emphasize the need to be book smart but this past year has taught me that there is more to learn about the world, its people, their culture, and myself than what is written in a textbook. The skills in our nursing books may change with time but the skill I was given in England will not fade."

ENS Kelly Williams, USNR, NC, BSN, RN
BSN '04
Chalfont, PA

The College of Nursing, in conjunction with the International Studies Office, offers a variety of opportunities for a Nursing major to study abroad during his or her course of studies.

The College of Nursing has established a year-long study abroad program with the University of Manchester in England. If you wish to study abroad, and have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0, you may take your sophomore year in England. This year abroad fulfills the courses required for Villanova's second-year nursing students. Manchester's Nursing program is ranked #1 in Great Britain by The Times in London. Students in this program spend their Sophomore year in the Nursing Department of the University of Manchester. The courses transfer to Villanova as the Sophomore year of the nursing curriculum and no time is lost in the four year course of studies.

The program requires some changes in the Freshman course of study; any freshman who is interested should contact the Director of the Undergraduate Program or his or her academic advisor as soon as possible. In addition, interested students should contact the Director of International Studies.

A nursing major may also participate in any numerous study abroad programs offered through the International Studies Office. However, since these are not nursing programs, students who participate need to adjust their course of study and may graduate later than May of their graduation year. Students interested in spending a semester of their Junior year abroad should contact their Program Director and the Director of International Studies.

There are other opportunities for international clinical electives for credit, and national or international study as part of the health promotion practicum senior year.

Minors

Students who wish to minor in a subject may do so with some adjustment in their schedules. Requirements for a minor vary according to the requirements set by each department. Nursing students who have completed Sophomore year are eligible to participate in the 15-credit Summer Business Institute offered by the Villanova School of Business.

Military Opportunities - Air Force ROTC

Villanova students are eligible to participate in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) through a cross-enrollment agreement with Saint Joseph's University. All Aerospace Studies courses will be held on the Saint Joseph's campus. The AFROTC program enables a college student to earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force while concurrently satisfying requirements for his/her baccalaureate degree.

The program of Aerospace Studies offers both two-year and four-year curricula. In the four-year curriculum, a student takes the General Military Course (GMC) during the freshman and sophomore years, attends a four-week summer training program, and then takes the Professional Officer Course (POC) in the junior and senior years. A student is under no contractual obligation to the Air Force until entering the POC or accepting an Air Force scholarship. In the two-year curriculum, a student attends a five-week summer training program and then enters the POC in the junior year. Students opting for the two-year curriculum must apply for acceptance into the POC by the end of the first semester or quarter of their sophomore year.

Air Force ROTC offers 1, 2, 3 and 4 year scholarships on a competitive basis to qualified applicants. Four-year scholarships are available to high school seniors in various fields. The scholarships are offered to cadets enrolled in the AFROTC program and to college entrants to AFROTC.  All scholarships cover tuition, lab fees, reimbursement for books, plus a $200-400 tax-free monthly stipend, depending on academic year.

Detailed information may be obtained from the Professor of Aerospace Studies, AFROTC Det 750, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131, (610) 660-3190.

Military Opportunities - Army ROTC

"Army ROTC has opened so many new and exciting doors in my life. I have done things I never imagined that I could do!"

Cadet Elizabeth Bond
Class of 2006
Wayne, PA
Learn more about Elizabeth

Villanova students are eligible to participate in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program through a partnership agreement with the Widener University Department of Military Science. Army ROTC offers students the opportunity to graduate with a college degree and a commission in the United States Army, Army National Guard, or United States Army Reserve. All Army ROTC classes are conducted on the Villanova University campus.

The Army ROTC Program involves undergraduate courses taken during the freshman and sophomore years, and advanced courses taken during junior and senior years. Students may enroll in the introductory courses without incurring any military or financial obligation and may withdraw at any time, subject to Villanova University's course withdrawal policy. Students who participated in Junior ROTC in high school or have prior military service may receive placement into the advanced courses as determined by the Army Professor of Military Science. The introductory course requirements may also be satisfied through attendance at a 28 day Army ROTC Leadership Training Course (LTC) at the end of the sophomore year. Students in the advanced courses are required to attend a five-week Army ROTC Advanced Camp between their junior and senior years. Students enrolled in the advanced courses receive a stipend of $300 to $500 per month and will incur an obligation of up to four years. National Guard and Reserve Forces options are also available.

"It's an awesome opportunity!"

Cadet Regina Thorp
Class of 2006
Annapolis, MD
Learn more about Regina

Nursing students who complete the four-year or two-year program, obtain their Nursing Degree, and pass their Nursing Board Examinations are commissioned into the Army Nurse Corps.

Four-year, three-year, and two-year Army ROTC Full Tuition scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Scholarships also include payment of certain university fees, a $900 book and school supplies subsidy, and a tiered $300-$500 per month stipend.

Applications for the three-year Army ROTC scholarships must be submitted early in the spring semester of the freshman year; applications for the two-year Army ROTC scholarships must be submitted early in the sophomore year. Applications for attendance to the Army ROTC Leadership Training Course (LTC) must be submitted early in the spring semester of the sophomore year.

Detailed information may be obtained from the Professor of Military Science, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, (610) 499-4098. Go to www.armyrotc.villanova.edu for further details.

Military Opportunities - Naval ROTC

Villanova University, in a long-standing relationship with the United States Navy, maintains one of approximately 60 Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps units in the United States. The objective of the Unit is to educate prospective officers for the Navy and Marine Corps. Reserve commissions as Ensign or 2nd Lieutenant are awarded upon successful completion of prescribed naval science courses and graduation from the University. These commissioned officers will serve on active duty for a period of four to nine years, depending upon choice of warfare specialty.

Participation in the NROTC Unit is through either the Scholarship or College Programs. Students in the NROTC Scholarship Program (national selection competition) receive a substantial subsidy from the Navy, including tuition, books, fees, and a $200 monthly subsistence allowance. They participate in three summer cruises on board various Navy ships and installations and receive active duty pay while on these cruises.

NROTC College Program students (Non-Scholarship) apply directly to the Villanova NROTC Unit, usually in the fall semester of their freshman year. Selections are made by the Professor of Naval Science. Students in the College Program receive no government subsidy until their junior and senior years, during which they receive a $200 monthly subsistence allowance. They participate in one summer cruise and receive active duty pay while on cruise. A limited number of scholarships are available each year to those NROTC College Program students who stand at or near the top of their College Program class in terms of overall academic performance and aptitude for commissioned service. The Professor of Naval Science nominates College Program students for these scholarships with the selection being made by the Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET).

In addition to the four-year programs described above, two-year NROTC Scholarship and NROTC College Programs are available. Students must apply for these programs early in the spring semester of their sophomore year (application packages are normally due to CNET by 31 March each year. Those selected for the two-year programs must successfully complete a six week training course at Newport, RI, during the summer preceding their junior year. Upon enrollment in the NROTC Program at the beginning of their junior year, two-year program students have the same options and benefits, and assume the same active duty obligation, as four-year program students.

All Scholarship and College Program students may select any major at the University. Midshipmen at Villanova study in a wide variety of majors in engineering, arts, sciences, business, and nursing. Detailed NROTC information may be obtained from the Naval Science Office, Room 103, John Barry Hall.

Note: Applicants for the NROTC Program are not relieved of the necessity for payment of the registration deposit required by their letter of acceptance for admission to Villanova University.