By Pareasa Rahimi
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pathway is expanding to launch a summer cohort in Summer 2026, a strategic effort to address workforce needs and support a greater number of students pursuing nursing careers. The School’s BSN Pathway, ranked No. 13 nationally and No. 1 in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report, will be the first in the state to admit BSN students year-round, with most graduates accepting positions and practicing in Alabama.
“This new summer cohort enables us to respond to rising demand for nurses in Alabama and beyond while upholding the standards of excellence that define our BSN Pathway and all of our nursing education programs,” said Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Prelicensure Education Katie Parris, DNP, RN, CNE. “Historically, most BSN students begin the program in the fall semester of their junior year. This additional cohort gives interested students the opportunity to start their coursework earlier, allowing them to graduate and enter the workforce a semester sooner.”
The new cohort is projected to admit between 30 to 50 students and follow the same five-semester curriculum as the fall and spring BSN cohorts. Students also will have access to the School’s unmatched support and learning programs, including Student Success Champions, Nursing Honors Program, the Student Nurse Internship Program and hands-on clinical experiences few schools can match—those offered by on-campus partners in trauma, critical care, pediatric and adult health, as well as learning and other experiences at UAB’s world-class academic health science campus.
“As Alabama’s top-ranked nursing program that educates more nurses than any other in the state—one in four nurses across all degrees—we are proud to be driving growth in nursing education, expanding our number of graduates and equipping them with the skills and readiness they need to thrive in today’s workforce,” said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair Maria R. Shirey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FACHE, FNAP, FAAN.
The School’s longstanding partnership with UAB Medicine is key to the expansion as they will continue providing students with valuable clinical experiences in a high-tech, leading-edge health system.
“Workforce challenges will remain for years to come, but opportunities for nurses will continue to expand,” said Chief Nursing Officer of UAB Hospital and Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Nursing Clinical Practice and Partnerships Terri Poe, DNP, RN, NE-BC (BSN 1986, DNP 2013). “At UAB, we invest in students because nurses are critical not only at the bedside, but also as educators, leaders and collaborators. We are excited the School is expanding its number of BSN graduates to fill workforce needs now and in the future.”
Applications for the summer cohort open November 17, 2025, and close February 2, 2026. Prospective students can learn more here or register to attend an interest session here.