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Read the full noticeSchool of Allied Health Sciences
B.NSc. Nursing Science
Programme Overview
The Nursing Science programme at the University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh (UAST) consists of a comprehensive undergraduate education in the scientific, clinical, technological, and leadership dimensions of professional nursing practice. For students in the programme, a core learning objective is building and demonstrating foundational competencies in nursing science, clinical skills, patient-centred care, health informatics, leadership, research, and healthcare innovation through the successful completion of rigorous coursework, simulation-based training, clinical internships, and a capstone innovation project. Students are also eligible for accelerated professional pathways, including postgraduate specialisation, clinical leadership, healthcare administration, nursing education, and entrepreneurial ventures in healthcare delivery and digital health.
Programme Distinctiveness
A Curriculum Benchmark Internationally
The UAST Nursing Science curriculum is benchmarked against leading nursing programmes at institutions including Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Duke University School of Nursing, King's College London, National University of Singapore, and Karolinska Institutet, while addressing healthcare challenges, health systems strengthening, and nursing innovation priorities specific to Nigeria and Africa.
A Programme Rooted in National Priorities
While maintaining international standards, the programme equips graduates to address Nigeria's most pressing healthcare and nursing challenges: primary healthcare delivery and community nursing, maternal and child health, infectious disease prevention and management, non-communicable disease care, health workforce development, digital health and telehealth, disaster preparedness and humanitarian response, and health systems strengthening.
Integrated with National Academic Standards
The programme is structured around the National Universities Commission (NUC) Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), with a distinctive 30% UAST proprietary component that substantially strengthens competencies in digital literacy and professional communication, nursing innovation and emerging technologies, scientific writing and evidence-based learning, professional ethics and compassionate care, nursing informatics and digital health systems, simulation-based clinical skills and patient safety, global health and One Health, design thinking and healthcare entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and smart nursing practice, precision health and genomics, disaster nursing and crisis leadership, digital therapeutics and telehealth, leadership and interprofessional collaboration, advanced nursing leadership and health policy, quality improvement and healthcare accreditation, translational research and implementation science, innovation laboratory for nursing technologies, emerging technologies and future nursing practice, healthcare consultancy and grant writing, and capstone innovation in nursing and healthcare systems.
The UAST Advantage: Professional Competencies
Graduates of this programme acquire competencies in:
- Professional Nursing Practice
- Digital Literacy and Nursing Informatics
- Clinical Skills and Patient Safety
- Artificial Intelligence and Smart Nursing
- Precision Health and Genomics
- Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
- Disaster Nursing and Humanitarian Response
- One Health and Global Health
- Leadership and Health Systems Governance
- Quality Improvement and Accreditation
- Translational Research and Implementation Science
- Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Healthcare Consultancy and Project Management
Programme Structure
The programme is delivered over five academic years (100–500 Levels) and comprises UAST proprietary courses complementing the NUC 70% core curriculum.
Year One: Foundations
- Digital Literacy and Professional Communication in Nursing
- Nursing Innovation, Creativity and Emerging Healthcare Technologies
- Scientific Writing, Evidence-Based Learning and Information Literacy
- Professional Ethics, Compassionate Care and Patient Advocacy
Year Two: Core Clinical and Digital Foundations
- Nursing Informatics and Digital Health Systems
- Simulation-Based Clinical Skills and Patient Safety
- Global Health, One Health and Emerging Diseases
- Design Thinking, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Nursing Practice
Year Three: Advanced Technologies and Health Systems
- Artificial Intelligence and Smart Nursing Practice
- Precision Health, Genomics and Personalised Nursing Care
- Disaster Nursing, Humanitarian Response and Crisis Leadership
- Digital Therapeutics, Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
- Leadership, Interprofessional Collaboration and Health Systems
Year Four: Leadership and Professional Integration
- Advanced Nursing Leadership, Governance and Health Policy
- Quality Improvement, Clinical Governance and Healthcare Accreditation
- Translational Research, Clinical Trials and Implementation Science
- Innovation Laboratory for Nursing Technologies and Healthcare Entrepreneurship
Year Five: Capstone and Professional Practice
- Emerging Technologies and the Future of Nursing Practice
- Healthcare Consultancy, Project Development and Grant Writing
- Advanced Clinical Internship and Reflective Professional Practice
- Grand Challenges in African Nursing and Health Systems
- Capstone Project in Nursing Innovation and Healthcare Systems
Career Pathways
UAST B.NSc. Nursing Science graduates are prepared for careers in:
Hospital and Clinical Settings
Registered nurses, clinical nurse specialists, nurse educators, and nurse managers
Primary Healthcare and Community Health
Community health nurses, public health nurses, and health promotion specialists
Specialised Nursing Practice
Critical care nurses, emergency nurses, mental health nurses, and maternal-child health nurses
Digital Health and Nursing Informatics
Nursing informaticists, telehealth nurses, and digital health specialists
Healthcare Leadership and Administration
Nurse managers, directors of nursing, and healthcare administrators
Health Policy and Governance
Health policy advisers, regulatory officers, and healthcare quality managers
Disaster and Humanitarian Nursing
Emergency responders, disaster coordinators, and humanitarian health workers
Nursing Education and Research
Nurse educators, clinical instructors, and nursing researchers
Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Healthcare startup founders, innovation managers, and digital health entrepreneurs
Global Health and International Organizations
WHO, UNICEF, and international health programme managers
Healthcare Consultancy
Health systems consultants, project managers, and technical advisors
Fast-Track and Professional Pathways
Qualified students are eligible for accelerated pathways, including:
Clinical Internships
- Supervised clinical rotations in teaching hospitals, primary healthcare centres, and community health settings
Professional Certifications
- Preparation for nursing licensure, specialty certifications, and advanced practice qualifications
Research Pathways
- Supervised undergraduate research and progression to postgraduate studies in nursing and health sciences
Entrepreneurship Incubation
- Access to nursing innovation hubs, prototyping support, and healthcare commercialisation services
Industry Collaboration
- Partnerships with healthcare institutions, public health agencies, digital health organisations, and non-governmental organisations