CHARLESTON, SC (Nov. 12, 2026) - The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing and the College of Charleston (the College) have announced plans for a joint Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. The planned four-year program is designed to strengthen South Carolina’s nursing workforce pipeline as state employment projections identify healthcare among the fastest-growing occupational sectors.
“The collaboration would give students access to clinical opportunities and experiences unavailable elsewhere in South Carolina,” said Suzanne Austin, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs of the College. “It combines the College of Charleston’s more than 250 years of undergraduate education with MUSC’s nationally recognized nursing program to help provide the state with more highly skilled nurses to meet growing demand for healthcare.”
Students would complete foundational coursework at the College before matriculating into upper-division nursing coursework, simulation and clinical experiences on both campuses. They would remain enrolled at the College throughout the four-year program, with the upper-division nursing coursework and experiences supported by MUSC College of Nursing faculty and resources.
“The College of Charleston and MUSC share a deep commitment to educating the next generation and serving the people of South Carolina,” said John V. Marymont, M.D., MBA, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost of MUSC. “This degree program brings the strengths of both institutions together to create an exceptional opportunity for students and prepares them for a profession that will touch people throughout the state. This is about students, patients, families and communities who will one day benefit from their knowledge, skill and compassion.”
The College of Charleston Board of Trustees approved the program last spring, followed by the MUSC Board of Trustees approval in August. The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education approved the proposal on Nov. 5 and the first class of first-year students will begin in fall 2027. Enrollment plans will be shared as the program advances through approval and implementation.
Licensure and employment will depend on each graduate’s qualifications, regulatory requirements and employer decisions. Information about prerequisites, applications, costs and timelines will be available at https://charleston.edu/nursing-bsn/.
Editor’s Note: B-roll and images available at https://f.io/FOJoWdXf (Credit: Josh Goodwin/MUSC).
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About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates nearly 3,800 students in six colleges and trains more than 1,180 residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, including National Institute of General Medical Sciences COBRE awards. For information on our academic programs, visit musc.edu.
As the healthcare system of MUSC, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding healthcare providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2026, for the 12th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.
MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $10.1 billion. The 38,080 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research and patient care.
About College of Charleston
Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston’s mission is to provide students with a world-class education in the arts and sciences, business and technology, engineering and health sciences. Students have more than 150 majors and minors from which to choose — and they often choose to combine several—and complement their academic courses with overseas study, undergraduate research and internships for a truly customized education.
Nearly 12,000 students choose the college for its unique urban, mid-sized university feel. The College, home to undergraduates from across the country and around the globe, provides a creative and intellectually stimulating environment where students are challenged and guided by a committed and caring faculty of distinguished teacher-scholars. The city of Charleston serves as a living and learning laboratory for student experiences and opportunities for career development. The university bridges the old with the new in a setting that is truly extraordinary — where historic character and forward-looking innovation come together to shape a distinctive and inspiring environment for learning. A College of Charleston education focuses on discovery and personal growth, as well as preparation for life, work, and service to our society.
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