Irvine, CA—Concordia University Irvine is pleased to announce the full accreditation of their Second Degree Accelerated BSN program. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) announced today that Concordia’s Nursing program has fully met all CCNE accreditation standards. Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, the CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency whose mission includes the assessment and identification of nursing programs that engage in effective educational practices.

Concordia Executive Vice President and Provost Mary Scott commended the efforts of the Nursing program leading up to the accreditation: “The CCNE accreditation reflects the outstanding work of a qualified and very dedicated group of individuals. Program Director Dr. Mary Hobus did an outstanding job leading the faculty, staff and students through the arduous accreditation process. They worked diligently to prepare the university for the visit. We were very happy to hear about the final decision of the CCNE.”

Concordia began offering the Second Degree Accelerated BSN program in August 2008. The 12-month program is designed for graduates with a baccalaureate in any field who wish change their professional career to become a registered nurse.  The first cohort of 25 nursing graduates from Concordia’s Second Degree Accelerated BSN celebrated the completion of their program with a Commencement and Pinning Ceremony on August 15, 2009. The program currently has 52 students enrolled, with 23 students preparing to graduate in December 2009 and a new class of 31 students slated to start in January 2010.

The program, offered through Concordia’s School of Business and Professional Studies, prepares nurses for the California state RN-licensure exam. For more information about Concordia’s Second Degree Accelerated BSN or the program accreditation, contact program director Mary Hobus, RN, MS, Ph.D., by email: mary.hobus@cui.edu or by phone: 949.854.8002, x1264.

A member of the Concordia University system of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, Concordia University Irvine, guided by the Great Commission of Christ Jesus and the Lutheran Confessions, empowers students through the liberal arts and professional studies for lives of learning, service, and leader