The Mount Sinai Health System Is the School — Seven Hospital Clinical Sites, One Nursing Program
Most nursing programs negotiate clinical affiliation agreements with hospital systems. Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing is the health system. Housed in a facility purpose-built for nursing education within the Mount Sinai campus, the SDBS program places students directly inside one of New York’s most recognized academic medical centers from day one of clinical training.
Faculty are Mount Sinai Health System nurse educators. Rotations cycle through seven named facilities — The Mount Sinai Hospital, Morningside, West, Brooklyn, Queens, South Nassau, NYEE, and ambulatory practices.
Mount Sinai Health System employees, their spouses, and children receive a 10% tuition discount.
Three annual entry points (Summer, Fall, Spring) and a full-time/part-time option structure accommodate different scheduling needs.
A mandatory free Pre-Entry Immersion Program covers medical terminology, dosage calculations, study strategies, and technology platforms before the first nursing course begins.
ABSN Admission Summary
Admission is holistic — academics, prior career experience, and personal narrative all factor into the decision. The 3.25 GPA threshold and three-essay requirement signal a program that wants to understand who applicants are beyond their transcripts. Cohort sizes are intentionally small: 125–130 full-time and 25–35 part-time seats per cohort.
Academic requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA from the bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 3.0 GPA across all prerequisite courses
- C or higher in each individual prerequisite course
- Only one prerequisite course failure may be repeated
Nine required prerequisite courses:
Sciences — C or higher; within 5 years of program start (6–8 years evaluated case-by-case):
- Chemistry with lab (4 cr.)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 cr.)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 cr.)
- Microbiology with lab (4 cr.)
- Nutrition (3 cr.) — within 5 years
Non-science prerequisites — C or higher; no expiration stated:
- Human Growth and Development (3 cr.)
- Ethics — Philosophy preferred; Sociology courses may be accepted on a case-by-case basis (3 cr.)
- General Psychology (3 cr.)
- Statistics (3 cr.)
Application materials — submitted through NursingCAS:
- Official transcripts from every institution attended — mailed directly from each registrar’s office to NursingCAS; all institutions must be listed even if no degree was awarded; all coursework including in-progress courses must be entered
- Two letters of recommendation — one from an academic source and one from a professional source
- Three short essays (150–200 words each):
- Challenges in today’s U.S. healthcare system and how nurses can create a positive impact
- What unique contribution you will make to the ABSN program, school, and nursing profession
- A personal scenario that challenged your core values and how you responded — addressing care for patients who don’t share your ethnicity, culture, or values
- Current resume — including patient care experience, work history, leadership, volunteer experience, awards, professional organizations, and academic history
Conditional admission: Applicants may receive conditional admission while completing remaining prerequisites or degree requirements — all prerequisites and degree requirements must be complete before the program start date.
International transcripts: Must be evaluated by a NACES-approved agency before submission.
Transfer credits: PSON accepts transfer credits only for Pathophysiology (3 cr.) and Pharmacology (3 cr.) — must be C+ or higher and within 5 years from an accredited institution. All other non-prerequisite courses must be taken at PSON as part of the residency requirement.
Post-acceptance requirements — admission subject to:
- Background clearance — any infractions on a background report, regardless of resolution or adjudication, result in withdrawal of conditional admission; clinical rotations at Mount Sinai facilities require a clean background report without exception
- Passing drug test
- Valid immunizations including flu vaccination
- Complete financial registration
- Completion of mandatory free Pre-Entry Immersion Program before the first semester — covers student learning platforms, study and test-taking strategies, time management, medical terminology, and dosage calculations
Program selection note: Students must remain in the program option (full-time or part-time) selected at the time of application — the admission decision is based on the chosen option and transfers between options are not permitted.
Curriculum
The full-time program delivers 54 nursing credits across four semesters. The program includes a mandatory Pre-Entry Immersion Program before Semester 1 and concludes with a Scholarship Synthesis capstone that allows students to direct their final nursing focus. A notable structural feature: Mental Health Nursing (NSG306) and Pediatric/Maternal & Newborn Nursing (NSG309) both run across Semesters 2 and 3 — providing extended, multi-semester exposure to these specialties rather than a single compressed term.
Prerequisite Overview
Nine prerequisite courses required — five sciences with labs, four non-sciences. Sciences must be within 5 years (6–8 years evaluated case-by-case). C or higher in each; only one failed prerequisite may be repeated. See the admission summary above for the full list.
Mandatory Pre-Entry Immersion Program (free, before Semester 1): Workshops covering student learning platforms, study and test-taking strategies, time management, medical terminology, and dosage calculations. Required for all incoming students.
Required Courses
Semester 1 (13 cr.):
NSG204 – Introduction to the Profession of Nursing Explores the history, development, and foundational ethics of nursing — professional standards, scope of practice, and the nurse’s role within an interprofessional healthcare team. Establishes the philosophical and professional framework for the full program.
NSG205 – Pharmacology Covers essential pharmacological principles focusing on major drug categories and their safe, effective administration in nursing practice. Paired with Pathophysiology in Semester 1 to build concurrent scientific and pharmacological foundations.
NSG302 – Pathophysiology Examines physiological changes linked to disease — cellular and systemic responses and the body’s compensatory mechanisms. Provides the disease-mechanism foundation for all subsequent adult health, pediatric, maternal, and mental health clinical courses.
NSG303 – Health Assessment Introduces basic assessment skills and health history techniques — identifying normal and abnormal findings through practical, hands-on training. The systematic assessment toolset applied throughout every clinical rotation.
NSG303A – Basic Skills Lab Develops core nursing skills in a dedicated lab setting through demonstrations and peer practice; builds critical thinking and problem-solving within a clinical framework. Paired with NSG303 to immediately apply assessment theory in skills practice.
Semester 2 (13–15 cr.):
NSG301 – Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Introduces research processes, evidence evaluation and application in clinical practice — quality improvement, patient outcomes, and ethical considerations in nursing scholarship.
NSG304 – Adult Health Nursing I Builds foundational knowledge for caring for adult patients; focuses on therapeutic interventions and the application of the nursing process across diverse clinical settings. The first major adult health clinical course.
NSG306 – Mental Health Nursing (first of two semesters) Focuses on mental health across the lifespan — therapeutic communication, self-awareness, and the nursing process in mental health settings. The first of two consecutive semesters covering mental health nursing.
NSG309 – Pediatric/Maternal and Newborn Nursing (first of two semesters) Covers care of women and children — health promotion, development, and common health issues through simulations and clinical experience across varied settings. The first of two consecutive semesters.
Semester 3 (14–16 cr.):
NSG307 – Geopolitics and Health Care Policy Examines global and national healthcare policies — economic, political, and social factors impacting health systems and societal wellness; prepares graduates to navigate and advocate within complex policy environments.
NSG308 – Adult Health Nursing II Focuses on managing complex medical-surgical conditions; integrates pharmacology, nutrition, and critical care concepts to support holistic patient care. The advanced adult health course preceding the transition-to-practice capstone.
NSG306 – Mental Health Nursing (second semester) Revisits mental health nursing with a focus on critical thinking, therapeutic relationships, and ethical issues across diverse mental health settings; deepens clinical application from Semester 2.
NSG309 – Pediatric/Maternal and Newborn Nursing (second semester) Emphasizes care for women and children, health promotion, and developmental principles; enhanced through clinical experiences and simulations building on Semester 2 content.
Semester 4 (12 cr.) — capstone semester:
NSG401 – Nursing Issues in Caring for At-Risk Communities Community health nursing for at-risk populations — health promotion, disease prevention, and culturally sensitive care across varied community settings.
NSG402 – Nursing Leadership and Management Leadership theories, communication, delegation, and quality improvement; prepares students to lead healthcare teams and manage resources effectively in professional nursing roles.
NSG403 – Transition to Practice Hands-on clinical experience fostering independence across diverse settings under faculty and preceptor guidance — the program’s capstone clinical immersion before NCLEX eligibility.
NSG409A – Scholarship Synthesis Students synthesize nursing knowledge from prior coursework — selecting a focus area (clinical practice, leadership, education, or community health) aligned with individual career goals. The program’s scholarly capstone.
More curriculum details available in the school catalog: Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing Catalog
Clinicals
Clinical rotations are embedded across all four semesters, escalating in complexity from foundational skills labs and assessment practicums to the final Transition to Practice immersion. Every clinical rotation takes place within the Mount Sinai Health System — not at affiliated partners, but at Mount Sinai’s own hospitals and ambulatory practices.
Clinical integration: Faculty are Mount Sinai Health System nurse educators; the school is housed within Mount Sinai’s campus infrastructure; clinical and academic environments are physically and institutionally unified
Seven named Mount Sinai clinical sites:
- The Mount Sinai Hospital (Manhattan flagship)
- Mount Sinai Morningside
- Mount Sinai West
- Mount Sinai Brooklyn
- Mount Sinai Queens
- Mount Sinai South Nassau
- New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
- Mount Sinai Doctors — ambulatory practice locations
Specialties with dedicated clinical courses: Adult health I and II, mental health (two semesters), pediatric and maternal-newborn (two semesters), community health and at-risk populations, and transition to practice immersion
Multi-semester specialty exposure: NSG306 Mental Health Nursing and NSG309 Pediatric/Maternal & Newborn Nursing both run across Semesters 2 and 3 — providing two full semesters of clinical exposure in each specialty, a structural advantage over single-semester programs
Simulation center: State-of-the-art simulation facility purpose-built for nursing education within Mount Sinai’s campus; simulation incorporated from NSG303A (Basic Skills Lab) through advanced clinical scenarios
Transition to Practice (NSG403, Semester 4): The program’s highest-intensity clinical immersion — building toward near-independent nursing practice before NCLEX and graduation; faculty and preceptors guide students to independence across diverse Mount Sinai settings
Community clinical (NSG401): At-risk community health nursing placements in addition to hospital rotations — extends clinical exposure beyond inpatient settings
Tuition
Full-time program total: $63,021 (4 semesters)
Mount Sinai Phillips charges $1,000 per credit for the SDBS program. The full-time sequence runs 54 nursing credits across four semesters.
| Semester | Credits | Tuition | Clinical/Lab Fees | Other Fees | Semester Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 | 13 cr. | $13,000 | $1,250 | $1,070 | $15,320 |
Semester 2 | 13 cr. | $13,000 | $1,250 | $650 | $14,900 |
Semester 3 | 16 cr. | $16,000 | $1,250 | $650 | $17,900 |
Semester 4 | 12 cr. | $12,000 | $1,250 | $1,651 | $14,901 |
Full Program | 54 cr. | $54,000 | $5,000 | $4,021 | $63,021 |
Fee breakdown — full program:
- Clinical/Nursing Lab Fee: $625/course × 8 courses = $5,000
- Technology Fee: $475 × 4 = $1,900
- Student Activity Fee (includes NSNA membership): $175 × 4 = $700
- Health Service Fee: $595 total
- NCLEX Review: $356 (Semester 4)
- RN Exit Exam: $70 (Semester 4)
- Graduation Fee: $400 (Semester 4)
- Transcript Fee: $10
Part-time program (7 semesters) — Semesters 1–4:
| Semester | Credits | Tuition | Fees | Semester Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 | 7 cr. | $7,000 | $1,695 | $8,695 |
Semester 2 | 6 cr. | $6,000 | $1,275 | $7,275 |
Semester 3 | 9 cr. | $9,000 | $1,275 | $10,275 |
Semester 4 | 10 cr. | $10,000 | $2,075 | $12,075 |
Semesters 1–4 subtotal | 32 cr. | $32,000 | $6,320 | $38,320 |
Additional part-time fees in Semester 7: NCLEX Review ($356), Health Services ($175), RN Exit Exam ($70), Graduation ($400). Contact Mount Sinai Phillips for Semesters 5–7 per-semester costs.
Employee discount: Mount Sinai Health System employees, their spouses, and children receive a 10% tuition discount — must be employed at time of admission; documentation of relationship required.
At $63,021 for the full-time program, Mount Sinai Phillips is priced comparably to other NYC private ABSNs in this review — below D’Youville ($72,000–$75,000) and above Iona ($59,980). The direct clinical integration with seven named Mount Sinai facilities and the institutional prestige of the health system are the primary value differentiators at this price point.
See the official tuition page for more details: Mount Sinai Phillips SDBS Tuition and Fees
Accreditation
The school states that its baccalaureate nursing program holds CCNE accreditation, with an accreditation term that runs from March 15, 2021 through December 31, 2031.