Nursing

Successful nursing careers begin at Columbus State

Nurses work closely with patients to perform physical exams, administer medication, interpret patient information and much more. Our five-semester Associate of Applied Science in Nursing prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings, with an emphasis on critical thinking, decision making, delegation and care management skills. Columbus State also offers certificates for those seeking entry-level jobs or for nurses to expand their credentials.

Your Path to a Debt-Free Degree

Starting at Columbus State and transferring can help you save up to 60% on your bachelor’s degree

Why pay more for the same degree? When you start at Columbus State, you can transfer your associate degree to one of our many partner institutions and save big. That way, you can graduate ready to tackle your future, rather than paying off the past.

Veterinary Technology

Channel your compassion for pets and people.

“If you want to work in a vet’s office, you’re probably an animal person. Columbus State’s Veterinary Technology program teaches you to care for pets and interact with their owners, too. Courses range from veterinary anatomy to business communication. Students get hands-on experience in our lab and through clinical experience, and graduates are able to conduct physical examinations, administer anesthesia, communicate with clients and keep records under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.”

Healthcare jobs are expected to grow faster than any other sector of the economy

Start your career in this high-demand industry with help from Columbus State

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care industry is projected to add 2.3 million jobs between 2014 and 2024 — that’s more job openings than any other occupation. Many careers in the health care field require only an associate degree, and range from nursing to dental hygiene to respiratory therapy. If you plan to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the medical field, starting at Columbus State and transferring can save you thousands of dollars in student loans.

Abby Kirov: Degree-Seeking Mom

Abby Kirov is one of Columbus State’s many non-traditional students. As a 29-year-old working adult, she turned to the College to earn a degree many years after high school. She graduated with an Associate of Science in nursing.

Before arriving at Columbus State six years ago, Kirov was already working in the health care field as a medical assistant at OhioHealth Heart & Vascular. “The program was challenging as a new mom and full-time medical assistant. I shed a lot of tears, I missed important family moments, and worked harder than ever.”

Allyson Stought, Respiratory Care

To the heart of the pandemic

Allyson Stought went where she was most needed: To New York City, to the center of a pandemic.

Stought, who graduated in 2018 with an associate degree in Respiratory Care, went to New York City at the end of April to help operate ventilators for patients suffering from COVID-19. She was deployed to NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center and hit the ground running.

"As respiratory therapists, we really are the front lines of this," Stought says. "We have our hands in anything cardio-pulmonary related. They are really relying on us to help treat this virus."

From exercise science to herbal medicine

Networking helped this Columbus State student engage in scientific research and discover a new passion

A sports-lover all her life, Zea’annah Slack knew she wanted to major in exercise science. Slack took some courses at Columbus State during her junior year of high school, and she enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to enroll here to earn her associate degree. That decision allowed her to forge connections with advisors and teachers early on, and opened the door to new opportunities. Slack’s advisor helped her land a research assistant position at Ohio State University where she’s worked on a study looking at the effects of nutrition and exercise for minority students in college.

“The thing I like the most about Columbus State is that you really get to know you professors on a name-to-name basis,” Slack says. “It helped me stay focused and get good grades because it was easy for me to get the help and tutoring I needed.”

Slack plans to transfer to a four-year school to earn a physician’s assistant degree with a minor in herbal science — a passion she’s developed during her time at Columbus State. Slack aspires to own her own herbal remedy business one day, so she can educate others about the benefits of herbal treatments and create her own affordable yet effective remedies.

A Strong Foundation

Earning an Associate of Science degree set Emily Holbrook up for success

Initially, Emily Holbrook assumed she would attend Ohio State University her freshman year of college. But when she discovered the resources available to her at Columbus State — including tuition assistance, one-on-one counseling, and an active STEM Club — it was an easy decision to start here before transferring to Ohio State to study medical dietetics.