I saw it immediately as a pathway for our students that’s advantageous.
Deborah Ashiedu, ’25, G’26, aspires to make a difference through a career as a nurse practitioner. Having earned two biology degrees from BSU, Ashiedu is ready for the specialized training she needs to land her dream job.
“Most of my prerequisites were already done,” said Ashiedu, who begins a nursing program at Northeastern University this fall. “I understood what I was getting into. Being a biology major really prepared me.”
It’s now even easier for Bridgewater graduates to follow in Ashiedu’s footsteps. BSU and Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences recently finalized an agreement covering NU nursing, pharmaceutical sciences, physical therapy and pharmacy programs. It provides guaranteed admission for at least five qualified BSU alumni per program per enrollment period. Students are also eligible for special scholarships.
The agreement covers programs at Northeastern’s Boston campus as well as a new accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing in Fall River.
“I saw it immediately as a pathway for our students that’s advantageous,” said Dr. Martina Arndt, G’21, G’26, dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics.
BSU has similar agreements with MGH Institute of Health Professions and Johnson & Wales University. The partnerships help Bridgewater graduates access advanced clinical degrees that BSU does not offer.
Healthcare is a multidisciplinary field, and students pursuing majors across BSU may benefit from the agreements, said Dr. Marci Swede, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions.
“The healthcare field is so important to Massachusetts as a whole,” Swede said. “When students go into healthcare, they’re going back to serve their communities. Healthcare is a very mission-driven field to get into.”
Ashiedu is thrilled that even more students can follow the BSU-to-NU path. She encouraged them to take full advantage of the resources BSU provides. Ashiedu conducted undergraduate research on aging, presented at conferences and wrote a thesis – activities that enhanced her independent thinking and communication skills.
“I’m thankful to BSU for the amazing opportunities it gave me,” she said. “I really enjoyed going there.”
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