Simpson College and Mercy College of Health Sciences today announced a new affiliation that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Arts in health and exercise science or biology from Simpson and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Mercy College in approximately the amount of time it would normally take to earn a degree from one institution. After completing their third year at Simpson, students who meet admission requirements will begin nursing coursework at Mercy College. Upon successful completion of the nursing coursework, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination. “Our partnership with Mercy College offers students a powerful dose of combined educational excellence,” Simpson College President Marsha Kelliher said in a press release. “Providing students with this unique opportunity to obtain two degrees in four years will give them distinct advantages in their career pursuits.” Mercy College offers a similar accelerated BSN partnership with Drake University. “Mercy College’s accelerated format is one of the fastest ways to obtain a BSN in Iowa, all without leaving the Des Moines region,” said Nancy Kertz, Mercy College’s vice president for academic affairs and provost. “With the growing need for nurses and health care leaders, this affiliation helps accelerate the preparation of the next generation of health care professionals.”