DeVry Offers New Nursing Courses

DeVry, Inc. ( DV - Analyst Report ) recently launched graduate certificate programs in nursing education and nursing informatics under its Chamberlain College of Nursing. The introduction of the courses is in response to the growing demand for certified nurses. Applications are being accepted for the spring semester starting from January 2013.

The duration of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education is 12 to 15 semester credit hours and Nursing Informatics is 9 to 15 credit hours. The courses may include one or two 100-hour education practicum. The courses focus on competencies required to take major nursing examinations.

These courses have been designed to upgrade the skills of nurse educators and practicing nurses. The students can also opt for online courses with or without the practicum. The nurses are trained to use latest technology so that they can function in highly digitized healthcare settings.

DeVry witnessed solid new enrollment growth in Chamberlain College of Nursing and in other institutions like Carrington Colleges in the first quarter of 2013, owing to strong demand for medical courses. Total enrollments increased 20.2% at the Chamberlain College of Nursing and 2.1% at DeVry Medical International. Medical and Healthcare segment revenue grew 7.4% year over year in the quarter, driven by solid new enrollment growth.

DeVry, a peer of Apollo Group Inc. ( APOL - Analyst Report ) , carries a Zacks #2 Rank in the near term (Buy rating). Continued progress on its performance improvement plan to align costs, regain enrollment growth and make growth investments, helped the company to deliver better-than-expected results in the first quarter fiscal 2013. The first quarter results were a turnaround from the past few weak quarterly results, thus justifying the short-term buy rating.