Welcome to Student Orientation
We are truly delighted that you will be joining our community in your quest to be an exceptional health care provider. This will be a transformative time filled with both the rewards and challenges that go along with your investment.
Your Program Orientation will be during the dates and times indicated below. Detailed information about orientation will be provided to you by your department and/or campus.
- Optional Step - A Pre-Orientation Session is your opportunity to have a guided walkthrough of the Admitted Student Portal, along with other different University systems. Dates and times indicated below when available.
Please look carefully at the list of Program Orientations below to make sure you are looking at the right date(s) and location for your program. If the table has multiple dates for orientation, then you must be present on each day.
If you would like to request disability accommodations for your orientation or have questions about accessibility, please email the Disability Resource Center.
Fall 2026
General Student Affairs/Student Resources (ELMSN, ADNP, CPM, Late Admits from earlier Orientations)
Orientation: August 17, 2026
Time: 9:00AM - 12:30PM
Location: Virtual (details provided e-mail/please contact Student Affairs for Zoom Information)
College of Nursing (CoN)
BSN Oakland Campus
In Person Orientation: July 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Oakland Campus
Student Affairs Virtual Orientation: July 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual (information provided via email)
ABSN Sacramento Campus (Aug Cohorts)
Student Affairs Orientation: July 17, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual (information provided in e-mail)
ABSN Program Orientation: July 16, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: In-Person
Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Oakland Campus
Orientation: August 20, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail)
ELMSN Oakland Campus
Orientation: August 18, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail)
Post Licensure Programs
MSN PMHNP
Orientation: August 12
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Virtual (details provided via e-mail)
MSN FNP
Orientation: August 17
Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm
Location: Virtual (details provided via e-mail)
RN2BSN
Orientation: July 27
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Location: Virtual (details provided via e-mail)
ABSN Orientation - November Cohorts (Oakland, San Francisco Peninsula, Fresno)
Student Affairs Orientation: October 13, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Virtual, information to be emailed
In-Person Program Orientations:
Oakland: TBA
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
San Francisco Peninsula: October 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: In-Person
Fresno: TBA
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
College of Podiatric Medicine
Orientation: August 18th and 19th, 2026
Time: TBA
Location: Oakland Campus (details to be provided via email)
College of Health Sciences (CoHS)
CoHS "Optimizing Learning for Student Success" Virtual Session
Date: August 12
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Virtual (details provided via e-mail)
CoHS "Optimizing Learning for Student Success" In-Person Session
Date: August 26
Time: 9:00AM-4:45PM
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail) / Zoom link for remote students
Bachelor's of Health Sciences
Orientation: One-on-One meeting with Program Director
Location/Time: Zoom to be arranged with Program Director
Masters of Healthcare Administration
Orientation: One-on-One meeting with Program Director
Location/Time: Zoom to be arranged with Program Director
Physical Therapy
Orientation (mandatory): August 27, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4:30 pm (PST)
Location: Oakland, on-campus
Occupational Therapy
Date: August 27, 2026
Time: 9 am - 4:30 pm (PST)
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail)
Master Physician Assistant
Date: August 27, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (PST)
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail)
Social Work
Date: August 29, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (PST)
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail)
Master of Marriage and Family Therapy
Date: August 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (PST)
Location: On-Campus (details provided via e-mail)
Masters of Biomedical Science
Date: August 27, 2026
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am (PST)
Location: Virtual (details provided via e-mail)
Spring 2027
College of Nursing (CoN)
BSN Program, Oakland Campus
In Person Orientation: Nov 18
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: Oakland Campus
Student Affairs Virtual Orientation: Nov 17
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual (link provided via e-mail)
ABSN Sacramento / ELMSN Sacramento
In Person Academic Orientation: Nov 20
Time: TBD
Location: Sacramento Campus
University Virtual Orientation: Nov 21
Time: TBD
Location: Virtual (link provided via e-mail)
ABSN SFP Campus (Jan Cohorts)
Student Affairs Orientation: Dec 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Virtual, information to be emailed
ABSN Program Orientation (SFP): Dec 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: SFP Campus
ABSN San Francisco Peninsula - April Cohort
In Person Academic Orientation: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: SFP Campus
University Virtual Orientation: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: Virtual (link provided via e-mail)
MSN FNP & DNP Online
Virtual Academic Orientation: Dec 15
Time: TBD
Location: Online via ZOOM (link provided in email)
DNP
Virtual Orientation: Dec 3
Time: TBD
Location: Online via ZOOM (link provided in email)
PMHNP
Virtual Orientation: Dec 3/Dec 4
Time: TBD
Location: Online via ZOOM (link provided in email)
RN to BSN Oakland
Date: Dec 4
Time: 5-6 PM
Location: Virtual (link provided via e-mail)
Summer 2027
College of Nursing (CoN)
ABSN Orientation - July Cohorts (Oakland, San Francisco Peninsula, Fresno)
Virtual Orientation: June 23, 2026
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Virtual (Link to be provided in e-mail)
In-Person Program Orientations:
Oakland: June 22, 2026
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Oakland Campus
San Francisco Peninsula: June 22, 2026
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: SFP Campus
Fresno: June 17, 2026
Time: 9am-4pm
Location: Fresno Campus
RN to BSN
Virtual Orientation
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Location: Zoom details provided through E-mail
Post Licensure Nursing Orientations (All Virtual, Information Provided via E-mail)
MSN-PMHNP
Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
PMHNP Cert
Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
DNP Post-Masters
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 11:00am-12:00pm
MSN-FNP
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 9:00am-11:00am
DNP-FNP
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 10:30am-12:00pm
FNP Cert
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm
College of Health Sciences (CoHS)
Bachelors of Health Science (BHS) & Masters of Health Administration (MHA)
Date: 1:1 meetings with Program Director first week of classes
Time: Time will be schedules by connecting with BHS/MHA Program Director, Dr. Keith Schildt
Location: Zoom (please check your SMU email for details)
Masters of Biomedical Sciences (MBS)
Date: April 30, 2026
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Virtual (please check your SMU email for details)
College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM)
Bridge to Podiatric Medicine (BPR)
Date: June 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
Location: Zoom or in person. A separate invitation will be sent to your SMU Outlook calendar with additional details.
Pre-Orientation Sessions (Virtual)
TBD
Zoom link information will be provided via E-mail
