Accelerated Baccalaureate Program for Second Degree Students, B.S.N.

This online program admits students who already hold a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than nursing and have no previous nursing education, Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Bachelor’s Degree with a Major in Nursing (BSN). Completion of the requirements for this program prepares a beginning, self-directed practitioner who is capable of initiating, implementing, and revising nursing care. The curriculum is designed for the adult learner and builds upon earlier educational experiences in the humanities, social studies, and sciences. It is based on the development of the individual and the family within a community.

The curriculum flows from both the University’s and the School’s philosophies and addresses the nursing needs of the community and the nation. It provides opportunity for individuals with changing career aspirations, and it is designed to prepare the learner for a variety of roles in professional practice. Following completion of the prerequisite courses, the program can be completed in four full-time semesters.

Graduates are educationally eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), which must be successfully completed for registration as a professional nurse.

Prerequisites

• Applicants must have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• Students who have graduated from an accredited institution and meet all other admission requirements will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Admission is not guaranteed.
• The following courses are required prerequisites:
• a 3-credit course in Elementary Statistics
• a 3-credit course in Nutrition
• two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology, with related laboratory experiences
• one semester of chemistry, with related laboratory experience
• one semester of microbiology, with related laboratory experience
• a minimum grade of 2.5 is required in the sciences. Students will be allowed to repeat a science course one time for a grade less than 2.5. A student who achieves less than a 2.5 in two nurses courses or less than 2.5 in the repeat of the same science course will not be able to progress into the nursing program.
• Applicants whose native language is not English or who hail from non-English-speaking countries must submit satisfactory scores on the TOEFL along with their applications.
• Check with the ABSN Program Coordinator about the aspect of screening/admission into the program.

Length of the Program

• The total number of credits required to complete the Accelerated Baccalaureate Program for Second Degree Students, beyond the pre- and co-requisite requirements, is 48.
• The Accelerated Baccalaureate Program for Second Degree Students can be completed in four full-time semesters.