Program Overview
Baylor University offers a Distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the Louise Herrington School of Nursing for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The program is designed to be completed in just 12 months, which makes it one of the faster second-degree BSN options in Texas.
Coursework is delivered online, though students must also complete two on-campus visits and hands-on clinical training.
Baylor states that Distance ABSN students posted a 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate in 2023, which is a strong outcome for an accelerated prelicensure pathway.
The curriculum includes 62 total credits and follows an intensive faith-based model rooted in Christian principles and professional nursing practice.
ABSN Admission Summary
Baylor’s Distance ABSN is built for career changers who already have a completed bachelor’s degree and want a direct path into registered nursing. Admission appears selective, and students must finish a large block of prerequisite coursework before the program starts.
- Prior degree required: Applicants must hold a completed bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing discipline
- Residency focus: The Distance ABSN is currently intended for students residing in Texas
- Prerequisite credits: Students must complete 52 prerequisite credits before the program begins
- File review threshold: Baylor allows file review once 33 prerequisite credits are complete, including 2 of the 4 science prerequisites
- Minimum GPA: Applicants need a 3.0 GPA on prerequisite courses
- Science GPA: Applicants need a 2.75 GPA on science prerequisite courses
- Entrance exam: The HESI is required, with an 80 or higher in English Composite and 80 or higher in Math
- Additional materials: Baylor also requires a resume and an interview
- Application timing: Baylor says it is currently accepting applications and lists the next start as August 2026, though no exact deadline is included in the provided material
Prerequisite Courses
Students must complete a substantial set of liberal arts and science prerequisites before beginning the ABSN track.
Baylor lists both science and general education requirements that support the compressed pace of the nursing curriculum.
Required prerequisites include:
- Microbiology
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Chemistry
- English Composition I
- English Composition II
- English Literature
- Federal Government
- Bible-based Religion
- World Religion
- History
- Nutrition
- Statistics
- Introduction to Psychology
This prerequisite list shows that Baylor expects students to enter the program with a strong academic base before they begin nursing coursework.
Curriculum
The curriculum includes courses in Health Promotion, Leadership in Nursing, and Complex Nursing Concepts.
The Distance Accelerated BSN Track is designed to be completed over three trimesters, totaling 62 credit hours. Each trimester offers a mix of courses that blend foundational nursing knowledge with hands-on practice.
Required classes include:
NUR 3212 Professional Development: Foundations for Practice Establishes foundational understanding of professional nursing roles within interprofessional healthcare teams. Covers nursing process, practice standards, and nursing philosophy from historical and contemporary perspectives. Develops critical thinking, therapeutic communication, and caring skills essential for effective nurse-patient relationships.
NUR 3314 Health Assessment Develops technical competencies in conducting comprehensive physical assessments, gathering health histories, and documenting clinical findings. Provides hands-on training in systematic assessment techniques required for professional nursing practice.
NUR 3330 Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice Introduces core concepts of professional nursing practice with emphasis on establishing therapeutic nurse-patient relationships. Focuses on nursing process application and development of essential psychomotor skills for clinical practice.
NUR 3200 Professional Nursing Practice: Introduction to Professional Nursing Provides initial clinical experience working with individuals and families experiencing basic unmet human needs from diverse populations. Clinical practicum emphasizes medical-surgical nursing settings and application of foundational nursing concepts.
NUR 3420 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I Examines pathophysiological foundations of illness as barriers to human needs fulfillment. Addresses epidemiological and genetic influences on disease processes and pharmacological interventions. Integrates pharmacological principles as essential components of nursing care.
NUR 3316 Human Needs I Introduces the human needs framework as a foundation for nursing practice. Develops understanding of the nurse’s role as nursing process facilitator through case studies that explore human needs relationships, nursing interventions, and care planning for diverse client needs.
NUR 3324 The Maturing Family Focuses on human needs fulfillment for older adults, their families, and significant others. Examines aging theories and social, legal, and political trends affecting older adult care. Applies human needs framework to the aging process and gerontological nursing practice.
NUR 3226 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Patient with Mental Health Needs Provides clinical experience with individuals and families experiencing complex mental health-related unmet human needs. Practicum focuses specifically on mental health nursing settings and therapeutic interventions.
NUR 3225 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Patient with Medical Surgical Need Offers clinical practice with individuals and families experiencing complex medical-surgical conditions. Practicum emphasizes advanced medical-surgical nursing care for diverse populations with multifaceted health needs.
NUR 3317 Human Needs II Continues development of nursing process facilitation within the Human Needs Framework. Utilizes case studies to explore complex human needs relationships, ethical considerations, pharmaceutical interventions, and family-centered care planning.
NUR 3328 Mental Health Nursing: Individuals, Groups, and Family Advances study of human needs framework focusing on mental health categories, needs relationships, and therapeutic nursing interventions. Addresses mental health care delivery across all levels of healthcare settings.
NUR 3421 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II Continues pathophysiological study of illness impacts on human needs fulfillment. Expands understanding of epidemiological and genetic factors affecting disease processes and pharmacological therapies. Builds upon foundational pharmacological principles for advanced nursing practice.
NUR 4353 Community and Culture Examines nursing responsibilities in community healthcare delivery with emphasis on identifying unmet human needs. Focuses on designing and evaluating culturally appropriate nursing interventions for diverse community populations.
NUR 4351 Professional Development: A Consumer of Research Introduces research concepts and methodologies essential for evidence-based nursing practice. Develops skills in critically evaluating and applying research findings to improve patient care and nursing practice.
NUR 4345 Professional Nursing Practice: Population Health Nursing Emphasizes meeting health needs of culturally diverse and vulnerable populations including individuals, families, groups, and communities. Integrates population health principles with nursing process application in various community settings including schools, occupational health, and public health.
NUR 4225 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Childbearing Family Provides clinical experience with individuals and families experiencing complex obstetric and newborn care needs. Practicum focuses on obstetric and newborn nursing in diverse healthcare settings.
NUR 4335 Professional Nursing Practice: Transition to Practice Integrates comprehensive professional nursing practice through intensive 135-hour capstone experience. Focuses on delivering care to diverse clients with complex unmet needs in various clinical settings based on student preferences and course guidelines.
NUR 4226 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Childrearing Family Offers clinical practice with individuals and families experiencing complex pediatric care needs. Practicum emphasizes pediatric nursing across diverse healthcare settings and developmental stages.
NUR 4338 Analysis and Synthesis of Complex Human Needs Analyzes individuals with multiple and complex human needs disruptions affecting individuals, families, groups, and communities. Uses case-study format to integrate physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual needs across the lifespan.
NUR 4334 The Childbearing Family Studies family processes and childbearing experiences to promote human needs fulfillment in developing families. Focuses on nursing care strategies that support healthy family development during the childbearing period.
NUR 4339 The Childrearing Family Identifies nursing care strategies to promote human needs fulfillment in childrearing families. Addresses specific health problems from infancy through adolescence that impact family integrity and functioning.
NUR 4341 Nursing Professional Development: Leadership and Management Provides overview of leadership styles and management theories to support professional growth. Develops skills in professional communication, conflict management, change implementation, evidence-based decision making, and creating healthy work environments for safe patient care.
More information about the curriculum available in the course catalog.
Clinicals and Hands-On Training
Clinical education is a major part of Baylor’s Distance ABSN. The program includes 720 hours of clinical experience, which gives students extensive direct-care training in real healthcare settings.
Baylor states that students complete online coursework alongside hands-on clinicals and two required campus visits. The school also says it provides clinical placement support for all students, which can reduce one of the biggest barriers in accelerated nursing education.
Baylor’s clinical team works with students to identify sites and preceptors, while students complete required onboarding tasks such as documentation, drug screening, and background checks. The program emphasizes service to diverse and underserved communities, which adds a public service and community care element to the clinical experience.
Tuition
Baylor’s published 2025–2026 undergraduate tuition is $63,620.
Baylor also notes a flat guaranteed tuition rate of $71,320 per academic year for students taking 12 or more hours each semester, so the exact ABSN billing structure should be confirmed with the school.
See the official tuition page for more details
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