Last Updated: October 2, 2026
Program Overview
A 15-month, on-campus second-degree BSN in Fairfield, with a May start, 60 nursing credits and university-coordinated clinical placements.
Fairfield University’s Accelerated Second Degree Nursing program serves students with a bachelor’s degree in another field. Connecticut students complete four consecutive semesters, from late May through the following August, at the main Fairfield campus.
The university guarantees students the required clinical experience and reports 504 clinical hours and 112 lab hours, plus additional practice and simulation. Connecticut clinical partners include Yale New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk and Danbury hospitals.
Program Locations and Start Dates
Fairfield, Connecticut: one on-campus cohort beginning in May; the application deadline is February 1. The Connecticut program does not offer the Austin hybrid option.
Fairfield also offers a separate Austin, Texas ABSN. Its current admissions table lists January and September on-campus starts and a May hybrid start. Texas clinical partners include Baylor Scott & White Health, Ascension Seton and the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.
Prerequisites
Applicants need an accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. Six science/math prerequisites require B or better within ten years: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, Microbiology with lab, Chemistry with lab, Developmental Psychology, and Statistics.
Before starting, students must also have 12 humanities credits with C or better across English, Ethics, Philosophy, Religion, History, Foreign Language, or Visual/Performing Arts, plus up to 36 credits of general electives selected from prior courses with C or better. These are prior-study requirements, not an additional 12 credits automatically added to the 60-credit nursing program.
Fairfield accepts prerequisites from accredited institutions and identifies approved online providers among the options. Connecticut applicants may receive a final review after three of the four science prerequisites are complete and transcripts submitted; all prerequisites must be complete before matriculation. Use the current application requirements for course approval.
Admissions
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis before the February 1 Connecticut deadline. Submit the online application, a professional resume, official college transcripts, written responses to the current application prompts, and two recommendation forms/letters, preferably including a current employer or supervisor.
International coursework requires an approved NACES course-by-course evaluation; WES or ECE is preferred. The program cannot support applicants seeking an F visa. Final degree and course transcripts must reach Fairfield before enrollment. The catalog estimates admission notifications approximately two weeks after a complete application is received.
Curriculum
The nursing component is 60 credits over four semesters, separate from prior-degree and prerequisite credit. The table follows the published Connecticut summer-entry plan. The sequence progresses from assessment and foundational care to adult and specialty nursing, research and professional transition.
Required Courses and Credits
First summer — 18 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 1110 — Introduction to Professional Nursing | 3 | This course introduces the development of nursing professionals by focusing on self-awareness, clinical reasoning, and the planning and delivery of nursing care. It covers nursing’s history, professional behaviors such as communication and collaboration, and the integration of evidence-based practices. |
NURS 1112 — Healthcare Delivery Systems | 3 | Students explore the healthcare delivery system from historical, political, economic, and technological perspectives. Key topics include healthcare reform, access to care, health disparities, and the role of complementary therapies in global health. |
NURS 2270 — Health Assessment | 4 | This course teaches students to perform health assessments, incorporating physiological, cultural, spiritual, developmental, and mental health evaluations. Students practice conducting health histories and physical exams through lectures, discussions, simulations, and lab work. |
NURS 2272 — Geriatric Nursing | 4 | Focused on the care of older adults in long-term care, this course covers the physiological changes of aging, geriatric health problems, and the ethical and spiritual issues associated with aging. Students learn to assess and manage the care of elderly populations in clinical settings. |
NURS 3307 — Fundamentals of Nursing Care | 4 | Using evidence-based practice, students learn to provide safe and effective care across the lifespan. The course includes psychomotor skill development in the laboratory and the use of electronic health records for documenting clinical findings and care. |
Fall — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 2303 — Basic Pathophysiology and Pharmacology | 3 | This course addresses disease processes and alterations in body systems, introducing pharmacological therapies used to manage diseases, including drug side effects, allergies, and overdose recognition. |
NURS 3301 — Health and Wellness | 3 | Examine health decisions, risk factors, epidemiology, culturally responsive care, health disparities and social determinants across the lifespan. |
NURS 3305 — Mental Health Nursing | 4 | Plan psychiatric care using behavioral, neurobiological, trauma-informed and recovery models; develop therapeutic communication while considering ethical, legal and cultural issues. |
NURS 3312 — Medical Surgical Nursing I | 5 | Apply the nursing process and evidence to common adult illnesses; develop clinical reasoning, prioritize care and document clinical findings electronically. |
Spring — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 3310 — Foundations of Research for Evidence-Based Practice | 3 | This course teaches students the research process and its application in clinical practice. Students critique research studies, review the literature, and learn to identify methods that address practice-related issues in nursing. |
NURS 4321 — Professional Nursing Leadership | 3 | Focusing on nursing leadership, this course explores political, social, and legal issues that impact the profession. Organizational theories and leadership models are examined, with a focus on patient safety and quality improvement through clinical practice. |
NURS 4323 — Pediatric Nursing | 4 | A family-centered approach to pediatric nursing, this course covers child development, health promotion, illness prevention, and cultural influences. Students develop clinical reasoning skills to provide holistic care for children and their families. |
NURS 4325 — Medical Surgical Nursing II | 5 | This advanced course continues the study of adult nursing care, integrating evidence-based practices and professional communication. Emphasis is placed on providing patient-centered care through collaboration with other healthcare professionals. |
Second summer — 12 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NURS 3314 — Maternal and Newborn Nursing | 4 | Focusing on reproductive and gynecological health, this course covers the childbearing cycle, from pregnancy to postpartum care, and the nursing care of newborns. Students explore ethical, legal, and cultural aspects of maternal and newborn care. |
NURS 4330 — Population Health | 4 | Students learn to apply disease prevention and health promotion theories to diverse populations in various global settings. The course integrates public health theory with evidence-based practice to address global health issues and promote health equity. |
NURS 4332 — Transition to Professional Nursing | 4 | In this capstone course, students provide holistic, evidence-based care in clinical settings, developing clinical reasoning, leadership, and autonomy. Students complete a Capstone Project based on an identified need in patient care, family education, or nursing practice. |
The ASDNU catalog plan supplies course requirements. Nursing theory, laboratory practice and clinical experiences develop together, culminating in professional transition. All 60 nursing credits must be completed at Fairfield. Students need C+ (77) or better in nursing courses and a pass in clinical components to progress; a course may be repeated once, and two nursing course failures, including a repeat, result in dismissal.
Clinical Placements
Fairfield coordinates placements and reports 504 clinical hours and 112 lab hours, plus additional practice and class simulation. Clinical work increases as the program progresses. Sites include hospitals, outpatient services, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, long-term care and community clinics.
Connecticut partners listed by Fairfield include Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, Bridgeport, Yale New Haven, Milford and Griffin hospitals and St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Placement at a particular facility is not promised.
Before clinical participation, students need CPR certification through a catalog-approved American Heart Association or American Red Cross course and must keep it current. Annual physical examinations, health and immunization compliance, and OSHA training are required; students upload and maintain documentation in the clinical tracking system.
Background checks and drug screening must be completed at the university-designated location and may be repeated for agency requirements. Students pay compliance costs. Obtain the current Egan School checklist before enrollment; inability to meet site requirements can prevent progression or completion despite the program’s placement guarantee.
Tuition
The program page explicitly lists $14,330 per semester for four semesters at the 2026–27 rate. That gives $57,320 in tuition before fees and annual increases. The program spans academic years, so this is a current-rate estimate rather than a locked cohort price.
The undergraduate fee schedule lists a $142 nursing testing fee and $157 nursing laboratory/clinical fee per semester. If both apply in all four terms, they add $1,196. The same schedule lists a $267 fall-only senior NCLEX review fee; confirm its ASDNU billing term and applicability with the bursar.
Second-degree nursing students must have health insurance. Also budget for clinical compliance, books, uniforms, transportation and living costs; ask which general fees apply to your cohort. The $1,005-per-credit non-cohort second-degree rate is a separate billing category and should not replace the cohort rate above.
Accreditation and Outcomes
Fairfield’s baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Egan School is designated an NLN Center of Excellence, and its simulation program holds Society for Simulation in Healthcare accreditation.
Fairfield reports a 91% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025 across the Connecticut and Texas ABSN campuses combined. This is not a Connecticut-only result.
Graduates may apply to take the NCLEX-RN and pursue licensure, subject to the relevant nursing board’s requirements. The university’s broader nursing rankings describe the school or nursing degree offerings rather than a Connecticut ABSN-specific ranking.