Program Overview
Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Nursing BSN Accelerated (ABSN) is a 15-month program for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Students start as a summer cohort and move through a full-time, fast sequence.
The program uses HyFlex class options, with in-person labs and clinicals.
Graduates meet BSN outcomes for entry-level generalist nursing practice and qualify to take the NCLEX-RN.
The curriculum includes 56 ABSN program credits after students transfer prior GenEd and complete prerequisites.
ABSN Admission Summary
FDU’s ABSN admissions fit second-degree students who meet a clear GPA and science prerequisite standard and want a May start.
- Degree requirement: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Prerequisite timing: Prerequisites must be completed within the last 10 years
- Minimum prerequisite grade: B- or higher in each prerequisite
- Admissions process: Rolling admissions; students begin in Summer (May)
- Recommended deadline: December 1 for the May start
- How to apply: Submit an undergraduate transfer application at www.fdu.edu/apply
- Work expectations: Program is full time and often requires ~40 hours per week for class and clinical time
Prerequisites Summary (19 credits total applied to the BSN)
Students must complete the following prerequisites before starting the ABSN nursing sequence.
Statistics (3 credits; must include descriptive and inferential statistics)
Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (8 credits)
General Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
Curriculum
The ABSN plan follows four terms and totals 56 program credits.
Core coursework includes the following:
NURS2500 Foundations of Nursing I
This course introduces the fundamentals of nursing, emphasizing theoretical concepts and evidence-based practices. Students develop foundational skills in patient-centered care, safety, communication, critical thinking, and the nursing process through classroom, lab, and clinical experiences.
NURS2501 Foundations of Nursing I Clinical
A clinical course providing hands-on practice and application of nursing concepts and skills introduced in NURS2500.
NURS2550 Comprehensive Health Assessment
Students learn to conduct comprehensive health assessments, integrating psychosocial, physical, and functional aspects of health. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic reasoning, data collection, validation, and clinical decision-making.
NURS2551 Comprehensive Health Assessment Clinical
A clinical component allowing students to apply health assessment techniques in practical settings.
NURS2007 Pharmacotherapeutics
This course covers the principles of pharmacology, emphasizing safe drug administration and therapeutic effects. Topics include drug classifications, toxicity, administration methods, and nursing precautions across diverse populations.
MEDT2210 Pathophysiology
Students explore alterations in biological processes affecting homeostasis. Course topics include disease etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment strategies, with a focus on nursing applications.
NURS2600 Foundations of Nursing II
Building on NURS2500, this course advances nursing fundamentals, emphasizing patient safety, documentation, oxygenation, mobility, ethics, and teamwork. Students refine clinical decision-making and professional nursing identity.
NURS2601 Foundations of Nursing II Clinical
A clinical experience reinforcing concepts and skills introduced in NURS2600.
Fall Semester
NURS3500 Nursing Management of Adults I
This course focuses on nursing care for adults and elders, emphasizing disease prevention, health promotion, and management of common conditions. Students apply clinical reasoning in acute, rehabilitative, and simulated settings.
NURS3501 Nursing Management of Adults I Clinical
A clinical course providing hands-on experience in managing adult health conditions.
NURS3600 Nursing Management of Women, Newborns & Families
Students explore nursing care for women and newborns, addressing reproduction, infection, perfusion, stress, and coping. Social, economic, and cultural factors influencing maternal health are examined.
NURS3601 Nursing Management of Women, Newborns & Families Clinical
A clinical component allowing students to apply maternal and newborn nursing concepts.
NURS3650 Nursing Management of Children & Families
This course focuses on pediatric nursing, emphasizing family-centered care, child development, and managing acute and chronic childhood conditions. Concepts include oxygenation, perfusion, and safety.
NURS3651 Nursing Management of Children & Families Clinical
A clinical course supporting pediatric nursing skill development in various healthcare settings.
Spring Semester
NURS3550 Nursing Management of Psychosocial Problems
This course examines nursing care for individuals and families facing psychosocial challenges. Topics include therapeutic communication, stress management, cognition, and mood disorders.
NURS3551 Nursing Management of Psychosocial Problems Clinical
A clinical experience reinforcing mental health nursing concepts through patient interactions and therapeutic interventions.
MEDT3204 Social Determinants of Health
Students explore how social, economic, and political factors impact health disparities. Emphasis is placed on cultural competence and effective communication in diverse healthcare settings.
MEDT2217 Information Systems and Applications in Healthcare
An introduction to healthcare informatics, covering data management, system design, and clinical applications. The course emphasizes decision-making using healthcare technology.
MEDT4430 Utilization of Healthcare Research
Students develop research literacy and evidence-based practice skills. Topics include literature reviews, database searches, and critical appraisal of clinical research.
Summer Semester
NURS4600 Nursing Management of Adults II
This course covers nursing care for adults with serious illnesses or injuries. Students apply clinical reasoning to complex conditions, including oxygenation, perfusion, infection, and mobility impairments.
NURS4601 Nursing Management of Adults II Clinical
A clinical course providing experience in managing acute and chronic health conditions in adults.
NURS4460 Prep for Success
This course prepares students for the NCLEX-RN exam, focusing on critical thinking, test-taking strategies, and confidence-building techniques.
More curriculum details available here.
Clinicals
Students complete in-person clinical and lab requirements as part of the ABSN sequence. The program pairs HyFlex course delivery with hands-on training to build bedside skills and clinical judgment.
Students should plan for a schedule that functions like a full-time job due to combined class, lab, and clinical hours.
Tuition
Estimated total tuition and required standard fees for the 15-month ABSN is $68,722.
Here is the calculation using the tuition data you provided:
- Fall + Spring flat-fee tuition: $37,364 per academic year (covers 12–18 credits each term)
- Summer tuition estimate (per-credit): 27 summer credits (19 + 8) × $1,084 = $29,268
- Required standard fees (annual): Technology fee $1,060 + Wellness fee $140 = $1,200
- One-time new student fee: $890
- Estimated total: $37,364 + $29,268 + $1,200 + $890 = $68,722
This estimate does not include housing, meals, or personal expenses. Summer billing rules can vary by campus policy, so students should confirm summer charges with Enrollment Services.
See the official tuition page for more details.
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