Last Updated: October 3, 2026
Program Overview
A public-university second-degree BSN with four full-time semesters, 60 nursing credits and advertised spring and fall 2027 cohorts at FAU’s Davie campus.
Florida Atlantic University’s Accelerated BSN serves students with a bachelor’s degree in another field. The four consecutive semesters span approximately 16 months and combine campus learning, laboratory work and clinical nursing practice.
The program is limited access and recommends that students refrain from working. FAU’s FAQ describes roughly 24–40 hours per week of combined classes and clinical nursing practice, with study time additional.
ABSN Admission Summary
Applications that do not meet the published minimum criteria are not reviewed. Eligible applicants are evaluated competitively using undergraduate GPA, prerequisite science GPA and a personal interview.
Minimum Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 cumulative GPA in undergraduate coursework.
- A 3.0 science GPA across designated anatomy/physiology, microbiology, chemistry and college algebra or higher coursework.
- A solid C or higher in every prerequisite; C- does not qualify.
- Repeated prerequisite courses are averaged rather than replaced in the science GPA calculation.
- Prior nursing courses do not transfer into the accelerated nursing curriculum; all 60 nursing credits must be completed at FAU.
Applicants with a previous nursing-program enrollment should obtain an eligibility review from the accelerated advisor. Meeting minimum GPAs does not guarantee admission.
Prerequisites
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs.
- Microbiology with lab and chemistry with lab.
- College algebra or higher for the published science-GPA requirement; obtain approval for any alternative math equivalency.
- Statistics and nutrition.
- English Composition I and II.
- Introductory sociology and introductory psychology.
- Human growth and development through the lifespan, covering birth to death in one course.
FAU accepts equivalent coursework from regionally accredited institutions. Special-topics nutrition and PET 3361 do not satisfy nutrition; Portage Learning courses are not accepted, while courses taken directly with Geneva College as a degree-seeking student are accepted.
For fall entry, all prerequisites and the bachelor’s degree must be completed by the end of spring. For spring entry, they must be completed by the end of summer; each cycle permits no more than two prerequisites in progress in that preceding term, with at most one science course.
Application Deadlines and Starts
- Fall 2027, Davie: applications opened September 1, 2026; the final deadline is February 5, 2027, for an August 2027 start. The bachelor’s degree must be completed by May 2027.
- Spring 2027, Davie: the July 31, 2026 final deadline has passed. That cycle opened April 1, 2026, starts January 2027 and required degree completion by August 2026.
The accelerated admissions page lists Davie for these advertised cohorts. Select the actual campus/track available in the application; attendance is tied to the admitted campus, and a campus change requires available space and committee approval.
Application Process
- Apply through NursingCAS during the open accelerated application cycle, submitting official transcripts from each college and completing the checklist.
- Allow 4–6 weeks for processing. The application must reach verified status by the final deadline; submitting by the deadline alone is insufficient.
- Eligible applicants participate in a live virtual interview, generally scheduled 4–6 weeks after the cycle closes.
- After preliminary acceptance, complete the Level II federal background check and fingerprinting at your expense; clearance is required for full admission.
- Apply to FAU and send university transcripts after a nursing seat is offered, following the college’s instructions.
Before entry, complete the required drug testing and immunization/health documentation. Civic literacy is not part of the accelerated application; after acceptance, have the Registrar determine requirements from prior coursework and your applicable Florida enrollment history.
Curriculum
The 60-credit accelerated nursing plan begins with caring science, assessment, pathophysiology and pharmacology, then develops chronic, psychiatric, acute and specialty care. Population health, complex care and a final clinical immersion complete the sequence.
The tables follow the fall-entry plan currently linked by the program, labeled 2024–25. Spring entrants should use their advisor-approved cohort schedule; the fall calendar below does not establish the spring cohort’s semester assignments.
Required Courses and Credits
First fall — 16 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3065 — Health Assessment in Nursing Situations | 2 | focuses on performing holistic health assessments across the lifespan, with attention to compassionate and relationship-centered care and the ability to identify normal versus abnormal clinical findings. |
NUR 3065L — Health Assessment in Nursing Situations Lab | 1 | emphasizes collecting accurate health histories and conducting thorough physical assessments for diverse populations, applying ethical principles and professional care standards. |
NUR 3115 — Foundations of Caring Science in Nursing Situations | 3 | Study nursing as a distinct profession grounded in caring science, including civility, inclusivity and nursing’s role in social and political issues. |
NUR 3026C — Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 1 | 2 | introduces basic nursing skills using evidence-based, ethical, and culturally sensitive approaches, laying the groundwork for safe and compassionate patient care. |
NUR 4125 — General Pathophysiology | 3 | examines disease processes and their effects on physiological systems, providing a foundation for interpreting clinical symptoms and understanding alterations in health across the lifespan. |
NUR 3145 — Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 | explores medication therapy principles and their role in treating illness and promoting wellness, while emphasizing safe administration and clinical decision-making. |
NUR 3821 — Professional Nursing Practice | 2 | explores the development of professional identity in nursing, including ethics, collaboration, adaptability, and resilience in dynamic healthcare environments. |
Spring — 14 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3262 — Chronic Care in Nursing Situations for Adults and Aging Populations | 3 | focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and function maintenance in chronic conditions, while supporting interprofessional and culturally appropriate care. |
NUR 3262L — Chronic Care in Nursing Situations for Adults and Aging Populations in Practice | 2 | offers clinical practice in supporting adults with chronic conditions, using evidence-based strategies and cultural awareness in health teaching and referrals. |
NUR 4525 — Psychiatric and Mental Health: Nursing Situations Across the Lifespan | 3 | integrates behavioral science and communication skills to deliver effective, evidence-based mental health nursing care. |
NUR 4525L — Psychiatric and Mental Health: Nursing Situations in Practice | 1 | provides clinical experience in psychiatric settings, focusing on therapeutic communication, interprofessional collaboration, and patient-centered care. |
NUR 4079 — Systems, Quality and Information Technology | 3 | examines how nurses use informatics and improvement science to deliver high-quality, efficient, and safe care within complex healthcare systems. |
NUR 3029C — Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 2 | 2 | expands on foundational nursing skills, applying complex interventions using ethical, evidence-based, and culturally competent principles. |
Summer — 16 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 4716 — Acute Care in Nursing Situations with Adults and Aging Populations | 3 | applies nursing knowledge to acute health conditions using clinical judgment and interprofessional collaboration to enhance care quality. |
NUR 4716L — Acute Care in Nursing Situations with Adults and Aging Populations in Practice | 2 | emphasizes hands-on application of clinical reasoning in acute care settings, fostering safe and person-centered practice. |
NUR 3455 — Maternal Newborn: Nursing Situations | 3 | focuses on nursing care for childbearing women and newborns, emphasizing health promotion, holistic assessments, and collaborative care strategies. |
NUR 3455L — Maternal Newborn: Nursing Situations in Practice | 1 | provides clinical opportunities to apply health promotion and risk management strategies for mothers and newborns using a caring, team-based approach. |
NUR 3358 — Nursing Care of Children: Nursing Situations | 3 | covers developmentally appropriate, holistic nursing care for children and families, with a focus on promoting health and collaboration to ensure safety. |
NUR 3358L — Nursing Care of Children: Nursing Situations in Practice | 1 | integrates theory with clinical practice in pediatric settings, emphasizing culturally sensitive assessments, education, and community engagement. |
NUR 4937 — RI: Scholarship for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice | 3 | teaches students to identify practice issues, evaluate research, and apply current evidence to improve patient outcomes. This is a research-intensive course. |
Second fall — 14 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 4764 — Management of Complex Care in Nursing Situations with Adults and Aging Populations | 3 | prepares students to apply advanced nursing knowledge and collaborate in the care of adults with complex conditions. |
NUR 4764L — Management of Complex Nursing Situations with Adults and Aging Populations in Practice | 1 | strengthens clinical reasoning in complex cases through team collaboration and evidence-based, person-centered care. |
NUR 4638 — Population Health: Nursing Situations | 3 | focuses on promoting health at the population level through public health principles, epidemiology, cultural competence, and disaster preparedness. |
NUR 4638L — Population Health Practicum: Nursing Situations | 1 | provides clinical experience in community health, emphasizing the delivery of equitable, population-focused care across the lifespan. |
NUR 4829L — Nursing Practice Immersion | 3 | offers a precepted practicum for students to integrate nursing competencies, build confidence, and apply clinical judgment in real-world healthcare environments. |
NUR 3171 — Creating Healing Environments | 3 | explores self-care, design, and environmental influences on healing, emphasizing equity, wellness, and creating settings that support holistic health. |
Required-course inclusion follows the linked accelerated plan; course names, descriptions and credits were checked against the current 2026–27 catalog. NUR 3358L is the one-credit pediatric practice course paired with NUR 3358.
The BSN requires 120 total degree credits, including accepted prior coursework. Those degree credits and prerequisites are separate from the 60 nursing credits used in the tuition calculation.
NUR 4937 develops research and evidence-based practice skills. NUR 4829L is a separate precepted nursing practice immersion, allowing students to integrate clinical judgment and professional competencies in a healthcare setting.
Clinicals
Clinical learning runs throughout the curriculum through assessment labs and paired practice courses in chronic adult/aging care, psychiatric nursing, acute care, maternal/newborn care, pediatrics, complex care and population health. Simulation supports preparation alongside classroom and clinical learning.
- Scheduling: the program generally describes practice windows of 6:30 a.m.–7 p.m. on at least three days per week; weekends are possible.
- Placement: nursing practice sites depend on campus location and may change from year to year.
- Time commitment: the 24–40 weekly hours in the FAQ combine class and clinical practice; they are not a stated total of direct clinical hours.
- Travel: students budget for personal transportation to clinical sites.
- Clearance: follow current cohort and affiliate instructions for health records, immunizations, drug testing, background checks and required certifications.
Tuition
Using FAU’s published 2026–27 Florida-resident undergraduate rates, tuition is $105.07 plus a $40.13 tuition differential per credit. The tuition-only estimate is $145.20 × 60 nursing credits = $8,712.
Mandatory per-credit fees are additional. The resident schedule’s combined $203.29 rate includes $58.09 in fees per credit, or $3,485.40 across 60 credits; tuition plus those fees is $12,197.40.
- Transportation access: $76.90 per fall/spring term and $32.04 per summer. Three fall/spring terms and one summer add $262.74, giving a $12,460.14 resident planning baseline with tuition, the listed per-credit fees and transportation.
- Nonresidents: the current combined tuition/fee rate is $799.72 per credit, or $47,983.20 for 60 credits before transportation and other expenses. It includes the schedule’s separate nonresident fee.
- Other costs: books, uniforms, nursing assessment/testing materials, clinical screening/fingerprinting, supplies, computer access, travel, insurance, housing and meals.
- Other applicable charges: the posted owl-card fee is $10; designated distance-learning sections have a $30-per-credit fee.
- Repeat course surcharge: the current schedule lists $261.06 per credit when an undergraduate course is taken more than twice.
These are current-rate estimates, not a guaranteed program package. Extra prerequisites, additional course fees, enrollment circumstances or future rate increases can change the bill; use the Controller’s tuition breakdown for current assessments.
College of Nursing scholarships and other financial aid may be available. Complete the FAFSA when applicable and review eligibility and award terms before relying on aid in your budget.
Accreditation
FAU’s baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. The university holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The college’s accreditation page distinguishes degree-program accreditation from continuing-education approvals. Graduates must meet the licensing board’s requirements and pass the NCLEX-RN for RN licensure.
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