Last Updated: October 3, 2026
Program Overview
A fall-entry, four-semester second-degree BSN at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, combining 58 nursing credits, S.T.A.R. Center simulation and clinical practice in South Florida.
Florida International University’s Accelerated Option BSN serves applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another field. The full-time nursing sequence runs through fall, spring, summer and a second fall—approximately 16 months—and the program lists 60 students admitted annually.
Classes are held at the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami. This is a limited-access program; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
ABSN Admission Summary
Academic and Entrance Exam Requirements
- A BA or BS from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 bachelor’s-degree GPA; complete the degree by the end of spring before fall entry.
- A 3.25 cumulative GPA across all prerequisite courses, with C or higher in each course.
- Science prerequisites completed within the last 10 years and finished when applying; in-progress sciences are not reviewed.
- Up to two non-science prerequisites may be in progress when applying; finish all prerequisites by the end of spring before fall admission.
- A science prerequisite graded C- or below may be repeated once. One science failure is allowed if that same course is then passed; two science failures disqualify an application.
- In-person ATI TEAS VII: at least 70% overall and 62% in science. Two attempts are permitted per application cycle, and scores remain valid for two years; remote exams are not accepted.
FIU evaluates completed applications comprehensively. Its current AO admission requirements distinguish bachelor’s-degree GPA from prerequisite GPA and specify the course and testing rules.
Prerequisites
- Human anatomy and physiology I and II, both with labs; complete the entire college-level sequence.
- Introductory microbiology with lab.
- Survey of chemistry with lab; general chemistry with lab may be accepted instead.
- Statistics, nutrition, and human growth and development.
- Introductory psychology, sociology or social psychology.
Equivalent courses are reviewed by college Student Services. Passing CLEP scores may satisfy psychology and human growth/development; approved transfer coursework may satisfy other requirements without repeating them.
Application and Final Deadline
FIU’s published annual application window is August 7–May 10 for fall (August) admission. The final deadline is May 10, with the application page specifying 11:59 p.m. Eastern; confirm the applicable admission cycle and submit early enough to complete the file.
- Apply to FIU Undergraduate Admissions for fall, selecting Nursing–Accelerated Option.
- Submit a separate AO application through NursingCAS and pay its applicable fee.
- Send official transcripts from every institution to NursingCAS; transfer applicants also send them to FIU Undergraduate Admissions.
- Upload the official ATI Individual Performance Profile PDF to NursingCAS.
- Incomplete or late applications are not considered. Applicants not selected must submit a new application for the next cycle.
Applications are processed continually for the annual fall cohort, but an immediate decision is not promised. Schedule the TEAS early: FIU’s testing center requires 30 days between attempts, separate from the nursing program’s two-attempt limit.
For transcript eligibility or an information session, contact Undergraduate Nursing at 305-348-7703. The application instructions explain the two submissions.
After Acceptance
- Complete required background screening, drug testing, health examination and immunization documentation.
- Maintain required CPR/BLS certification and health/accident insurance for clinical participation.
- Budget for clearance expenses, uniforms, supplies and transportation to assigned clinical sites.
- Clinical affiliates’ immunization requirements apply; clearance and licensing eligibility are evaluated separately from admission.
Curriculum
The published accelerated curriculum contains 58 nursing credits in 20 courses. Foundations and assessment lead into adult and specialty care, followed by community health, research, leadership, senior synthesis and a supervised practicum.
The tables follow FIU’s program-specific AO curriculum plan, with descriptions drawn from the current catalog. The BSN’s 120 total degree credits include prior lower-division preparation; they are not 120 credits of new accelerated nursing coursework.
Required Courses and Credits
Year 1 fall — 12 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3029 — Foundations of Nursing Practice | 3 | Nursing-process skills for acute and chronic care in diverse, multicultural populations. |
NUR 3029C — Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab | 2 | Laboratory development of foundational nursing skills and patient-care planning. |
NUR 3125 — Pathophysiologic Basis of Nursing | 3 | Cell, organ and body-system responses to disease, with clinical manifestations and nursing management. |
NUR 3066C — Health Assessment & Promotion | 4 | Health histories, physical assessment, health promotion, injury prevention and patient teaching. |
Year 1 spring — 15 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3145 — Pharmacologic Basis of Nursing | 3 | Medication effects, interactions, adverse reactions and patient education across the lifespan. |
NUR 3535 — Psychosocial Nursing | 3 | Nursing care for people with psychosocial disorders in multicultural communities. |
NUR 3535L — Psychosocial Nursing Clinical | 3 | Clinical application of mental-health nursing skills with individuals experiencing psychosocial disorders. |
NUR 3226 — Nursing Care of Adults I | 3 | First adult-health theory course on nursing management of complex health alterations. |
NUR 3226L — Nursing Care of Adults I Clinical | 3 | First adult-health clinical course applying nursing management to complex health conditions. |
Year 1 summer — 18 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3227 — Nursing Care of Adults II | 3 | Second adult-health theory course extending care for complex health alterations. |
NUR 3227L — Nursing Care of Adults II Clinical | 3 | Second adult-health clinical course applying the advanced adult-care sequence. |
NUR 4355 — Care of Families: Childrearing Nursing | 3 | Nursing-process care for children and their families across community settings. |
NUR 4355L — Care of Families: Childrearing Nursing Clinical | 3 | Clinical implementation of pediatric and family nursing in multicultural settings. |
NUR 4455 — Care of Families: Childbearing Nursing | 3 | Nursing care for childbearing individuals and families, including pregnancy and the newborn period. |
NUR 4455L — Care of Families: Childbearing Nursing Clinical | 3 | Clinical care of childbearing individuals and families in multicultural settings. |
Year 2 fall — 13 credits
| Course | Credits | What you study |
|---|---|---|
NUR 3666 — Evidence Based Nursing & Research in Global Healthcare | 2 | Research knowledge and skills for evidence-based care; fulfills a global-learning requirement. |
NUR 3821 — Professional Nursing Leadership: Concepts & Issues | 3 | Professional leadership for care delivery at local, state, national and global levels. |
NUR 4636C — Care of Communities: Community Health Nursing | 2 | Nursing care for communities, groups and populations in multicultural settings. |
NUR 4940 — Senior Synthesis | 2 | Synthesis of nursing knowledge for transition to the graduate role and RN licensure examination. |
NUR 4945L — Senior Practicum | 4 | Managing groups of patients in a selected clinical setting using critical thinking and multicultural care. |
Progression and Transition to Practice
Courses follow a prescribed sequence, and students must successfully complete each level before advancing. Nursing coursework is completed within FIU’s program; have the advisor confirm the plan assigned to your entering cohort.
NUR 4940 Senior Synthesis prepares students for the graduate role and licensure examination. NUR 4945L Senior Practicum is a separate supervised clinical experience managing groups of patients.
Clinicals
FIU’s S.T.A.R. Center provides immersive simulation to practice clinical skills before patient-care settings. The required clinical sequence covers adult nursing, mental health, pediatric and childbearing families, community health and the senior practicum.
- Laboratory practice, simulation and direct clinical care serve different learning purposes.
- Students arrange their own transportation to assigned South Florida clinical settings.
- Affiliate locations, schedules and clearance requirements may change; follow the program’s placement instructions.
- Some laboratory/clinical courses may have supply fees in addition to standard tuition and university charges.
Tuition and Required Fees
At FIU’s published fall 2026 undergraduate rates, estimated Florida-resident tuition for 58 nursing credits is $9,126.88: $105.07 base tuition plus $52.29 tuition differential per credit, multiplied by 58. Required charges are additional; the estimate excludes prior prerequisites and living costs.
- Other required per-credit university fees: $48.21 × 58 = $2,796.18 for financial aid, capital improvement, activity/service, athletics and technology. Tuition plus these fees is $11,923.06.
- Term charges: the current calculator lists a $93.69 health fee and $10 athletic fee per term, plus transportation access of $95.30 for fall/spring or $88.88 for summer.
- Four-term estimate: three fall/spring terms and one summer add $789.54 in those term charges, giving $12,712.60 before annual ID fees and other expenses.
- Annual ID: $10; the four-semester sequence may span two billed academic years.
- Panther Book Pack: $22 per credit ($1,276 across 58 credits) unless you opt out; separately price books if opting out.
- Additional costs: laboratory supplies, clinical clearance, uniforms, travel, housing and any prerequisite or repeated coursework. Online-coded courses may carry a $30-per-credit distance fee.
For nonresidents, the $497.92 out-of-state charge raises tuition to $655.28 per credit, or $38,006.24 across 58 credits. Adding standard per-credit fees and the $24.89 nonresident financial-aid fee gives $42,246.04 before term charges and other costs.
These calculations apply current rates across the verified sequence, including future terms; rate increases or individual exemptions can change the bill. FIU’s tuition calculator and itemized tuition regulation explain residency and billing, while the cost-of-attendance page includes living budgets and financial-aid estimates.
Accreditation
FIU’s baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN and satisfy the applicable board’s licensing requirements to become registered nurses.
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