Program Overview
Flexibility and a built-in pathway to employment — three start dates a year, a holistic admissions review that looks beyond GPA alone, and a Corewell Health Nurse Scholars Program tied to Michigan’s largest health system — at an affordable public university serving metro Detroit.
Oakland University’s School of Nursing offers an Accelerated Second-Degree (ASD) BSN pre-licensure track for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field. The intensive, full-time program runs four semesters (about 15 months) and admits three times a year — fall, winter, and summer. Beyond prerequisite GPA, OU uses a holistic admissions review that weighs an essay, a professional reference, and a character assessment alongside academics.
Didactic coursework is taught on OU’s main campus and West Center in Rochester, with clinical experiences spread across Southeastern Michigan.
The school highlights strong licensure outcomes — Michigan’s NCLEX summary lists Oakland’s BS program with a 92.86% first-time pass rate in the 2024 reporting year — and OU offers a Corewell Health Nurse Scholars Program that connects nursing students with Michigan’s largest health system.
Accreditation
The ASD BSN track is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and Oakland University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Funding — Corewell Health Nurse Scholars Program
Oakland University partners with Corewell Health — Michigan’s largest health system — on a Nurse Scholars Program that supports nursing students and connects them to the system as they prepare to enter practice. It’s a notable option for students seeking financial support and an early link to a major employer. See OU’s Corewell Health Nurse Scholars Program page for current eligibility and benefit details.
ABSN Admission Summary
OU uses a step-based process that starts with university admission and ends with a competitive School of Nursing decision. You complete prerequisites, submit an ASD application for one term, and add supplemental materials that support a holistic review.
Admission requirements and eligibility
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field
- If your degree is from outside the U.S., a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-approved provider is required to confirm U.S. degree equivalency
- B− or higher in all prerequisite courses
- Pre-nursing GPA of 3.0 or higher (calculated from the five science/psychology prerequisites)
Holistic admission materials
- Essay
- Professional reference form (from a supervisor or professor, speaking to character, ethics, and essential nursing skills)
- Character assessment
These materials are scored by School of Nursing faculty and combined with the pre-nursing GPA into a composite score used for admission.
Transfer credits
- OU encourages applicants to use transfer equivalency tools and transfer guides to confirm course matches
- Second-degree students from regionally accredited U.S. schools may be exempt from OU general education requirements (this exemption does not apply to students educated outside the U.S.)
Application windows and deadlines
- Winter: August 1 to October 1
- Summer: December 1 to February 1
- Fall: April 1 to June 1
All prerequisite coursework, supplemental materials, and official transcripts must be received by the stated deadline for the application term.
Conditional admission option
- You may apply while finishing prerequisites if you have no more than two prerequisite courses left in your final term
- OU can rescind admission if final grades fall below B− or the pre-nursing GPA falls below 3.0
After admission: submit clinical health requirements before the program starts. Applicants previously dismissed from a nursing program (or who have two or more nursing grades of B− or lower) must obtain SON approval before applying.
Curriculum
OU structures the ASD plan across four semesters with a clear sequence from foundations to adult care, family care, leadership, and capstone, including a focused NCLEX success course near the end.
Prerequisite coursework (complete before applying; B− or higher required):
- BIO 1200: Biology I (4)
- BIO 2006: Clinical Anatomy and Physiology (5)
- CHM 1040: Introduction to Chemical Principles (4)
- CHM 2010: Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry (4)
- PSY 1000: Foundations of Contemporary Psychology (4)
- Any 1000-level PHL (philosophy) or higher, or HS 4500 (4)
- MTH 0661 (may be waived by SAT/ACT math, placement, or higher math)
The five science/psychology courses (BIO 1200, BIO 2006, CHM 1040, CHM 2010, and PSY 1000) make up the pre-nursing GPA.
Core Nursing Classes
BIO 3520 – Introduction to Human Microbiology
This course introduces major microorganisms and the infections they cause. Students study immunology, epidemiology, microbial growth and genetics, and methods used to prevent and treat infectious disease.
NRS 2010 – Pathophysiology
This course explains how disease disrupts normal body function. Students focus on altered physiology and the effects of these changes on homeostasis.
NRS 2012 – Introduction to Professional Nursing
This course introduces core ideas that shape professional nursing. Students review nursing theory foundations and the nurse’s role in practice.
NRS 2014 – Health Assessment (4 credits)
This course builds skills for comprehensive patient assessment. Students practice history-taking and physical assessment in lab experiences.
PSY 2250 – Introduction to Life-Span Developmental Psychology
This course surveys human development from infancy through older adulthood. Students examine cognitive, social, and behavioral changes across the lifespan.
NRS 2020 – Pharmacology
This course covers essential pharmacology concepts, including drug actions, pharmacokinetics, and interactions. Students connect medication principles to safe use in nursing care.
NRS 2024 – Fundamentals of Professional Nursing Practice (5 credits)
This course introduces foundational nursing practice concepts and basic therapeutic interventions. Students apply core nursing skills and principles to patient-centered care.
NRS 3012 – Research for Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course prepares students to use evidence in clinical decision-making. Students learn to locate, evaluate, and apply research to improve nursing practice.
NRS 3015 – Nursing Care of Adults I (5 credits)
This course focuses on adult medical-surgical nursing care for selected health alterations. Students apply nursing concepts to plan and deliver care for body system changes.
NRS 3022 – Informatics for Nursing Practice
This course examines how information technology supports quality and outcomes in nursing care. Students learn how data, systems, and documentation tools guide safe practice.
NRS 3016 – Nursing Care of Individuals with Behavioral and Mental Health Disorders (5 credits)
This course addresses mental and behavioral health care across the lifespan. Students learn assessment and intervention strategies that support safety, coping, and wellness.
NRS 3025 – Nursing Care of Adults II (5 credits)
This course advances adult medical-surgical nursing with added depth in selected body system conditions. Students strengthen clinical judgment and care planning for more complex needs.
NRS 3026 – Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family (5 credits)
This course provides family-centered nursing care for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum needs. Students integrate evidence-based practice into maternal and newborn care.
NRS 4012 – Nursing Leadership (2 credits)
This course develops leadership skills for team-based care. Students focus on communication, collaboration, and professional responsibilities within interprofessional settings.
NRS 4015 – Nursing Care of Communities and Populations (5 credits)
This course applies nursing care concepts to communities and population health. Students address culture, spirituality, and social justice while planning and evaluating community-focused care.
NRS 4016 – Nursing Care of the Childrearing Family (5 credits)
This course prepares students to provide evidence-based pediatric nursing care across childhood and adolescence. Students use a family-centered approach to support health promotion and illness management.
NRS 4026 – Nursing Capstone
This course supports the transition from student to professional nurse. Students synthesize program learning to demonstrate readiness for entry-level practice.
NRS 4031 – NCLEX Success Strategies
This course prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and early career transition. Students build individualized study plans and practice strategies that strengthen test performance.
More detail is available in the Oakland University catalog.
Clinicals
OU describes the ASD track as a program with diverse clinical placements across Southeastern Michigan. Students build decision-making skills that reflect ethical, legal, cultural, and evidence-based standards, with clinical learning in adult care, mental health, maternal-newborn, pediatrics, and community health. The capstone semester includes advanced synthesis work and NCLEX preparation.
Tuition
Total estimated tuition is approximately $35,776 in-state or $47,236 out-of-state for the four-semester program, based on OU’s published annual Junior/Senior/2nd-Degree undergraduate tuition (about $17,888 in-state and $23,618 out-of-state per year × two years). This estimate excludes books, housing, and personal expenses, and rates change annually.
Confirm current figures via the official tuition rates page.
Related Programs
Oakland University also offers a Traditional BSN (pre-licensure), an RN-to-BSN completion sequence, and graduate nursing programs including Nurse Practitioner tracks, Forensic Nursing, a Nurse Anesthesia DNP, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a PhD in Nursing.