Program Overview
St. Edward’s University offers a 13-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program tailored for career-changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field. Delivered across three consecutive semesters, the 51-credit curriculum covers the full scope of nursing science — from pathophysiology and pharmacology to clinical practicum — at an intensive pace designed for motivated second-degree students.
A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on social-justice nursing practice, preparing graduates to deliver culturally responsive care across diverse patient populations in Austin and beyond.
The program is CCNE-accredited, offered in-person at the Austin campus, and does not require TEAS or HESI entrance exams.
Admission is offered for fall entry only, with one cohort accepted per year.
Admissions
Admission to St. Edward’s ABSN requires a prior bachelor’s degree plus completion of specific science and social science prerequisites. The program uses a competitive, holistic review process that includes essays and a résumé — no standardized nursing entrance exam required.
- Prior degree required: Bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution
- Minimum overall GPA: 2.5
- Minimum prerequisite GPA: 2.5
- Prerequisite grade requirement: “C” or better in all prerequisite courses; each course may be attempted a maximum of two times
- Prerequisite currency: All nursing prerequisites must be completed within five years of application; healthcare field experience may be considered for older coursework
- In-progress coursework: Applications accepted with prerequisites still in progress, but all courses must be complete before nursing coursework begins
- Application components: University application (St. Edward’s portal), Department of Nursing application, personal essays, current résumé, and official transcripts
- No entrance exam: TEAS, HESI, and similar nursing exams are not required
- Application deadline: May 15, 2026 (Fall 2026); early applicants (before Dec 31, 2025) notified by mid-March 2026; later applicants notified by early June
- Enrollment cap: Qualified applicants may be waitlisted if the cohort reaches capacity before the deadline
- Clinical compliance: Background check, drug screening, TB screening, immunizations, and CPR (AHA Healthcare Provider) required before clinical placement
Curriculum
The 13-month ABSN curriculum integrates both online and in-person components, offering comprehensive education through hands-on labs and clinical rotations.
The program covers a wide range of nursing topics, including acute care, community health, and behavioral health, ensuring students gain practical experience in diverse healthcare settings.
Prerequisite Courses
The following science and social science courses are required before beginning nursing coursework. Courses must be completed within five years of application and passed with a “C” or better (maximum two attempts per course).
- BIOL 1307 / 1107 – General Biology I with Lab (4 cr)
- BIOL 1322 – Nutrition (3 cr)
- BIOL 2401 – Anatomy and Physiology I (4 cr)
- BIOL 2402 – Anatomy and Physiology II (4 cr)
- BIOL 2318 / 2118 – Clinical Microbiology with Lab (4 cr)
- PSYC 2301 – General Psychology (3 cr)
- PSYC 2310 – Lifespan Development (3 cr)
- PSYC 2317 – Statistics (3 cr)
- PSYC 3438 – Research Methods (3 cr)
- SOCI 1301 – Self and Society (3 cr)
- HSCI 1305 – Introduction to Chemistry for Healthcare Professionals (3 cr) or CHEM 1305 – Introduction to Chemistry (3 cr)
Nursing Core Courses (51 credits)
NURS 3210 Intro to the Art & Science of Nursing
Builds upon liberal arts and science foundations to develop essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes for professional nursing practice within healthcare teams. Explores nursing through theoretical, social justice, and diversity perspectives while covering nursing history, definitions, ethics, professional standards, communication techniques, and advanced healthcare technology. Provides foundational understanding for effective professional nursing practice with 2 credit hours.
NURS 3420 Pathophysiology/Pharmacology for ABSN
Advances prior learning by focusing on pathophysiologic and pharmacologic concepts essential for nursing practice. Emphasizes disease process principles and drug therapeutics across the lifespan, covering pharmacodynamics, therapeutic uses, side effects, and nursing implications. Integrates patient-specific observations, assessments, interventions, and evaluations to promote health restoration with 4 credit hours.
NURS 3332 Health, Wellness & Physical Assessment Across the Life Span
Develops clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and assessment competencies for individuals across the lifespan continuum through nursing theory, social justice, and diversity frameworks. Includes health assessment lab, virtual learning platforms, and simulation experiences. Requires demonstrated competency in course concepts and head-to-toe physical assessment performance with 3 credit hours (2 theory, 1 lab).
NURS 3635 Essentials of Nursing Practice
Focuses on developing clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and basic clinical skills competency for patient and family care through evidence-based practice. Incorporates nursing theory, social justice, and diversity perspectives across simulation labs, skills labs, nursing homes, acute care, and community healthcare settings. Requires demonstrated competency in clinical skills for successful completion with 6 credit hours (3 theory, 2 lab, 1 clinical).
NURS 3637 Chronic/Complex Nursing I
Continues development of clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and clinical skills for patients and families with chronic complex health alterations. Applies nursing theory, social justice, and diversity concepts through simulation, clinical skills labs, acute care facilities, and healthcare agencies. Emphasizes evidence-based practice and advocacy with demonstrated competency requirements for 6 credit hours (3 theory, 3 clinical).
NURS 4640 Acute/Complex Nursing II
Advances clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and clinical skills for patients and families with high acuity and complex health problems. Utilizes nursing theory, social justice, and diversity frameworks through simulation, acute care facilities, and healthcare agencies. Focuses on advanced evidence-based practice and advocacy with demonstrated competency requirements for successful completion.
NURS 4442 Family Health: Women, Children, Families
Develops clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and clinical skills specific to women’s health, pregnancy, and infant through adolescent care. Explores concepts through nursing theory, social justice, and diversity perspectives across simulation, clinical skills labs, acute care facilities, and community settings. Requires demonstrated competency in specialized clinical skills with 4 credit hours (2 theory, 2 clinical).
NURS 3433 Behavioral Mental Health
Focuses on clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and clinical skills for patients with acute and chronic behavioral and mental illness, including prevention, health maintenance, and recovery. Applies nursing theory, social justice, and diversity concepts through simulation, clinical skills labs, behavioral health settings, acute care, and community-based environments. Requires demonstrated competency with 4 credit hours (2 theory, 2 clinical).
NURS 4444 Community, Rural and Public Health Develops clinical judgment, critical reasoning, and clinical skills to improve overall health of individuals, families, and communities. Integrates nursing theory, social justice, and diversity perspectives through simulation, clinical skills labs, community health centers, local health departments, and community service organizations. Emphasizes population health approaches with 4 credit hours (2 theory, 2 clinical).
NURS 4143 Nursing Leadership and Coordination of Care Focuses on clinical judgment, critical reasoning, leadership and management concepts for complex patient care requiring multiple providers across settings. Explores concepts through nursing theory, social justice, and diversity frameworks using simulation, clinical skills labs, acute care facilities, and healthcare agencies. Develops coordination skills with 1 credit hour.
NURS 4246 Senior Seminar Provides culminating integrative experience applying all professional nursing dimensions for diverse patients, families, and communities across healthcare settings. Reviews major nursing program competencies and concepts for licensure preparation and professional practice transition. Includes simulation and NCLEX-RN preparation requiring 90% predictability for exam success with 2 lab credit hours.
NURS 4455 Immersive Practicum Offers culminating experience for translating, integrating, and applying evidence to patient care through synthesis of acquired knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Emphasizes evidence-based, culturally appropriate nursing care for diverse populations while facilitating transition from student to entry-level professional practice. Includes simulation and precepted practicum with 4 clinical credit hours.
NURS 3318 Aging Issues and Care for Older Adults
Explores global aging population issues including care options, palliative care, end-of-life concerns, mistreatment, and elder abuse. Develops knowledge and skills for providing optimal care to diverse older adults and families in multicultural environments. Addresses comprehensive gerontological nursing competencies and cultural sensitivity.
NURS 4231 Nursing Leadership and Issues/Trends Examines leadership and management concepts for addressing complex microsystem issues within healthcare organizations. Emphasizes advanced communication skills and interprofessional team collaboration while focusing on role interrelationships within theoretical frameworks and care models. Develops organizational leadership competencies for professional nursing practice.
More information about the curriculum here: https://banner.stedwards.edu/StudentRegistrationSsb/ssb/courseSearch/courseSearch
Clinicals
Clinical training is embedded throughout the nursing core sequence rather than consolidated into a single practicum.
Several courses carry significant clinical or lab components, including NURS 3635 (6 cr), NURS 3637 (6 cr), NURS 4640 (6 cr), and the capstone NURS 4455 – Immersive Practicum (4 cr).
Students must complete all health compliance requirements — background check, drug screening, TB screening, up-to-date immunizations, and AHA Healthcare Provider CPR certification — before beginning any clinical placement.
- Clinical experience embedded across multiple nursing core courses
- Capstone clinical requirement: NURS 4455 – Immersive Practicum (4 cr)
- Background check required prior to clinical placement (student’s expense)
- Drug screening, TB test, immunization records, and CPR certification required before clinical start
Tuition
The estimated total tuition for the St. Edward’s ABSN program is approximately $54,978, based on three semesters of enrollment (Summer: 15 credits at $16,170; Fall: 18 credits at $19,404; Spring: 18 credits at $19,404).
Additional mandatory program fees — including a Nursing Program Testing Fee (~$3,498 across three semesters) and a one-time miscellaneous fee (~$240) — bring the estimated total direct program cost to approximately $58,716, before living expenses.
- Summer semester tuition (15 cr): ~$16,170
- Fall semester tuition (18 cr): ~$19,404
- Spring semester tuition (18 cr): ~$19,404
- Nursing Program Testing Fee: ~$1,166/semester
- Comprehensive Fee: ~$212–$450/semester
- Estimated per-credit rate: ~$1,078/credit
- Post-program costs (not included above): NCLEX-RN registration ($200), State Board of Nursing fee (~$150), NCLEX prep (~$400)
- ABSN students are not eligible for merit-based or academic scholarships at St. Edward’s; federal loans available via FAFSA (list enrollment as “5th year/other undergraduate”)
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate nursing program at St. Edward’s University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE accreditation confirms that the program meets nationally recognized standards for nursing education quality and prepares graduates to pursue RN licensure via the NCLEX-RN.
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