Program Overview
The only public accelerated BSN in the Charlotte region — UNC Charlotte’s ABSN, launched in 2025, offers a fast, on-campus path into nursing at a fraction of private-program cost, with automatic scholarship eligibility, no entrance exam, high-fidelity simulation, and dedicated success tutors.
The UNC Charlotte Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is an intensive four-semester pathway for individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, designed to be completed in 16 months. Launched in fall 2025 with support from a University of North Carolina System grant, it is the only public ABSN option in the Charlotte region — and demand was immediate, with applicants far outnumbering seats in the inaugural cohort.
Starting each fall, the program combines foundational nursing education with hands-on clinical experience in advanced simulation labs, preparing graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN and enter the workforce as registered nurses.
With coursework covering health assessment, pharmacology, complex illness management, and psychiatric care, students gain the skills needed for diverse healthcare settings.
Program Duration and Structure
This 16-month program is structured over four consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall), allowing students to accelerate their path to nursing licensure. The program includes 360 hours of clinical practicum, and a focus on complex care provides real-world experience that enhances readiness for patient care roles. The program is exclusively on-campus, with no online courses, so students gain hands-on skills in a state-of-the-art Learning Resource Center supported by dedicated success tutors.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the undergraduate nursing programs are approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
UNC Charlotte is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The School of Nursing reports strong NCLEX-RN pass rates, and graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and well-prepared for roles in hospitals, clinics, public health, and long-term care.
Admission
UNC Charlotte’s ABSN is designed for students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and is notable for requiring no separate entrance exam (no TEAS).
- A previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree
- Completion of prerequisite courses with the specified minimum grades (B grades expected in science prerequisites)
- Nurse Aide I (CNA I) certification required before admission
- No standardized nursing entrance exam (no TEAS) required
- Fall start; volunteer or healthcare experience may also be considered
All admitted students are automatically considered for competitive scholarships, reducing financial barriers for qualified applicants.
Curriculum
The 61-credit curriculum spans key nursing areas, including pathophysiology, care coordination, mental health, and leadership in nursing. Advanced simulation and dedicated success tutors support students throughout, enhancing critical thinking and clinical skills.
Fall (Year 1)
NURS 3102 – Introduction to Nursing Science
Provides an overview of nursing’s theoretical and scientific foundations, exploring key concepts, models, and the profession’s role.
NURS 3105 – Concepts of Professional Nursing
Examines core concepts and standards of professional nursing, focusing on nursing’s unique role in healthcare.
NURS 3107 – Pathophysiology
Covers physiological changes in disease and the body’s response, building critical thinking in distinguishing between health and illness.
NURS 3108 – Health Assessment
Teaches holistic health assessments across the lifespan through interview and physical exam skills within clinical decision-making frameworks.
NURS 3425 – Practicum in Concepts of Professional Nursing
Introduces clinical application of essential nursing concepts, skills, and values in professional practice.
NURS 3205 – Pharmacology
Focuses on safe, therapeutic drug use, covering common pharmacologic agents and societal drug standards.
Spring (Year 1)
NURS 3230 – Illness & Disease Management
Focuses on health promotion and nursing care for adults with fundamental pathophysiological conditions.
NURS 3250 – Nursing Care of Childbearing Family
Covers nursing care for families during pregnancy, birth, and the newborn period, emphasizing assessment and health promotion.
NURS 3260 – Nursing Care of Children
Explores nursing care for children from infancy through adolescence, focusing on assessment and health promotion during child development.
NURS 3430 – Practicum Illness & Disease
Provides hands-on clinical experience in caring for adults with basic health issues, applying psychomotor and clinical decision-making skills.
NURS 3440 – Practicum Nursing Care of Children & Childbearing Family
Develops family-centered nursing competencies through clinical experiences in community and hospital settings.
NURS 4100 – Nursing Care of the Aging Adult
Studies aging processes and nursing care strategies for healthy, frail, institutionalized, and end-of-life aging adults.
Summer (Year 1)
NURS 4130 – Complex Illness & Disease Management
Focuses on managing complex health issues in adult patients with severe pathophysiological needs.
NURS 4240 – Population Focused Nursing
Explores community health concepts, focusing on social justice, health indicators, and building partnerships to support population health.
NURS 4430 – Practicum in Complex Illness & Disease
Provides clinical practice in complex care, emphasizing advanced psychomotor skills and clinical decision-making.
NURS 4440 – Practicum Population Focused Nursing
Develops skills for population-based care with clinical experiences in diverse community settings.
NURS 4900 – Research in Nursing Practicum
Introduces research methodologies in nursing, emphasizing evidence-based practice and research application in clinical settings.
Fall (Year 2)
NURS 4203 – Leadership & Informatics for Nursing Practice
Examines trends and leadership strategies in nursing, focusing on healthcare delivery, system management, and informatics.
NURS 4450 – Design & Coordination of Care
Applies clinical skills in care design and management across various settings, featuring precepted experiences and clinical projects.
NURS 4600 – Seminar in Professional Licensure
Addresses licensure requirements, NCLEX-RN preparation, and transitioning from student to professional nurse.
NURS 4120 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Focuses on mental health nursing principles, covering biopsychosocial approaches to acute and chronic care.
NURS 4420 – Practicum in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Develops psychiatric nursing skills, with emphasis on therapeutic relationships, assessment, and intervention in varied clinical environments.
More detail is available in the UNC Charlotte catalog.
Tuition
UNC Charlotte’s ABSN is among the most affordable accelerated options anywhere — and the only public choice in the Charlotte region, where private ABSN programs can cost several times as much. Estimated total tuition and fees for North Carolina residents is approximately $14,991 for the 61-credit program, based on the resident per-credit rate (about $3,431 for a 14-credit term, billed across roughly four full terms plus a partial term).
Out-of-state tuition is substantially higher — UNC Charlotte’s nonresident rate runs roughly three times the resident rate — so confirm the current figure via the official tuition and fees page.
Additional costs include stethoscopes, scrubs, shoes, and other nursing supplies.
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