Program Overview
An affordable, accessible route into nursing with a flexible hybrid format — UCO’s Fast Track BSN admits second-degree students with just a 2.5 GPA, runs largely online (at least 51%) with one campus day a week, and is among Oklahoma’s most affordable accelerated options, backed by a school preparing nurses since 1972.
The University of Central Oklahoma offers a Fast Track in Nursing program designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field and are ready to transition to a nursing career. The accelerated program can be completed in just 16 months (fall, spring, May intersession, summer, and fall) and provides flexible hybrid courses that are at least 51% online. On-campus classes meet one day per week, plus additional clinical and lab days.
The program admits approximately 56 students each fall semester on a competitive basis. UCO’s School of Nursing has been preparing nurses since 1972, with more than 3,500 graduates.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing at the University of Central Oklahoma is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. UCO is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Graduates are eligible to apply to write the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses.
ABSN Admission Requirements
Admission to UCO’s Fast Track Nursing program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, completion of prerequisite courses, and submission of application materials and a background check.
Academic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (any field)
- Minimum 2.5 retentive GPA overall
- Minimum grade of C in all science courses
- Completion of all prerequisite courses before starting the program (all required science courses completed before the application deadline)
- Minimum grade of C in all CHEM, BIO, and NURS prefix courses
- Students may enroll a maximum of two times in any nursing course
Professional Requirements
- State (OSBI) and federal criminal background checks
- Drug screening
- Professional liability insurance for the duration of the program
- Documentation of immunizations (per the UCO Department of Nursing Student Handbook)
- Current CPR certification (American Heart Association Health Care Provider)
- Meet the Performance Standards for Admission and Progression in the Department of Nursing
Admission Notes
- Admission is competitive, as applications exceed available positions; preference is given to UCO students
- Students are notified eight to ten weeks after the filing date
- The nursing department no longer requires a standardized admission test
- Crossovers between nursing tracks are not permitted; a separate application is required for each track
- International applicants (English as a second language) need a minimum TOEFL of 83 (internet), 560 (written), or 6.5 IELTS
Prerequisite Courses (38-39 Credit Hours)
Complete all prerequisites before starting Fast Track, with a minimum grade of C in all chemistry and biological science courses.
- CHEM 1014 Chemistry for Health & Safety
- BIO 1114 General Biology OR BIO 1204 Biology for Majors: Principles and Laboratory
- BIO 2314 Introduction to Microbiology and Laboratory OR BIO 3054 Microbiology for Majors and Laboratory
- BIO 2504 Human Anatomy and Laboratory OR FNRL 2214 Introduction to Human Anatomy/Dissection
- BIO 2604 Human Physiology and Laboratory
- NTRN 1513 Introduction to Nutrition
- PSY 1103 General Psychology
- SOC 2103 Sociology
- Statistics (one of: ECON 2173, PSY 2753, SOC 4043, STAT 2113, ECON 2303, or STAT 2103)
- Philosophy (one of: PHIL 1103, PHIL 1073, PHIL 1113, or PHIL 1123)
- NURS 1221 Introduction to Nursing (online-only course)
- NURS 2113 Individual and Family Development Through Lifespan
Curriculum
The Fast Track BSN requires 97-98 total nursing major hours: 38-39 pre-professional credit hours (completed as prerequisites) and 59 professional nursing credit hours completed at UCO over 16 months in a hybrid format (124 minimum total degree hours).
NURS 2207 – Foundations of Nursing (7 credits)
Introduces core nursing principles that support safe, ethical care across diverse settings. Students develop health assessment skills, apply the nursing process, and practice foundational psychomotor skills in lab and clinical environments.
NURS 3202 – Introduction to Pharmacology (2 credits)
Provides an overview of basic pharmacologic principles and major medication classes. Emphasis is placed on understanding drug actions relevant to nursing practice.
NURS 3307 – Adult Medical/Surgical Nursing I (7 credits)
Focuses on nursing care for adults in acute care settings. Students apply the nursing process while building clinical and interpersonal skills through classroom, lab, and clinical experiences.
NURS 3314 – Maternal-Newborn Nursing (4 credits)
Examines nursing care for women and newborns throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Clinical learning emphasizes assessment, intervention, and family-centered care.
NURS 3324 – Pediatric/Child Health Nursing (4 credits)
Covers nursing care for infants, children, and adolescents experiencing health challenges. Students apply the nursing process to support growth, development, and adaptation in pediatric populations.
NURS 3333 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
Addresses nursing care for individuals with mental health conditions. Students use therapeutic communication and evidence-based interventions across varied behavioral health settings.
NURS 3344 – Adult Medical/Surgical Nursing II (4 credits)
Builds on prior medical-surgical content with increased clinical complexity. Students strengthen critical thinking and psychomotor skills while caring for adults with advanced health needs.
NURS 3512 – Service Learning & Health Promotion (2 credits)
Applies health promotion concepts through service-learning projects. Students collaborate on community-based initiatives that address population health needs.
NURS 4134 – Community Health Nursing (4 credits)
Explores public health nursing with a population focus. Students integrate theory, research, and clinical practice to design and evaluate community-level health interventions.
NURS 4146 – High Acuity Nursing (6 credits)
Prepares students to care for patients with complex and critical conditions. Emphasis is placed on advanced clinical reasoning in high-acuity and intensive care environments.
NURS 4153 – Nursing Research/Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Introduces research principles and evidence-based practice methods. Students learn to evaluate research findings and apply evidence to improve nursing care.
NURS 4324 – Care of Vulnerable Individuals (4 credits)
Focuses on nursing care for vulnerable populations within community settings. Students examine social determinants of health and apply community-oriented nursing strategies.
NURS 4722 – Pharmacology II (2 credits)
Expands pharmacology knowledge with a systems-based approach. Emphasis is placed on linking medication therapy to pathophysiology and patient outcomes.
NURS 4746 – Professional Nursing Leadership & Management (6 credits)
Develops leadership and management skills for professional nursing roles. Students examine organizational dynamics, decision-making, and team leadership in healthcare settings.
NURS 4821 – Preparing for Entry Into Practice (1 credit)
Supports transition to professional nursing practice. Students prepare for the NCLEX-RN and develop career readiness skills such as test strategies, resumes, and interviews.
Program format: Hybrid courses (at least 51% online) with one day per week of on-campus class plus additional clinical and lab days; 16 months continuous (fall through fall); day classes with day and evening clinicals. Part-time and night-only options are not available. A minimum grade of C is required in all professional courses.
More detail is available in the UCO nursing catalog.
Clinical Experience
Clinical experiences are embedded throughout the Fast Track program, beginning with NURS 2207 Foundations of Nursing and progressing through medical-surgical, maternal-newborn, pediatric, psychiatric mental health, community health, and high-acuity rotations. Clinical training occurs at hospitals and medical facilities throughout the Oklahoma City metro area, with day and evening shifts available.
Students are responsible for transportation, professional liability insurance, CPR certification, drug screening, background checks, and immunization documentation, plus uniforms, equipment, and achievement-test fees.
Tuition
UCO’s Fast Track BSN is among Oklahoma’s most affordable accelerated options. The 59 professional nursing credits at the estimated undergraduate rate of about $254 per credit total roughly $15,000 in tuition, with university and nursing fees additional. (Published cost-of-attendance figures of roughly $28,000-$38,000 per year include living expenses such as room, board, and transportation — not tuition.)
Because nursing-specific per-credit rates and per-semester enrollment vary, confirm current figures via UCO’s tuition and cost page.