Program Overview
A values-driven accelerated BSN rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions — with a curriculum built explicitly around caring for Detroit’s underserved and marginalized populations — delivered in an intensive 16-month cohort of seven-week terms.
University of Detroit Mercy’s Second Degree Option (SDO) BSN offers an accelerated curriculum for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field. The intensive 16-month program runs three and a half semesters with a shortened summer break, using a cohort model and seven-week terms that set a fast pace.
As a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, Detroit Mercy grounds its nursing education in service: the curriculum — from the opening “Nursing Practice in Mercy and Jesuit Traditions” course onward — focuses on caring for underserved and marginalized populations, with clinical and community experiences across the Detroit area.
Most courses mirror the Traditional BSN with modifications for the accelerated pace, and the program requires roughly 16-20 credits per semester plus 16-24 hours of weekly clinical practice through the McAuley School of Nursing.
Licensure & Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and Post-graduate APRN certificate at University of Detroit Mercy are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The pre-licensure nursing programs are fully approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Successful completion qualifies graduates to take the NCLEX-RN in Michigan; graduates planning to practice elsewhere should review state-specific licensure rules.
ABSN Admission Requirements
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (3.0 cumulative GPA preferred) and completion of all prerequisite courses within seven years with minimum “C” grades. The Nursing Admissions Committee reviews applications for students with four or fewer outstanding prerequisites, provided a completion plan is submitted; all prerequisites must be complete before the first day of classes.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 preferred
- All science and math courses completed within the last seven years
- Minimum grade “C” in all prerequisite courses
- Maximum three repeat prerequisite courses (an individual course cannot be repeated more than twice)
- Students dismissed from previous nursing programs are not eligible
Application Materials
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended after high school
- Résumé
- Letter of intent (minimum one page) covering nursing interest, choice of Detroit Mercy’s McAuley School of Nursing, skills, attributes, and professional aspirations
- Letter of recommendation attesting to professional attributes (employer, instructor, or service/volunteer organization)
- Name/email of the recommendation provider entered in the online application
Application Timeline
- Fall (August) start; deadline June 1
- Early submission strongly encouraged while completing prerequisites, to allow feedback time
- All final grades/transcripts must be received before the first day of classes
Prerequisite Courses
Eleven prerequisites must be completed within seven years with minimum “C” grades (see the Nursing Transfer Equivalency Table for course equivalencies):
- ENL 1310: Academic Writing
- MTH 1010: Algebra (or MTH 1020 + 1030 + 1040)
- PYC 1000: Introduction to Psychology
- PYC 2500: Developmental Psychology
- SOC 1000: Introduction to Sociology
- ETH 3580: Health Care Ethics
- CHM 1040: General, Organic and Biological Chemistry for the Health Sciences
- BIO 2300/2310: Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology I / Laboratory
- BIO 2320/2330: Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology II / Laboratory
- BIO 2410/2420: General Microbiology / Laboratory
- BIO 2040: Applied Nutrition
Clinical & Health Requirements
Progression to clinical nursing courses is contingent on completing all Alliance for Clinical Education Matching and Placement Program (ACEMAPP) and site-specific requirements, including a health history and physical exam, CDC-guideline immunizations, a criminal background check, and a urine drug screen (a positive result on any test may affect ability to complete the program). Students must maintain their own health insurance throughout the program.
Michigan’s Bureau of Professional Licensing has restrictions affecting applicants with felony or misdemeanor convictions; prospective students with questions should contact the Michigan Board of Professional Licensing directly.
Curriculum
The 62-credit nursing major builds on a liberal arts and sciences foundation and is delivered in seven-week terms over 16 months. Combined with the previous bachelor’s degree general education (minimum 64 credits), the total degree requires a minimum of 126 credits. Course distribution: Theory 40 credits/570 contact hours; Lab 3 credits/90 hours; Clinical 18 credits/756 hours; Seminar 2 credits/30 hours.
Term I-A (12 credits)
NUR 2100 – Introduction to Nursing Practice in Mercy and Jesuit Traditions (2 credits)
This course builds self-awareness and person-centered care grounded in Mercy and Jesuit values. Students study safety, quality, communication, evidence-based practice, and teamwork while developing a values-driven nursing philosophy and service-oriented leadership mindset.
NUR 2200 – Health Assessment and Physical Examination (2 credits)
This course teaches adult health assessment using structured interviews and physical examination skills. Students document findings accurately and apply culturally responsive, ethical, and confidential care through hands-on lab practice.
NUR 2850 – Patho-Pharmacology I (4 credits)
This course introduces core pathophysiology and pharmacology concepts across the lifespan. Students examine genetic, immune, infectious, and inflammatory mechanisms while learning major drug classes, side effects, interactions, and nursing responsibilities.
HLH 2550 – Population Health and Epidemiology (3 credits)
This course explores how behavioral, social, environmental, and genomic factors influence population health outcomes. Students analyze disparities, morbidity, and mortality while evaluating the role of policy in urban and global health systems.
Term I-B (9 credits)
NUR 2500 – Fundamentals of Nursing Practice (3 credits)
This course introduces the nursing process as a framework for evidence-based clinical judgment. Students apply Mercy and Jesuit values to deliver safe, person-centered adult care while integrating quality and safety standards.
NUR 2540 – Fundamentals of Nursing Practice Practicum (2 credits)
This practicum places students in supervised acute and subacute care settings. Students perform assessments and procedures while emphasizing safety, infection control, and respect for patient dignity.
NUR 3050 – Patho-Pharmacology II (3 credits)
This course expands integrated pathophysiology and pharmacology knowledge for complex conditions. Students strengthen medication management skills including monitoring, access, interactions, and therapeutic nursing interventions.
NUR 2520 – Nursing Skills Lab (1 credit)
This lab develops core psychomotor nursing skills supported by scientific evidence. Students practice critical thinking to respond safely to unexpected clinical situations.
Term II-A (8 credits)
NUR 3200 – Medical Surgical Nursing I (3 credits)
This course introduces medical-surgical nursing care for common acute and chronic conditions. Students assess symptoms, manage treatments, and address physical, psychological, and spiritual responses to illness.
NUR 3210 – Medical Surgical Nursing I Practicum (2 credits)
This practicum applies pathophysiology, pharmacology, and nutrition concepts in clinical settings. Students use the nursing process to build clinical judgment for common adult health conditions.
NUR 4500 – Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
This course introduces the research process and its application to clinical decision-making. Students evaluate evidence to improve care quality, strengthen judgment, and support safe nursing practice.
Term II-B (8 credits)
NUR 3700 – Medical Surgical Nursing II (3 credits)
This course focuses on complex and multisystem adult health conditions. Students identify life-threatening complications and support recovery while addressing family and psychosocial responses.
NUR 3750 – Medical Surgical Nursing II Practicum (2 credits)
This practicum strengthens acute care decision-making through supervised practice. Students develop prioritization, delegation, collaboration, and clinical reasoning skills.
NUR 4601 – Nursing Leadership (3 credits)
This course examines leadership and management in healthcare through Mercy and Jesuit perspectives. Students study planning, change management, quality improvement, finance, and ethical leadership.
Term III-A (10 credits)
NUR 3100 – Mental Health Nursing (3 credits)
This course prepares students to assess and support adult mental health needs. Students integrate physical, mental, and spiritual factors while examining safety, quality, and social justice in care delivery.
NUR 3150 – Mental Health Nursing Practicum (2 credits)
This practicum applies mental health theories in supervised clinical settings. Students practice therapeutic communication, leadership, and systems-based care.
NUR 4300 – Community Health Nursing (3 credits)
This course emphasizes health promotion and disease prevention at the community level. Students apply epidemiology, Healthy People indicators, and public health principles to diverse populations.
NUR 4350 – Community Health Nursing Practicum (2 credits)
This practicum requires students to design and implement a community-based health project. Students apply assessment, communication, policy awareness, and public health nursing skills.
Term III-B (10 credits)
NUR 4865 – Health of Women and Families (3 credits)
This course examines nursing care for women and families across the lifespan. Students address biophysical, sociocultural, and spiritual factors while exploring ethics and social justice in community care.
NUR 4870 – Practicum: Health of Women and Families (2 credits)
This practicum provides community and hospital-based experiences in women’s health. Students care for women and families during wellness, pregnancy, and high-risk conditions while analyzing system and policy impacts.
NUR 4875 – Lifespan Nursing Care of Children and Families (3 credits)
This course prepares students to care for children and families across health and illness. Students apply developmental theory and research while emphasizing community-centered and ethical care.
NUR 4880 – Practicum: Lifespan Nursing Care of Children and Families (2 credits)
This practicum places students in community and acute care pediatric settings. Students progress from wellness and prevention to acute and high-risk pediatric care.
Term IV (6 credits)
NUR 4701 – Nursing Leadership Immersion (4 credits)
This immersion supports transition into professional nursing practice. Students demonstrate leadership, delegation, teamwork, and collaboration in acute care settings under RN supervision.
NUR 4651 – Integrative Seminar for Nursing Practice (2 credits)
This seminar synthesizes nursing theory and clinical concepts for licensure readiness. Students strengthen safety, quality, and critical thinking skills across the lifespan.
All courses are offered in a seven-week format. More detail is available in the Detroit Mercy catalog and the SDO sample plan.
Academic Policies
- Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA to progress and graduate
- Minimum “C” or better in all nursing courses, HLH 2550, and supportive core courses
- Minimum 62 credit hours for the Second Degree Option (126 total with prior degree)
- University Core Curriculum requirements are satisfied by the previous bachelor’s degree
The McAuley School of Nursing reserves the right to require withdrawal from a nursing course or the program if faculty judge a student lacks the requisite skills, integrity, stability, or competence to succeed, even with a 2.5+ GPA.
Tuition
Detroit Mercy’s nursing tuition depends on how credits fall across billing terms, so the total varies. The published rates are $1,258 per credit (1-11 credits), a flat $16,802 per term (12-18 credits), and $1,120 per credit above 18. At the per-credit rate, 62 credits totals roughly $78,000; with flat-rate billing applied to 12-18 credit terms, the school’s optimized estimate is closer to $50,000-$52,000 — so plan for roughly $52,000-$78,000 depending on how your terms are billed. Additional costs include ACEMAPP requirements, immunizations, background check and drug screen, health insurance, clinical supplies, and books.
Confirm your specific total with Student Accounting via the official tuition and fees page (FAFSA school code 002323).
Related Programs
Detroit Mercy also offers a Traditional BSN (Detroit and a Grand Rapids partnership with Aquinas College), an RN-to-BSN, transfer pathways, a Master’s Entry Advanced Generalist Nursing (MEAGN) option, and graduate programs (MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificates).
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