Nursing, Accelerated Program (BSN)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Accelerated Program

Unit: Nursing
Academic Plan Code(s): NURABSN, NURABSNUD, NURABSNOW, NURABSNUDW

Program Information

The Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a hybrid accelerated program that prepares students with a bachelor's degree in any area outside of  nursing to become entry-level professional nurses.  This program has two locations:  Louisville, Kentucky and Owensboro,  Kentucky.  Hybrid programs are a combination of online and in person instruction.  Course lectures will be offered online.  Clinical and lab experiences will be completed in person at the location in which you are admitted.

This program consists of four semesters of program  major requirements after the successful completion of all the professional/prerequisite course work.  Our BSN program also provides the necessary content to prepare for masters and doctoral degrees in nursing. Graduates of the BSN program will be prepared to take the National Council Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Students will use innovative Patient Simulation Centers and conduct clinical in acute care and community-based settings.  

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.  Note: Students that complete the Accelerated BSN program will complete 8 hours of graduate level coursework during their program.  Following graduation, students may apply to the UofL MSN program and may be eligible to apply these 8 graduate credit hours towards their MSN core requirements.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to Lower Division Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Professional/Prerequisite Coursework)

• Students wanting to complete prerequisite coursework at the university apply to the lower division portion of the program by submitting an application for admission to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions along with college transcripts from all previously attended colleges.  
• To be admitted the School of Nursing to complete professional/prerequisite coursework, Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing applicants must have a minimum college cumulative grade point average of 2.4.

Students may be admitted directly to the School of Nursing to complete professional/prerequisite coursework if the minimum admission standards and university deadlines are met. All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to starting the Program/Major portion of the program.  A minimum grade of C is required in all prerequisite science coursework.

Science courses must have been completed within the last 10 years. Students must submit an exemption request to the School of Nursing, Office of Student Services for review for acceptance of sciences taken prior to the last 10 years. Consideration will only be given to those with experience in the science in which exception is being requested. Transfer credit for science courses taken prior to the last 10 years will be evaluated on an individual basis. There can be no outstanding incomplete grades prior to beginning upper division nursing coursework.

Admission to the Lower Division does not guarantee admission to the Program/Major portion of the program. 

Admission to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree Program/Major

Admission to the Accelerated BSN Program is selective. To be considered for admission, applicants must:

• have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field from a regionally accredited school
• successfully complete all prerequisite requirements prior to beginning the Accelerated BSN coursework. Applicants must have a minimum of two natural science pre-requisite courses completed with a final letter grade of C or higher (no C-) by the application deadline.
• have earned a recommended minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.8. The cumulative grade point average for admission consideration to the Program/Major of nursing is calculated based on all course work completed at accredited post-secondary institutions. Transfer credit and transfer GPA is determined by the Office of Transfer Articulation in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• have earned a recommended program grade point average of 3.0. The program grade point average is based on required prerequisites as determined by the nursing faculty

Admissions are contingent on successful completion of the prerequisite coursework. Accepted students will receive a letter of agreement stating the anticipated start date, the conditions for accepting the space, and consequences of failing to meet admission conditions.

Admissions Process for Program Major

Submit all admissions materials to NursingCAS

• Official transcripts representing all college coursework.
• Applicants who have attended a college or university outside the United States are required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). 
• Within the Nursing CAS application applicant must be prepared to answer questions regarding your short- and long-term nursing goals, leadership experience, community engagement, and healthcare experience/exposure.  For details and guidance regarding the questions visit the School of Nursing webpage.
• Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English Proficiency
• Submit a certified criminal background check. Details on the School of Nursing website.

NOTE: An unsatisfactory background check may prevent a student from being admitted into the program and/or licensed as a registered nurse. Questions regarding licensing should be addressed with the Kentucky Board of Nursing. 

A holistic review process is used when considering applications for admissions.  The holistic review considers multiple criteria for admissions, such as:  the applicant's professional career goals, academic capabilities, and grade point averages. 

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for the MSN program.  If accepted, up to 8 credit hours from the ABSN program may be applied towards the MSN degree.  Completion of the ABSN program does not guarantee admission to the MSN program.

General Education Requirements

The Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires the completion of  the Professional Curriculum/Prerequisite courses in addition to the Program/Major Requirements.  Professional/Prerequisite Curriculum classes may be transferred in from the student's previously earned degree if the course(s) are determined equivalent to the courses listed below.  General Education requirements are met by the satisfactory completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university prior to admissions into the program. 

College/School Requirements

Professional/Prerequisite Curriculum

Program/Major Requirements

¹

All NURS courses must be completed with a C or higher (no C-).

²

Course is eligible to count toward the MSN upon successful application and acceptance into the MSN program. The earned grade must be a B or higher to count towards the MSN.

Flight Plan

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.

Professional Licensure Information

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs (Louisville or Owensboro) are broken into distinct academic plan codes for lower and upper division BSN degree requirements. Incoming students complete the lower division preparatory coursework prerequisite requirements in lower division and then apply for competitive selective admission to the Nursing upper division program.  Completion of the lower division program prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the upper division program.  The lower division portion of the program does not prepare students for licensure as a nurse.  The upper division program is considered a licensure program designed to meet educational requirements for licensure as a nurse.  Upon acceptance, enrollment in the upper division program’s academic plan code is considered the first term of enrollment in the licensure program under the Program Participation Agreement for Title IV federal financial aid eligible programs of the Higher Education Act (CFR § 668.14 (b)(32)).

Graduates from the UofL School of Nursing are prepared to apply for RN licensure upon graduation; however, educational preparation does not guarantee professional licensure. If you have questions regarding Kentucky RN licensure, please contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing (kbn.ky.gov/Pages/lpn-rn.aspx).  For RN licensure questions in other states, please contact the respective state board of nursing (ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm).

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/oapa/licensure-information (you may search by school or by the name of the program then click on 'View Details' to display the information).