Accelerated Nursing, BSN
Program Details
- Location
- Akron Campus
- Level
- undergraduate
- Academic Pathway
- postbaccalaureate
- Degree/Program Type
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Format
- In-person
- Course Info
- Course Info
- College
- Health and Human Sciences, College of (Dean's Office)
- School/Department
- School of Nursing
Program Contact
- Regena Ellis
-
Student Enrollment Counselor
330-972-7554
Overview
Already have a bachelor’s degree and ready for a new direction? The Accelerated BSN program at The University of Akron can take you from your first nursing course to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 15 months. Also known as an ABSN or second-degree BSN, the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing, preparing you to sit for the NCLEX-RN and begin your career as a registered nurse.
You don’t need prior nursing experience to get started. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, a 2.75 cumulative GPA and completed science prerequisites before your first nursing course. Prerequisites can be completed at any regionally accredited university or community college, so the coursework you’ve already completed may help you get there faster.
One cohort begins each May and moves through the program together, finishing in August of the following year. It’s a full-time commitment designed for students ready to make nursing their next chapter. Students are recommended to work no more than 20 hours per week for the best flexibility.
In a little over a year, you can earn a BSN and become eligible for RN licensure — bringing your previous degree, new nursing skills and career goals together.
Admissions Requirements
Academic requirements
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university, cumulative GPA 2.75
Admission to The University of Akron and program
Ability to maintain full-time status
Science prerequisites with a lab component, cumulative GPA 2.75, preferably completed within five years of application
All prerequisites completed with a C or better before your first nursing course. All GPA references are on a 4.0 scale
Application requirements
Application to The University of Akron as a post baccalaureate student
A resume
A personal statement of 500 words on how you can contribute to the field of nursing
One letter of recommendation
Official transcripts
How to apply
Apply to The University of Akron as a post-baccalaureate student.
Submit your resume, personal statement, and letter of recommendation through the applicant portal.
Receive a written evaluation of the prerequisites you have completed and those still outstanding.
Plan the remaining prerequisites with your advisor. All must be finished by the end of the spring semester before your May entry.
Pass a background check before entering the program.
Applications for the May cohort close on Dec. 1 of the previous year. Admission for the 32 seats is competitive, and completing every criterion does not guarantee a place. Advisors can tell you where a strong application stands.
Prerequisite courses
5 credit hours Chemistry with lab, any combination of inorganic, organic or biochemistry, or 3150:113 CHEM (4) plus 3150:114 laboratory (1)
8 credit hours Anatomy and Physiology with lab
3 credit hours Microbiology with lab
3 to 4 credit hours Developmental Psychology
3 to 4 credit hours Science of Nutrition
3 credit hours Introduction to Ethics
3 to 4 credit hours Basic Statistics or Statistics for Everyday Life
Career Outcomes
You graduate ready to sit for the NCLEX-RN and practice as a registered nurse.
Job titles
Registered nurse
Staff nurse, medical surgical
Emergency department nurse
Pediatric nurse
Critical care nurse
Labor and delivery nurse
Perioperative nurse
Public health nurse
Where you will work
Hospitals and health systems
Emergency departments and intensive care units
Outpatient and ambulatory care centers
Community and public health agencies
Long term care and rehabilitation facilities
Schools and occupational health settings
Outlook and what comes next
Passing the NCLEX-RN and holding an active Ohio license is required to practice. From a BSN you can continue into the MSN or DNP at Akron, including the Nurse Anesthesia track. Registered nurses earned a median of $93,600 per year in May 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), with about 189,100 openings projected annually through 2034.
Accreditation
The School of Nursing is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Accelerated Nursing, BSN FAQs
You qualify if you hold a bachelor's degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.75. No nursing background is required. Your science prerequisites must be finished with a C or better before your first nursing course. Cohorts are limited to 32 students.
The Accelerated BSN takes 15 months, starting in May and finishing in August of the following year. You study full time and follow the plan of study in a fixed order with your cohort. There is no part-time route through this program.
Yes. The School of Nursing is approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing and is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. That accreditation is what makes graduates eligible for national certification on their track.
Yes, you’ll be able to work. We recommend working no more than 20 hours per week for the best flexibility.
The Akron Advantage
Rotations run at major Northeast Ohio health systems, the same institutions that hire Akron graduates, three within walking distance of campus.
You start with people who have already finished one degree and have chosen nursing second.
Hands on simulation labs let you practice assessments and interventions before your first clinical shift. You’ll begin working in the Skills Lab and Simulation Lab immediately upon entering the program.
Rotations run at major Northeast Ohio health systems, the same institutions that hire Akron graduates, three within walking distance of campus.
You start with people who have already finished one degree and have chosen nursing second.
Hands on simulation labs let you practice assessments and interventions before your first clinical shift. You’ll begin working in the Skills Lab and Simulation Lab immediately upon entering the program.
YES, some things just set us apart.
Fast Track to RN
May through August of the following year, one cohort, one 15-month fixed plan of study.
CCNE Accredited
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at The University of Akron are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Designed for Career Changers
No prior nursing experience required.
A Future in Nursing Starts Here
Hear from UA alumna Lauryn Clark about her experience in the Accelerated BSN program which led to a successful career as a pediatric emergency room nurse in Columbus, Ohio.
One Next Step
Estimate your cost, check what aid you qualify for as a post baccalaureate student, and talk to the Office of Student Financial Aid before the December 1st application deadline.