Accelerated Second Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
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How can I transition into nursing if I already hold a different bachelor’s degree?
If you are a college graduate looking to enter the rewarding and stable field of nursing, an accelerated second bachelor’s in nursing can help you step into patient-centered roles in doctors offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
- Overview
- Courses & Registration
- How To Apply
- Resources
About the Program
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are considering a serious transition into nursing, San Diego State University’s Accelerated Second Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is designed for career changers ready to step into patient-centered nursing roles. The program provides a clear, structured pathway to becoming a registered nurse without starting over academically.
The Accelerated Second Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (ASBSN) is a pre-licensure, cohort-based program that prepares you to enter the nursing profession and sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Delivered in a hybrid format, the program combines didactic coursework with in-person lab training and 900 clinical hours, allowing you to complete the program in 6 semesters–approximately 18 months.
This program is designed for motivated individuals ready for a focused, full-time path into the nursing profession. Rather than compressing content, the accelerated format builds on your existing undergraduate education through clear expectations, consistent sequencing, and built-in support. Clinical placements are coordinated by SDSU, and coursework mirrors the rigor and outcomes of the university’s established on-campus BS in Nursing program.
The ASBSN prepares aspiring registered nurses to step into practice-ready roles that meet the healthcare needs of the region while building toward a stable, long-term career: an approach supported by local healthcare partners who know the value of bachelor’s prepared nurses connected to the communities they serve.
This program is pending California Board of Registered Nursing approval and the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation.
What Makes SDSU Different?
With the ASBSN program, you’ll get a chance to make an impact in San Diego–a diverse community facing real healthcare workforce needs.
Laboratory training for this program will be conducted in person with a goal of training nurses to make an impact where their communities need it most.
Additionally, San Diego State University’s School of Nursing ranks among the top 100 nursing programs in the country. The School of Nursing has proven outcomes and deep regional ties that the ASBSN program will carry on.
Is This Program Right for Me?
If you hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed the required prerequisites and are ready to commit to an intensive nursing program, this pre-licensure pathway is designed to prepare you for registered nurse profession.
- Career Changers—Professionals from psychology, sociology, kinesiology, biology, public health, or other fields who want to transition into the rewarding and stable field of nursing.
- Healthcare Workers Seeking Advancement—Medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, or other healthcare support staff who want to become registered nurses and advance their careers.
- Working Adults Looking for Flexibility—Those whose work schedules prevent attendance at traditional on-campus nursing programs but who can commit to online learning and scheduled clinical rotations in the San Diego County region.
This program prepares you for direct patient care that serves real community needs.
What Does “Accelerated” Mean?
At SDSU, “accelerated” refers to a focused, full-time structure, not compressed or reduced expectations. The 18-month format reflects a clearly sequenced curriculum that builds on your prior academic experience and prepares you for licensure through consistent coursework and coordinated clinical training.
The program is rigorous by design. Academic instruction, clinical placements, and student support are structured to ensure graduates are prepared to enter professional nursing practice and sit for the NCLEX-RN national licensure exam.
Career Opportunities
An Accelerated Second Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing opens doors to diverse and rewarding healthcare career paths. Nursing offers excellent job security, patient-centered work, competitive salaries, and opportunities for specialization and advancement:
- Hospitals – Medical-Surgical Nurse, Emergency Room Nurse, ICU Nurse, Operating Room Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Oncology Nurse, Cardiac Nurse, and Mental Health Nurse.
- Community Health Organizations – Public Health Nurse, Occupational Health Nurse
Meet the Workforce Needs
The nursing profession continues to experience high demand due to an aging population, healthcare expansion, and the need to replace retiring nurses. ASBSN graduates are particularly valued for bringing diverse educational backgrounds and life experiences into their nursing practice.
Job Growth & Demand
- Registered Nurses – 6% growth | Median Salary: $81,220
- Nurse Practitioners – 38% growth | Median Salary: $123,780
- Nurse Managers – 28% growth | Median Salary: $101,340
- Public Health Nurses – 5% growth | Median Salary: $79,930
- School Nurses – 7% growth | Median Salary: $74,560
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
This program consists of 55 units of nursing coursework taught by experienced SDSU School of Nursing faculty members. The hybrid format allows you to complete coursework online while gaining essential hands-on experience through laboratory training. The program requires a minimum of 900 hours clinical practicum hours at regional community and acute care agencies.
Program Structure
Key Learning Areas
- Fundamentals of Nursing Practice – Core nursing skills, patient care, and professional standards
- Health Assessment & Pathophysiology – Physical assessment skills and understanding of disease processes
- Pharmacology & Medication Management – Safe medication administration and drug interactions
- Clinical Reasoning & Evidence-Based Practice – Critical thinking and research application in nursing
- Community & Population Health – Public health principles and community-based care
Required Courses & Credits
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | Course Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 202 | Client Assessment | 1.5 | Determining and measuring variables relevant to assessment of psychosocial and physical functioning. |
| NURS 202 Lab | 1.5 | 67.5 lab hours | |
| NURS 208 | Pathophysiology | 3 | Pathophysiologic processes as they apply to nursing care of patients |
| NURS 221 | Professional Formation A | 1 | History of health care and changing roles of nurses in relation to other health professions. Social, cultural, regulatory agencies, and policy affecting patient care. |
| NURS 206 | Fundamentals of Nursing Practice | 3 | Basic nursing skills and integration of diagnosis, planning, and implementation of nursing care. Application of nursing process. |
| NURS 206 Lab | 2 | 90 lab hours |
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | Course Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 219 | Information Management for Professional Relationships | 2 | Information management in patient care, research, evidence-based practice, outcomes and practice management. Patient/family-provider communication, privacy, security, and ethical decision making on patient care, research, and quality management. |
| NURS 304 | Clinical Pharmacology in Nursing Practice | 2 | Major classifications of drugs; pharmacological and toxicological activity; clinical applications. Role of nurse in assessment, intervention, and patient education. |
| NURS 300 | Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult and Gerontologic Patient I – Modern Campus Catalog™ | 3 | Psychological, social, and physiologic stressors affecting acute and chronic illness and health of adults. Appropriate nursing care and interventions. |
| NURS 300 Clinical Practicum | 5 | 225 clinical hours |
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | Course Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 316 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing | 3 | Theory and clinical laboratory in application of nursing process to care of clients evidencing maladaptive responses to psychosocial stressors. Presentation of theories describing and explaining maladaptive behaviors and application of nursing interventions in a variety of treatment modalities. |
| NURS 316 Clinical Practicum | 2 | 90 clinical hours | |
| NURS 356 | Pediatric Nursing | 2.5 | Stressors affecting the child on a health-illness continuum. Nursing theory and laboratory focuses on application of the nursing process in providing preventive, supportive and restorative therapeutic modalities in a variety of settings. Emphasis on the child in the family and the necessary intervention to promote adaptation of the child to attain, maintain or regain an optimum level of health. |
| NURS 356 Clinical Practicum | 2.5 | 112.5 clinical hours |
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | Course Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 354 | Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family | 2.5 | Family-centered focus encompassing adaptive and maladaptive responses to stressors in the maternity cycle and their effect on the neonate. Clinical laboratory focuses on the application of nursing theory and process in providing preventive, supportive, and restorative care to mothers and neonates. |
| NURS 354 Clinical Practicum | 2.5 | 112.5 clinical hours | |
| NURS 321 | Professional Formation B | 1 | Virtue ethics, California Nurse Practice Act, and American Nurses Association Code of Ethics. Societal expectations, obligations, professional requirements, legal decisions, and clinical realities. |
| NURS 415 | Community Health Nursing | 3 | Assessment and utilization of community health care concepts and delivery with emphasis on promotion of health, prevention of illness and individual and group teaching techniques. Consideration given to cultural aspects of health care. |
| NURS 415 Clinical Practicum | 2 | 90 clinical hours |
| Course Number | Course Name | Units | Course Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 307W | Research, Evidence Based Practice, and Writing for Nurses | 3 | Development of critical reading and writing skills by exploring how research and evidence-based practice contributes to quality and meaning in nursing knowledge development and practice. Composition of presentations and writing for a range of nursing audiences, purposes, and settings. |
| NURS 400 | Nursing Care of the Acute and Chronically Ill Adult and Gerontologic Patient II | 3.5 | Theory in care of adults of all ages who have acute and chronic health concerns leading to complex and high acuity health problems. |
| NURS 400 Clinical Practicum | 2.5 | 112.5 clinical hours | |
| NURS 421 | Professional Formation C | 1 | Current and emerging roles in nursing leadership. Practice environments, expectations of society in these environments, role of health policy and advocacy in leadership, methods to remain current in professional practice. |
Students must have completed all prerequisite courses before program admission.
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Admission Requirements
Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree (any major) from a U.S. regionally accredited institution of higher education are eligible to apply to the ASBSN Program. Due to the sequencing of clinical courses, the duration of the program is 6 semesters year-round, including summers (18 months). Meeting the eligibility requirements for the ASBSN program does not guarantee admission.
SDSU Alumni follow the same admission criteria and application guidelines. If offered admission, second bachelor’s degree students will complete 55 units in Nursing coursework. General Education coursework is not required. Per SDSU Admissions policy, applicants to the second bachelor’s degree in Nursing must have their first bachelor’s degree from an institution that carries United States regional accreditation.
- Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is not required
- Cumulative GPA: Minimum of 3.0
- Prerequisites:
- BIOL 261 – Human Physiology with Lab, 4 semester units (Minimum grade of C)
- BIOL 212 – Human Anatomy with Lab, 4 semester units (Minimum grade of C)
- BIOL 211/211L – Microbiology with Lab, 4 semester units (Minimum grade of C)
- Chemistry (General, Organic, Inorganic, or Integrated with Lab) (Minimum grade of C)
- COMM 103/CCS111A/AFRAS 140 – Oral Communication (or any CSU GE Area A1) (Minimum grade of C)
- RWS 100/101 – Written Communication (or any CSU GE Area A2) (Minimum grade of C)
- RWS 200 – Critical Thinking (or any CSU GE Area A3) (Minimum grade of C)
- Statistics – STAT 119/STAT 250/PSY 280/SOC 201 (Minimum grade of C) Only one Statistics course is required for admission.
Prospective students must complete all prerequisite courses (preparation for the major) at a community college or four-year institution prior to applying to the ASBSN Program. Prerequisite courses may not be in progress during Winter or Spring 2026. No exceptions will be granted.
Students are required to complete Introductory Psychology (an AP Score of 3 or higher will suffice) and Developmental Psychology to satisfy the Nursing degree requirements and RN license requirements upon graduation. These courses are not prerequisites for admission and may be in progress during Spring 2026 or taken upon admission to SDSU.
Application Instructions
Admission to the Accelerated Second Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (ASBSN) is a multi-step process. Applicants must first complete a prequalification review with an Admissions Advisor before they are eligible to apply.
Step 1: Program Consultation
Before beginning the admissions process, prospective applicants are encouraged to meet with the Outreach team for a program consultation. This conversation is intended to help you learn more about the Accelerated Second Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (ASBSN) program format, admissions requirements, prerequisite expectations, and the overall application process.
Submit our intake form or email outreach.global@sdsu.edu to begin a program consultation.
Step 2: Request a Prequalification Review
Before applying, you must complete a prequalification review with an Admissions Advisor to pre-assess your academic eligibility for the program.
Email admission.global@sdsu.edu to request a prequalification review and include unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. After your materials are reviewed, Admissions will provide the next steps. Following the review of your transcripts, qualified applicants will receive an invitation code to apply.
Step 3: Complete the Cal State Apply Application
Applicants who are prequalified by Admissions will be granted an invitation code to apply to the program.
Submit your application to San Diego State University Global Campus through Cal State Apply, along with the $70 nonrefundable application fee.
Step 4: Complete the Program Supplemental Application
Within 72 hours of submitting your initial application through Cal State Apply, you will receive an email at the address used on your application with a personalized link to Qualtrics to complete the program supplemental application. Applicants are required to complete the supplemental application within 1 week of receiving their link.
- Save this email and use the link to revisit your application if needed.
- Click the link provided.
- Complete all required questions and be prepared to upload the following:
- Unofficial transcripts from all schools attended
Need support? If you have questions or would like assistance at any stage of the application process, please contact the Admissions team at admission.global@sdsu.edu, call 619-594-7700 (option 2), or schedule a meeting with your Admissions Advisor, Paul Martin, at https://calendly.com/pfmartin.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ASBSN program offers an intensive, high-quality nursing education designed specifically for individuals with previous bachelor’s degrees. SDSU’s School of Nursing has a strong reputation for producing competent, caring nurses who are well-prepared for professional practice and RN licensure.
Our program is designed for motivated individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, have completed all prerequisites, and are committed to an intensive, accelerated 18-month journey to become registered nurses.
The ASBSN program consists of 55 units of nursing coursework delivered in a hybrid format, with didactic courses and in-person clinical experiences at healthcare facilities.
You’ll learn fundamental nursing skills, health assessment, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice, along with hands-on clinical experience in various healthcare settings.
Classes are taught by experienced SDSU School of Nursing faculty members who bring both academic expertise and real-world nursing experience to the curriculum.
This intensive program can be completed in 18 months, with courses running year-round including summers. Courses are 8 weeks during summer and 16 weeks during fall and spring semesters.
Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse. This opens doors to careers in hospitals, clinics, community health, schools, and many other healthcare settings, with opportunities for specialization and career advancement.
Laboratory training will take place in person. The training is designed to train the nurses of the future. Clinicals will be conducted at regional community and acute care agencies.
The “accelerated” title means that this program is focused, structured, and supported. It isn’t rushed or condensed, but rather designed for motivated adult learners.
Yes, this program is eligible for federal and private student loans and other forms of financial aid. For more information and the latest guidance on receiving tuition support, please visit our Financial Aid website.
After completing this program, you will have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as the eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN exam. You’ll receive a degree and pre-licensure status.
Yes, prospective students must complete all prerequisite courses prior to applying for the ASBSN program. This can be done through community colleges or four-year colleges.