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Nursing: Second Degree Accelerated BS in Nursing (Hybrid)
BS

Offered as: 
Hybrid
Undergraduate

Apply now

Accepting applications for the Fall 2025 cohort. The priority review deadline is February 14th.

Earn a second degree with our Accelerated BS in Nursing at UMassD

The UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for students already holding a bachelor’s degree in another discipline from a regionally accredited institution. The program offers online classes complemented by face-to-face lab and clinical experiences. This is a full-time program and prepares students for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

The second-degree accelerated BS in Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is in good standing with the Massachusetts Board of Registered Nursing.

Curriculum

UMass Dartmouth second-degree accelerated BS in Nursing students must complete 5 prerequisite courses and then 59 credits to graduate. This is a full-time program and can be completed in 17 months. Prerequisite courses may be completed either at UMass Dartmouth or another accredited institution before enrolling in the program and students must have a minimum 3.2 overall GPA in these courses.

The accelerated second-degree BS in Nursing program combines online course work and hands-on experience, including face-to-face lab and clinical experiences to prepare students for a career in today’s healthcare environment. Clinical and lab rotations are offered in various healthcare institutions around Massachusetts.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

For 2023 graduates of the program, there was an 94% pass rate on the NCLEX, the national licensure exam.

Watch our students present the Town of Dartmouth Age Friendly Survey results

Sample Second-Degree Nursing Courses

  • Intro to Professional Nursing
  • Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
  • Care of Adults with Acute and Chronic Illness
  • Community Health Nursing
  • Family Health
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health

UMassD advantages

Customize your education and receive the help and guidance to finish as planned:

  • UMassD rated #4 in Massachusetts for online bachelor’s programs, #6 in New England, and #70 nationwide, by U.S. News & World Report
  • UMassD online RN to BS in Nursing ranks in the Top 50 in the nation by College Choice
  • Value and affordability of a UMass education
  • Generous transfer policy
  • One-on-one personal advising from enrollment through graduation
  • Faculty-directed independent study in clinical community nursing
  • Free online and in person tutoring and writing center

All fully complete applications (including meeting all prerequisite course requirements) will be given priority review status. February 15 is the deadline for priority review. Applications received and/or completed after that date may be reviewed at the discretion of the Department of Nursing and Health Sciences.

This program is not eligible for tuition waivers or credits.

Students interested in the Second-Degree Accelerated BS program can have a bachelor’s degree in any field—it does not need to be a science field. The first Bachelor’s degree must be from an accredited college or university. All cohorts officially begin in the fall and in the application, please select Fall for your entry term and transfer continuing education as your type in order to be able to select Nursing Second Degree Accelerated BS (Hybrid).

The following requirements are noted below. Questions about the prerequisite requirements should be addressed to the Online and Continuing Education Office.

  • GPA of 3.0 or better for your original degree.
  • Submit official transcripts from all accredited colleges or universities for which you enrolled in courses.
  • All 5 prerequisite courses must be completed before enrolling in the program. (You may submit an application while working to complete missing prerequisite courses.)
  • For the following prerequisites, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 and no grade below a C+, completed at the college level (remedial courses not accepted):
    • Anatomy & Physiology I with lab—4 credits (Online version of this course and lab accepted)
    • Anatomy & Physiology II with lab—4 credits (Online version of this course and lab accepted)
    • Chemistry—3 credits
    • Microbiology with lab—4 credits (Online version of this course and lab accepted)
    • Introduction/Basic Statistics—3 credits
  • 3 letters of recommendation - All letters must be professional references (if possible, it is recommended that one be an academic reference).
  • A statement of purpose in which you discuss your reasons for pursuing a career in nursing; your skills and strengths which will help you succeed in this accelerated program; and what challenges your anticipate and ways you will address/overcome them (maximum 600 words).
  • A professional resume
  • TEAS test scores are required for all students. The typical total score of admitted students is 78 or higher.
  • A TOEFL score is required if you do not hold an undergraduate degree from U.S. higher education institution

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Apply now

Accepting applications for the Fall 2025 cohort. The priority review deadline is February 14th.