Accelerated 2nd Degree Track

• Accelerated (16-month) program: This program follows a cohort model and continues throughout four consecutive terms (Fall, Spring, Summer, and Fall).
• Traditional (21-month) program: Students progress through the program independently and attend class during the traditional academic year (Fall, Spring, Fall, Spring). Students do not attend class during the summer to allow time for internships and work.

The chart below provides a summary of courses required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Second Degree Track.  Many of the courses require specific prerequisites within the curriculum that affect progression toward the degree.

Introductory nursing courses are offered in first two semesters of study and must be successfully completed before enrolling in upper level nursing coursework.

Foundation courses provide a foundation of knowledge for nurse education without an experiential component.

Experiential courses are experiential in nature or prepare students for clinical experiences.

Candidates are required to meet the following minimum criteria to be considered for admission into the Second Degree Track:

• • The student must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to the start of the program.
  • The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
  • The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in prerequisite courses.
  • The student must demonstrate understanding of and commitment to an intensive program.

Applicants who meet these criteria are eligible for consideration, but acceptance is not guaranteed.

Letters of recommendation are not required, but applicants are welcome to submit up to two letters from academic and/or professional references to their NursingCAS application. Standardized tests (HESI, TEAS, or ACT/SAT) are not required.

• Microbiology (4 credit hours with lab; online credits not accepted)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I  (4 credit hours with lab completed within 5 years of entry into the program; online credits not accepted)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II  (4 credit hours with lab completed within 5 years of entry into the program; online credits not accepted)
• General Chemistry (3 credit hours)
• General Psychology (3 credit hours)
• Life Span Development (3 credit hours)
• Nutrition (3 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)
• Religion Courses (6 credit hours)
  • Option A: An Old Testament course (3 credit hours) and a New Testament Course (3 credit hours)
  • Option B: A Bible course which includes study of both the Old Testament and New Testament (3 credit hours) and any other Religion course (3 credit hours)

The School of Nursing receives applications for admission and all applicant credentials for second degree candidates exclusively through the Nursing Central Application Service (NursingCAS), provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) at https://nursingcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/. All second degree candidates must complete their application using NursingCAS, adding appropriate program materials as indicated after selecting Belmont University Second Degree BSN in the Program List.

The application cycle has concluded for the Fall 2022 cohort. Our Fall 2023 application opens in NursingCAS on August 15, 2022. Candidates must submit all application documents no later than February 1, 2023.  Applications received by this date will be given priority consideration during the School of Nursing's initial review for admission. Due to unprecedented demand, applications submitted after this date will most likely be considered for a place on our waitlist. 

Application Steps

1. Create an account for your online application at https://nursingcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/.
2. Log in to your application and complete all sections as directed.
3. As part of your application, enter all previously completed (and yet to be completed) college courses (you will need a copy of transcripts from all colleges attended to do this).
4. As part of your application (in the Colleges Attended section), download Transcript Request Forms for each college attended to arrange for an official transcript to be sent to NursingCAS.
5. As part of your application, complete all sections in the Program Materials area.  Click on each tab at the top of the program page for instructions.
6. Submit your completed application to NursingCAS with the appropriate program designated.
7. Wait to hear from Belmont University via email regarding the status of your application. Admissions decisions are typically made 2-3 weeks following the verification of your application. Update your application file as necessary.
8. Accepted applicants must confirm their attendance by submitting a non-refundable enrollment deposit as instructed.

Tuition is the same for this program as it is for any undergraduate program at Belmont. For a detailed listing of undergraduate costs, please visit our Cost Estimator.

In addition to these expenses, students should anticipate the cost of uniforms, lab fees, and NCLEX preparation materials. Please note that on-campus housing is not provided for second degree students, so candidates should make plans for living arrangements off campus. Enrolled students will also need to provide proof of an active health insurance plan by the start this program. Belmont does not provide student health insurance, so applicants will need to factor in this cost as well.

Second degree candidates are eligible to apply for Federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans for undergraduate students. Eligibility for these loans is determined by information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must submit the Undergraduate FAFSA by March 1 to receive an award letter before the program's enrollment confirmation deadline. Specific questions about financial aid and how aid eligibility differs for second degree candidates is available through Student Financial Services.

If you would like to receive more information about the Accelerated Second Degree BSN Program, please join us for one of our Information Sessions scheduled on several dates in the fall and spring. Each session will include detailed information about the program structure, prerequisites, and financial aid. On-campus sessions will be followed by a brief tour of our Nursing facilities. To sign up for an Accelerated Second Degree Nursing Information Session, click on the date below you wish to attend and complete the registration information. In order to register you will need to log in to an existing BU4U account or create a new account.

On-Campus Information Sessions & Lab Tours

• Stay tuned for future dates.

Please note: Accelerated Information Sessions are designed exclusively for second Bachelor's degree-seeking students.

Online Information Sessions

• Friday, June 15, 2022 from 2:00-3:00 PM CST - Sign up here
• Stay tuned for future dates. If you would like to view a recording of a recent information session, please email absn@belmont.edu.

Individual Weekday Appointments

Prospective students are welcome to schedule an individual phone, Zoom, or in-person meeting with Lauren Lauzon here!

Successful completion of the student learning outcomes of the undergraduate program in nursing requires the students to:

• Incorporate knowledge from the arts, humanities, and sciences in nursing practice.
• Utilize leadership and management skills to improve healthcare outcomes of individuals and populations in a variety of settings within a culture of safety and caring.
• Evaluate, integrate and translate current evidence into professional nursing practice.
• Utilize effective communication and information technology to enhance safe nursing practice.
• Utilize knowledge of healthcare policy, resource management, and regulatory environments to advocate for consumers and the nursing profession.
• Communicate and collaborate with members of the healthcare team to optimize patient outcomes.
• Incorporate knowledge of health promotion and disease and injury prevention across the lifespan for populations.
• Demonstrate core nursing values through self-reflective professional behavior that enhance the safety and welfare of all patient populations.
• Integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to provide compassionate, therapeutic, and culturally sensitive patient-centered care.

I'm not a Tennessee resident. May I still apply?
Belmont University makes no distinction between in-state and out-of-state students for admission or tuition purposes.

May I apply while I am in the process of completing my prerequisites?
Yes, you may. However, all prerequisites must be completed by August 15th (approximately one week prior to the start of the program). We prefer that you apply once you have no more than four remaining prerequisites at the time of application. 

I have not completed any religion courses. Am I still eligible for admissions consideration?
Yes - a majority of our applicants do not have these courses completed at the time of application. You are not required to complete these at Belmont, but we can provide a full list of transferable online religion courses upon request at absn@belmont.edu.  

I attended a Christian high school. Would I be exempt from taking religion coursework for my prerequisites?
No - all prerequisite courses must be completed at the college level prior to entering the program.

May I request a transcript evaluation?
We will be happy to look over your transcript to give you a sense of how your prerequisites might transfer. We do not comment on your admissibility to our program. Please email these requests to absn@belmont.edu. 

What are the average GPAs of students you accept?
Our incoming class typically reports average cumulative and prerequisite GPAs of 3.40 or higher. 

Do you require the TEAS, HESI, or ACT/SAT?
No - we do not evaluate standardized tests as part of our admissions process.

Is there a separate application for Belmont outside of the NursingCAS application?
The only application we require is the NursingCAS application. Nothing supplemental needs to be sent to Belmont.

Where should I send my transcripts? Letters of recommendation?
All materials should be sent to NursingCAS; nothing should be sent directly to Belmont. Instructions and addresses for sending transcripts are available on their Help with Transcripts website after you have created an account. They accept electronic and mailed transcripts. 

How many recommendations do you require? Who should write them?
We do not require recommendations, although you are welcome to submit up to two if you wish.

Do you require an interview?
We do not conduct interviews for this program.

May I schedule a visit to campus?
We're always glad to have visitors, but typically we encourage candidates to join an on-campus information session to participate in a lab tour and perhaps have an opportunity to meet with faculty and current students. These dates are listed in our "Join Us For An Information Session" tab. You can schedule an in-person appointment with Lauren Lauzon here.

How many students do you accept a year and when do they start?
We admit a class of 50-60 second degree students per year. A new cohort class begins each fall semester. Classes typically start during the last week of August each year.

Who can I talk to regarding financial aid?
All questions concerning financial aid should be directed to our Student Financial Services department. You can reach the Student Financial Services Office by phone at 615-460-6403 or online.