Second Degree BSN Program

Accelerate Your Path to Becoming a Nurse

Choosing to become a nurse, even after embarking on some other career path, can be one of the best decisions you will ever make. If you already have a bachelor's degree in another discipline, you can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in just 12 or 16 months through our accelerated Second Degree BSN program.

This program provides you with a strong, broad-based clinical foundation for nursing practice (view program outcomes). You'll not only find yourself in the classroom your first semester, but you will also be in simulations and at clinical sites. The program's curriculum, which is based on the Synergy Model, focuses on building your competencies as a nurse so that you can then provide the care your patients need.

By the end of the program, you will be prepared to become a registered nurse and will be ready for the licensure exam. Our most recent class scored a 95% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.

Gain Critical Clinical Practice

As a Second Degree student, your clinical experiences begin your very first semester of the program. You will complete your clinical hours in hospitals and community facilities under the supervision of expert clinical faculty and nurse preceptors. These experiences are a great way to apply knowledge and theory gained in the classroom to your clinical practice.

NCLEX Ready

We will help you prepare to be successful on the NCLEX-RN exam, which you are eligible to take after graduation for licensure as a registered nurse (RN). More than 96% of our graduates who tested in Fall 2020 passed the licensure exam on the first try.

Choose to Complete in 12 or 16 Months

Both the 12-month and 16-month tracks start in August and include rigorous coursework and clinical practice in health care settings.

The 12-month track is a full-time commitment completed in three semesters. The 16-month track is a slightly less intense schedule that allows you to complete program requirements in four semesters.

Additional costs may apply for the 16-month pathway options.

Note These Important Dates

	Deadline to Apply: May 15 We review applications on a rolling basis, and you will likely receive a response within a short period of time. Apply now.
	Deadline to Deposit: June 1 Pay your deposit.

Get Connected to Learn More

	Attend a Virtual Info Session In our virtual information sessions, you'll hear more about the accelerated Second Degree BSN program and Duquesne University from Nursing Recuiter Gina Plocki.
	Request More Information Receive additional information about Duquesne University and the School of Nursing.
	Ask a Question Contact Nursing Recruiter Gina Plocki at SecondDegreeBSN@duq.edu.

View Additional Resources

	Financial Aid Find available financial aid opportunities, including a $10,000 Second Degree BSN Tuition Award. Read through financial aid information that is specific to Second Degree students.
	Viewbooks and Catalogs Nursing Viewbook University Viewbook Undergraduate University Catalog
	Student Activities Student/Professional Nursing Organizations The Scope: A publication of the Duquesne University Student Nurses' Association
	Student Handbooks Traditional BSN,Second Degree BSN and BME/BSN Student Handbook