Second Degree BSN Admissions

BS or BA degree from an accredited college or university
Your degree may be in progress with an anticipated degree conferral date prior to the start of the program).

Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
The Admissions Committee may consider recent courses that provide evidence of your academic ability to succeed in this accelerated program.

Completion of prerequisites prior to fall start of program
You may apply to the Second Degree BSN program prior to completing prerequisite coursework, but it must be completed prior to start of program with a grade of "C" or higher (a "C-" will not be accepted.) It's recommended that you complete as many of the required science prerequisites that you can prior to submitting your application. For success in this accelerated program, you must have a solid understanding of the content in the prerequisite courses.

The prerequisite coursework may completed at any accredited college or university. Online coursework is acceptable and, in fact, Portage Learning offers all prerequisite courses required for the Second Degree program. Learn more about Portage and its course offerings.

Completed within the last 5 years:

• Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
• Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (4 credits)

Completed within the last 10 years:

• Biology or Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
• Human Growth and Development (across the lifespan)* (3 credits)
• Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
• Nutrition (3 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits)

*Or similar course covering the following material: Theories of human development from conception through death with emphasis placed on an individual's psychological, cognitive, psychosocial, and spiritual development within the context of the family, community, and culture. (a syllabus is required for courses that have another course title).

Applicants (and students) must meet the Technical Standards for Admission and the health requirements found in the Traditional BSN and Second Degree BSN Student Handbook.

Complete the online Application for Undergraduate Admission.

On the application, you will be asked to choose the 12-month or 16-month track. You have until the first week of class to change your chosen track. Please contact Nursing Recruiter Gina Plocki if you decide to change your initial selection.

Request official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate work to be sent directly to the School of Nursing via Escript to SecondDegreeBSN@duq.edu or mail to:

Duquesne University School of Nursing
Second Degree Application
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282

If you have ever attended Duquesne University, the University Registrar's Office will automatically forward an official transcript for any Duquesne University coursework to the School of Nursing on your behalf. This transcript will be provided as a courtesy and free of charge. No transcripts from schools other than Duquesne University will be forwarded from the University Registrar's Office. You will need to request other transcripts from the originating school(s).

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. It is advised that you submit your application early.

Apply now.

Deadline to Deposit: June 1

Once accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to become a student.

Pay your deposit.

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 Recruiter 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.