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Undergraduate Program

Accelerated Second Degree Pathway

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Change careers into nursing in as little as 16 months!

Designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, USF’s Accelerated Second Degree pathway offers swift transition into a nursing career in just 16 months. This program, hosted on all three campuses, will allow students to step into a career where they’ll be at the forefront of patient care, make impactful decisions, and work with a collaborative healthcare team. Our graduates are making an impact in hospitals in the Tampa Bay region, throughout the state of Florida, and beyond.

Attend an Info-Session      View Admission Requirements

Program Overview

USF’s Accelerated Second Degree pathway prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam and unlocks a wide range of career opportunities in hospitals, research, education, community health, government, and international healthcare. It also provides a strong foundation for advanced nursing degrees, including MSN, DNP, and PhD programs.

Please note, international students on an I-20/F-1 visa are not eligible for this program at the St. Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee campuses.

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Degree type: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Length of program: 16 months/ 4 consecutive semesters
Modality: In-person
Location start dates:

  • Tampa campus: Summer semester start
  • St. Petersburg campus: Fall semester start
  • Sarasota-Manatee campus: Spring semester start

Application Timeline

    • August 1: USF application becomes available
    • December 1: USF application priority deadline
    • December 1: NursingCAS application opens
    • January 10: Official transcript submission priority deadline
    • February 1: USF transfer application completion deadline
    • February 1: NursingCAS application closes
    • February 15: NursingCAS application “verified” status deadline
    • March 1: Admission to USF deadline

    Want to keep track of the deadlines? Click here

    • August 1: USF application becomes available
    • February 1: USF application priority deadline
    • April 1: NursingCAS application opens
    • May 15: Official transcript submission priority deadline
    • May 15: USF transfer application completion deadline
    • June 1: NursingCAS application closes
    • June 15: NursingCAS application “verified” status deadline
    • July 1: Admission to USF deadline

    Want to keep track of the deadlines? Click here

    • March 1: USF application becomes available
    • July 1: USF application priority deadline
    • July 1: NursingCAS application opens
    • August 15: Official transcript submission priority deadline
    • September 1: USF transfer application completion deadline
    • September 1: NursingCAS application closes
    • September 15: NursingCAS application “verified” status deadline
    • October 1: Admission to USF deadline

    Want to keep track of the deadlines? Click here

  • Alaina Boudreau Alaina Boudreau
    Alaina Boudreau
    Admissions Recruiter Advisor