The Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway is designed for students who have a baccalaureate degree in another field and wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This is a full-time, limited-access nursing pathway and is structured sequentially. Admission is competitive. Cohort size is determined by the amount of sufficient qualified faculty, laboratory and classroom facilities, and clinical teaching resources. To view our competitive undergraduate nursing pathway statistics, please click here.

Criteria for Admission

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • The bachelor’s degree must be earned and conferred before the nursing application deadline.
• Admission to the University of South Florida
  • Apply directly to the semester you plan to begin classes at the university. Students who do not enroll in classes during the term they were admitted will have their admission to USF canceled for non-enrollment by the Office of Admissions.
  • Choose Nursing as your major and select Tampa as your campus, regardless of whether your program will be hosted on the St. Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee campus, as a degree-seeking student if you are applying directly to the semester when the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway begins on your desired campus.
  • Students preparing to graduate from USF are still required to submit a new USF application as a second baccalaureate, degree-seeking student directly to the semester the nursing program will begin on your desired campus.
• “Verified” NursingCAS application
  • Please use this guide to understand each status in NursingCAS and how to become verified.
• 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA
• 3.0 nursing prerequisite GPA
  • Completion of the 8 state-mandated nursing prerequisites with a C grade or better before the nursing application deadline.
    • Students who earn a C- in a nursing prerequisite from an institution with a +/- grading system will still be considered eligible. This includes final prerequisite in progress, if applicable.
    • Students may have their one, final nursing prerequisite in progress past the NursingCAS application deadline for the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway, however, they will be offered conditional admission, if selected. These applicants will be required to submit proof of a C grade or better earned in the final prerequisite course at the end of the semester. Students who earn a D+ or below in the final prerequisite will not meet the conditions of their admission and have their admission rescinded.

• All 8 state-mandated nursing prerequisite courses will be used to calculate the overall nursing prerequisite GPA. Applicants will be permitted to submit their best attempt for each nursing prerequisite. AP/CLEP exam scores, S/U grades, and Pass/Fail grades will be factored in as a B (3.0) if the student successfully earned credit. Students that have all 8 nursing prerequisites completed (with final grades posted) prior to the nursing application deadline and took all prerequisite courses within the last 5 years will have an added competitive edge in the admissions review process. 
  • Students that take the nursing prerequisites outside of Florida may be required to provide a course syllabus from the original institution where the course was completed to be reviewed by faculty. The syllabus for each course must be from the correct catalog year when the course was originally taken.
• Completion of the Civics Literacy exam before the intended term of entry

Each campus has different admission deadlines and important dates to remember. Students can only apply for one campus at a time. Students that are not selected for admission are permitted to apply again for a future cycle. Denied students interested in a future cycle are required to update their term of entry with USF Admissions within one calendar year of the original application and submit a new NursingCAS application when it becomes available. Students cannot switch campuses once admitted to the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway.

Visit the online Undergraduate Catalog, select the appropriate catalog year, choose the College of Nursing, and select Admissions Requirements for more information.

Important Notifications

In addition to USF Student Health Requirements students should be aware that additional vaccines or screenings may be required after matriculation by clinical partners based upon federal mandate. Any exemptions related to immunizations are granted at the discretion of our clinical partners. The College cannot guarantee an exemption will be granted. Failure to be in compliance with clinical partner requirements will jeopardize the start of clinical coursework and successful program completion.

Clinical requirements are an essential component of the nursing curriculum and necessary for successful program completion. 

Although there is no obligation for applicants to disclose criminal records that have been legally expunged (note sealed records are not considered expunged and must be disclosed) at the time of application, if after admission the student’s mandatory Level I or Level II background check identifies an expunged record, the University cannot remove that finding and would be unable to certify to a “free and clear” background check. As a free and clear background check is a requirement of most clinical sites, upon receipt of the background check results, the College will consider the student ineligible to continue in the program and the student will be provided an option to immediately voluntarily withdraw their application or have their admission rescinded. Prospective students are strongly advised to consider this requirement before applying to the USF BSN program.

Technical Standards for Admission and Progression 

Students will also be required to provide proof of current health insurance. Admitted students will be provided with the steps to complete this process. It is important to note that most states require a social security number to take the NCLEX and/or to be issued a registered nurse license.

The Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway is only available to students pursuing their second bachelor’s degree. Please consider the Upper Division nursing pathway if you do not currently hold a bachelor’s degree.

Applicants who have attended, but not completed, another registered nursing program must provide a letter of good standing from the Dean of Nursing, or their appointed designee, that addresses the potential for success in a BSN program, safety in providing nursing care, interpersonal communication skills, and other information the campus director deems important. This letter should be uploaded to the NursingCAS application before submitting. Prior enrollment in another nursing program and/or nursing course failures may impact your admission decision. Please feel free to include a personal statement/cover letter in addition to the institution’s statement of good standing to describe the details surrounding the situation.

Do you still have questions? Please attend an information session to learn more about the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway or sign up for a nursing admission advising session with one of our nursing admissions advisors!

The Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway is 4 consecutive semesters and admits every semester:

• Spring – Sarasota-Manatee
• Summer – Tampa
• Fall – St. Petersburg

For information about curriculum, please consult the Undergraduate Catalog.

Please review the College of Nursing Student Handbook for details on progression, policies, and standards for admitted nursing students.

Please follow these steps to be considered for the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway. Applicants that do not meet all admission requirements and deadlines will not be considered.

University Application:

• Submit a undergraduate application to USF through the Office of Admissions.
  • Select “Bachelor’s Degree”.
  • Select Nursing as your major.
  • Select the Tampa campus and apply now.
  • Apply directly to the term you plan to start classes at USF.
  • Apply as a second degree-seeking student.

• Submit all official transcripts to USF Admissions.
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
  • Submit official AP, IB, CLEP, etc. test scores from CollegeBoard.
  • Submit military joint service transcripts, if applicable. 
  • Some applicants may be required to submit additional documents as needed by the USF Office of Admission.
  • High school transcripts are not required.

Nursing Application:

• Submit a NursingCAS Application.
  • Students must have their USF ID number (Example: U12345678) before starting the NursingCAS application.
  • Select your intended term of entry.
  • Create a NursingCAS account and submit the application with fee.
  • Submit all official transcripts to NursingCAS.
    • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
    • High school transcripts are not required.
• For technical questions regarding your NursingCAS account, please contact NursingCAS at 617-612-2880 or nursingcasinfo@nursingcas.org. Please refer to the Application Deadlines tab for reference if you do not see your desired term of entry in NursingCAS.

Military Commissioning Program Applicants:

• Military applicants who are also applying for a commissioning program will receive all supporting documentation for their packets after the College of Nursing has made final admission decisions and the intent to enroll process is complete. Please note that some of our nursing pathways may not qualify under certain commissioning program guidelines. Please contact your commissioning program military representative to inquire about the possibility of a waiver if you would like to attend a USF BSN pathway that does not meet the commissioning program requirements. The USF College of Nursing is not responsible for maintaining commissioning program application requirements or guidelines; therefore, we recommend doing research prior to submitting a nursing application to confirm eligibility. We can defer admission up to one year for students admitted to the USF College of Nursing awaiting their commissioning program committee to meet and make decisions. Please let one of our nursing admissions advisors know that you would like to be considered for a future term after submitting the NursingCAS application and we will make a note with your application. 

• NECP Applicants: Applicants must either be admitted to USF through the Office of Admissions or have a verified NursingCAS application on file prior to sending a Form 48 to the nursing advisors for review and signature. After submitting your Form 48, it may take up to 5 business days for the nursing advising team to review and obtain signatures. Students will also receive a tuition and fees statement and signed program plan with their signed Form 48 once the review is complete. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are meeting both military and nursing deadlines. Form 48s that are not submitted to the appropriate advisor at least 5 business days before the NECP deadline are not guaranteed to receive their signed documents back in time.

Note: The Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway is a limited-access program and requires both admission to the university and an application to the College of Nursing through NursingCAS. Admission to the university is not a guaranteed admission to the College of Nursing. Applicants must meet all minimum admission criteria, be officially admitted to USF for the correct term of entry and have a “verified” NursingCAS application by the nursing application deadline to be considered for admission to the desired nursing pathway. Any deviation from the posted criteria will cause the applicant to be ineligible for admission.

The College of Nursing will evaluate prerequisite coursework after the USF Office of Admissions has determined course transferability to the university and posted the official results in DegreeWorks, which requires all official transcripts to be processed by the USF Office of Admissions. For questions regarding the status of your university application and transcript processing please call (813) 974-3350 or email at admissions@usf.edu.

DegreeWorks can be found by logging into your Student Self-Service account and clicking the link under the “Student” tab. Access DegreeWorks using your activated USF NetID. If you do not have a NetID, you will first need to activate it. Please view the Online Tutorial for Activating Your USF Net ID.

Do you still have questions? Please attend an information session to learn more about the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway or sign up for a nursing admissions advising session with one of our nursing admissions advisors!

Application Deadlines

*Transcripts submitted to USF Admissions after this date are not guaranteed to be processed before the nursing application deadline passes. This may cause ineligibility.

**Students must be fully admitted to USF as a degree-seeking, second baccalaureate students for the correct term of entry by the deadline to be considered eligible. Conferred bachelor’s degrees must be received and processed by the Office of Admissions by this deadline as well.

Nursing orientation is mandatory for all undergraduate students. Students who do not complete orientation will forfeit their seats in the program. Nursing Orientation dates will be sent to students upon admission.

Note: Please read the Admission Requirements and Application Process sections carefully. Applicants will be deemed ineligible for admission to the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway if any portion of the process is not satisfied by the posted deadlines. Admission to the College of Nursing is not rolling at the undergraduate level. Once the nursing application deadline passes all eligible applicants will be evaluated. Please contact USF Undergraduate Admissions regarding your university application. The USF Office of Admissions cannot expedite processing for any student for any reason.

Do you still have questions? Please attend an information session to learn more about the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway or sign up for a nursing admissions advising session with one of our nursing admissions advisors!

The USF College of Nursing Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Program offers students unique opportunities to serve their local community while pursuing their education goals.

Learn More

Q: How can I make myself a more competitive applicant to this nursing pathway?

A: During the evaluation of your NursingCAS application we will be taking note of some experiences and attributes that align with our USF College of Nursing mission, vision, and values. Applicants that have certain healthcare experiences, student involvement in college, and served in leadership positions within those organizations will have space in NursingCAS to provide details about those experiences which could strengthen their application. Additionally, it is critical to perform well in all college level courses, including the state-mandated nursing prerequisites. The overall undergraduate GPA and overall nursing prerequisite GPA will be largely factored into the admissions decision. Applicants will be considered more competitive if they complete all 8 nursing prerequisites prior to the NursingCAS application deadline, with final grades posted, and have completed them within the last 5 years. Taking the preferred course numbers listed with the nursing prerequisites is another way to be considered more competitive in the admissions process.  

Q: Will I be required to interview for the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway?

A: No, we no longer interview applicants to the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway. Four short essay prompts have been incorporated into the NursingCAS application for you to answer. These short essays will provide the program with a well-rounded representation of your personal experiences and attributes that make you who you are. Applicants are encouraged to provide personal examples while answering the prompts. Please pay special attention to character limits, grammar/spelling, and be sure to answer the questions directly. Your essay responses will be de-identified prior to evaluation so that we can eliminate any potential implicit bias.

Q: Would it be possible to submit additional documents with my application such as a personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, or TEAS/HESI scores?

A: No, the USF College of Nursing does not currently accept or review any of those supplementary materials in our admission process. We will delete or remove any of these additional files from the application if they are sent. Applicants that follow directions and read through the entire webpage for their intended pathway and review the NursingCAS application carefully are more likely to be successful in the admissions process. Please reach out to one of our nursing admission advisors if you have questions about the application process and what is required for admission.

Q: Are admitted students permitted to request deferment to a future start date for the program?

A: The only students that are permitted to request a deferred admission are military students who are attempting to submit for a commissioning program. We will reach out to applicants individually if a deferment opportunity becomes available, however, it is not guaranteed to be an option. Applicants should apply to USF and NursingCAS directly for the semester they plan to start the nursing program unless otherwise instructed by their academic advisor or nursing admissions advisor.

Q: I earned college credit through AP/CLEP exams or S/U, Pass/Fail grades. Are these acceptable to satisfy the state-mandated nursing prerequisites?

A: Yes, the USF College of Nursing factors all AP/CLEP exams that were successfully passed as a B (3.0) grade when calculating the overall nursing prerequisite GPA. The same rule applies for S/U and Pass/Fail graded courses. Applicants who submit a course graded as “pass” or S for “satisfactory” in NursingCAS as their best attempt on a nursing prerequisite will be assigned a B grade for that course. This does not apply to how your overall undergraduate GPA is calculated.

Q: Does the USF College of Nursing round up overall or nursing prerequisite GPAs in the admissions process?

A: No, the USF College of Nursing does not alter the overall or nursing GPA calculation provided by USF Admissions and NursingCAS.

Q: If I am admitted to USF, does it mean I have also been accepted into the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway?

A: No, transfer students must apply to USF and gain admission to the university in addition to submitting a NursingCAS application for the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway. Admission decisions sent by USF Admissions are separate from the College of Nursing. A student could be admitted to USF and continue enrollment in another major even if they are denied admission to the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway.

Q: Do I need to be accepted to the university to start my NursingCAS application?

A: No, students can complete and submit the Accelerated Second Degree application through NursingCAS once it becomes available based on term of entry. USF Admissions may take some time to finalize their university decision, but NursingCAS can be done for your intended term of entry as soon as possible. Students must have a verified NursingCAS application on file for the Accelerated Second Degree by the deadline listed based on your desired campus and be admitted to USF by the corresponding deadline as well.

Q: Can an advisor evaluate my transcripts from another institution?

The first opportunity to evaluate transcripts is when a student applies for admission through the USF Undergraduate Admissions Office. Unfortunately, there are no pre-screening services available prior to applying to USF. You may use the USF Class Schedule Search online to match the description of the USF classes to the description of classes you've taken.

Q: Do credits from Florida Community Colleges transfer to the USF College of Nursing?

Florida Community Colleges are typically regionally accredited and have classes very similar to those USF offers. These classes usually meet the prerequisite requirements for the College of Nursing undergraduate programs. Florida Community College classes that have the same prefix, course number, and description, will have a lower course level than those offered at USF (i.e., 1000 level versus 2000 level). Many times, these courses will transfer over and fulfill requirements. You are encouraged to use the USF Class Schedule Search online and match the description of the USF classes to the description of what you've taken. Click here to see approved prerequisites from other Florida Colleges & Universities.

Q: I missed the deadline. Can you extend it for me?

A: There are no extensions to the published application deadlines.

Q: How can I complete the Civics Literacy exam and course requirement?

A: Students will be notified after admission to the College of Nursing about whether they need to complete the Civic Literacy requirement. Due to the rigor of the nursing program, the requirement is expected to be completed in your first semester to not delay graduation.

Course and Exam:

If a student is entering a Florida public college or university as an undergraduate seeking student for the first time in the beginning of Summer B/Fall 2021or after, they must earn credit in an approved Civic Literacy course AND achieve a passing score on a designated civic literacy assessment. An alternative and recommended option to meet the exam and course requirement is to successfully CLEP American Government (POS 2041) with a score of 50 or higher found here.

Exam only:

If a student is entering Florida public college or university as an undergraduate seeking student for the first time in the beginning of Fall 2018 through Summer A 2021, they must earn credit in an approved Civic Literacy course OR achieve a passing score on a designated civic literacy assessment (not both). You will be enrolled in a Canvas course once classes begin and must complete it by a designated time in your first semester outlined by your advisors.

Q: I am an international student. Are there additional requirements for me?

A: International students are required to satisfy any criteria outlined by USF Admissions in addition to the College of Nursing. When sending official transcripts to NursingCAS, please be sure to include the foreign evaluation from an approved source. Any of the state-mandated nursing prerequisites that are completed outside of the U.S. will require an official syllabus review and approval by faculty at USF in the corresponding department. Please have these items ready before applying.

Additionally, international students are only eligible to apply for the Tampa offering of the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway (summer only) due to F-1 visa requirements. All USF nursing students officially graduate from Tampa as their home campus even if they are physically attending the Accelerated Second degree nursing pathway as a hosted pathway in St. Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee. The F-1 visa requires students to attend classes on the same campus as they designate as their “home” campus on the visa paperwork. Please connect with International Services if you have additional questions about your visa status or international requirements.

Q: I was not selected for admission to my initial term of interest for the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway. Can I reapply for future cycles/campuses?

A: Yes, students can apply again for the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway if they were previously denied due to competitive admission. Students who would like to reapply for a future cycle will need to update their term of entry with USF Admissions and potentially submit a new NursingCAS application.

Q: Are online prerequisite courses and online labs acceptable?

A: Yes, the College of Nursing will accept online prerequisite courses (including online labs) to satisfy the nursing prerequisite requirements. The courses must come from an accredited institution and be evaluated for equivalency if the course is not already approved as a substitute for the prerequisite by USF.

Q: Does prerequisite coursework expire?

A: No, however, students that have all 8 nursing prerequisites completed (with final grades posted) prior to the nursing application deadline and took all prerequisite courses within the last 5 years will have an added competitive edge in the admissions review process.

Q: Can I work while enrolled in the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway?

A: We highly recommend that students do not work while enrolled in the Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway due to the accelerated pace and academic rigor. However, we do have students who choose to work flexible, part-time jobs while enrolled. Students are not able to miss any part of the didactic, clinical, or lab components of the program due to competing responsibilities.