Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

Application Process:

Students applying to the Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program must:

• Apply to the College of Nursing through NursingCAS for the Accelerated BSN program. NursingCAS is a centralized application service for nursing programs. The application will open in August for entry into the Summer ABSN program. The deadline to submit applications for the Summer cohort through NursingCAS is December 1st. Applications must be in the “Verified” status in NursingCAS by the application deadline. Applicants who fail to submit their application by the deadline will be ineligible for consideration.
• Request Transcripts from all previous institutions. Applicants still enrolled should send their current institutions’ transcripts to NursingCAS as early as possible. If you are taking courses in the fall, you must also submit a second updated transcript to NursingCAS once fall grades have been posted. If you will be enrolled in courses during spring, you must include a copy of your planned enrolled courses (course name, credit hours, and college/university); include in the document upload section.
• Submit high school transcript if you completed your required one (1) year/unit US history at that time.
• Complete UT application:
  • Transfer Application (if you have never attended UT). Select Accelerated BSN for your first major choice.
  • Readmit Application (previous UT student).

Admission Criteria:

Admission to the Accelerated BSN program of the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee is highly competitive and is based on the following criteria:

• A non-nursing baccalaureate or higher degree
• A minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required (note: meeting this does not guarantee acceptance).
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for pre-requisite Science Courses.
• Completion of the following pre-requisite courses: Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Human Development, Statistics, and Microbiology. This applies to both didactic and lab where applicable.
  • Anatomy and Physiology can be a combined class, but 2 semesters will be required (8 credit hours total both with labs).
• Students graduating after July 1, 1978, must have completed one unit of American history in high school or 6 semester hours of collegiate American history, as required by Tennessee law. UT’s History 221-222 courses fulfill this requirement if not completed in high school.

Other Considerations:

Health requirements, drug screening, and background check

• Admission to the program is based on the availability of space and contingent upon:
  • Admission to UT
  • Successful completion of any remaining prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher
  • Submission of updated transcript

• The accelerated BSN program consists of 47 credit hours over 12 months.
• Direct transfer of previous baccalaureate degree credits
• Minimum prerequisite course requirements
• Excellent clinical experiences at major hospitals, community clinics, health departments, schools, and other health care facilities in the region
• Highly qualified faculty who are experienced teachers, researchers, and leaders in nursing and health care
• Technology-enhanced classrooms and accredited simulation laboratory facilities
• Outstanding preparation for the NCLEX, the national licensing exam for RNs—UT College of Nursing graduates consistently exceed both the state and national pass rates

• All prerequisites must be completed, in progress, or planned at the time of application.
• Prerequisites must be completed before the program starts in the summer.
• It is not possible to complete any prerequisites concurrently with the upper-level nursing science courses.
• The program will allow one outstanding lab science course to be taken in the spring semester before the program begins. Applicants with two or more sciences to be completed in spring will be ineligible for the program. Applicants taking a lab science course in fall must send updated official transcripts, and update the transcript entry in NursingCAS.
• All prerequisite coursework can be completed at any accredited institution. Student with questions about acceptable institutions should contact the UT Office of the Registrar.
• There is no time limit on prerequisite course completion date. However, if you have science prerequisites that date back more than seven years, it may be beneficial to repeat these courses for preparation for the accelerated curriculum.
• Contact the College of Nursing Student Services Office if you have questions regarding course equivalency. Use the transfer equivalency tables to find equivalent courses at other colleges/universities.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing and The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) have partnered to provide the UTMC ABSN Scholarship. Each student selected will receive $12,776 in scholarships from UT and UTMC.

The scholarship will be awarded through a competitive process to students who will then commit to work for UTMC for three years. Applicants must be currently enrolled at or admitted to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, ABSN Program. Only applicants with a desire to work at UTMC after graduation are eligible. Financial need may also be considered. Eight nursing scholars will be admitted each year into the program. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is March 1st!

If you choose to accept this scholarship, you are required to attend a reception that will be held during the fall semester. You will receive further information regarding attendance at the Scholarship Reception. Funds will only be dispersed in the fall and spring semester if the appropriate “thank you” letter has been received.

For more information on this program, please email Holly Hauck at hhauck@utk.edu.

FAQs

The accelerated BSN program consists of 47 credit hours over 12 months.

The summer term begins the Tuesday after Memorial Day and goes until mid-August.

ABSN Curriculum

Undergraduate Catalog

Undergraduate Handbook