ABSN Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

The great thing about the Notre Dame of Maryland University Accelerated 2nd Degree ABSN program is that it allows highly motivated students like you to apply your previous bachelor’s degree(s) toward a rewarding new career in nursing, even if you have no prior health care experience.

To become eligible to enroll in our ABSN program, you must first meet a set of requirements, which involve completion of the following:

Non-nursing bachelor’s degree, with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale)
ABSN prerequisite courses (22 credit hours) within the minimum grade requirements
ABSN program application
Current resume
Personal essay
- Applicants are to select and respond to one of the two prompts.
  - Please share your story that shows what calls you to the discipline and profession of nursing. Write a vivid description of your journey and what draws you to the Notre Dame of Maryland University nursing program.
  - Describe how caring for others provides personal fulfillment. Detail how your core values align with the School of Nursing's philosophy and can advance the program's mission.
Earn a minimum composite score of 65% on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).
- A previous TEAS score can be submitted if the test was taken up to one year before the time of application to the accelerated nursing program.
Recommendation letters (2)
- Letters should be from previous educators, but letters from professional officials may be accepted. They should provide evidence regarding the applicant’s knowledge, work ethic and performance. Letters may be on institutional letterhead or from the institution’s official email and should include the writer’s official title, address and contact information.

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Accelerated Nursing Prerequisites

To be eligible to apply for our ABSN program, you must complete six ABSN prerequisites in addition to meeting the other qualifications for our program.

Course	Course Description	Credits
MAT 215	Basic Statistics	3
CHEM 108/CHEM 110*	Survey of General, Organic & Biochemistry OR General Chemistry	4
BIO 253*	Microbiology	4
BIO 201*	Anatomy & Physiology I	4
BIO 202*	Anatomy & Physiology II	4
PHL 330	Ethics	3
	Total Required Credits	22

*Prerequisites must have been completed with a minimum grade of “C” or higher within seven years prior to enrollment. Applicants cannot withdraw from or repeat any more than one required/prerequisite science course.

If you’re unsure which prerequisite courses you must complete to qualify for the ABSN program, our admissions team is here to help. Your assigned admissions advisor can review your academic history and unofficial transcripts from your previous degree program to help you make an ABSN prerequisite completion plan that aligns with your target start date at Notre Dame.

Please note that the costs and fees for prerequisite coursework are not included in the tuition and cost breakdowns for the ABSN program.

Transfer Credits

Generally, college-level courses completed at regionally accredited institutions will be evaluated and awarded transfer credit if approved, provided the course is similar in level, scope, content and expected learning outcomes to courses offered at Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing and a grade of "C" or higher is earned. Regional accrediting bodies include:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing typically does not award undergraduate transfer credit for pre-collegiate, remedial, vocational, technical or professional (e.g., nursing) courses. Other transfer courses that usually are not awarded transfer credits are independent study, internship, externship, practicum or co-op work experiences that Notre Dame of Maryland University faculty does not supervise.

In addition, transfer credit is not awarded for these types of experiences completed through other institutions. Finally, Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing does not grant undergraduate transfer credit for courses completed at online educational companies, including but not limited to Straighterline and Study.com.

The School of Nursing does not accept nursing courses completed at other institutions. If an applicant is accepted into the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Nursing, they must repeat previously completed nursing coursework. If an applicant previously attempted or started a nursing program, the Admission's Circle may request a letter from the prior institution.

Talk to an Admissions Advisor

If you meet all the above requirements and have the drive to succeed in our accelerated nursing program, it’s highly advised that you contact one of our admissions advisors as soon as possible. Your assigned admissions advisor will help you gather all the required materials and complete all the steps necessary to apply to our program.

For More Information

For more information about our ABSN program requirements and prerequisites, please contact an admissions advisor.