Pre-Nursing Program

About the Program

The Second Degree Accelerated BSN (“BSNExpress”) is a 14-month second degree program for college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in another discipline who wish to embark on a career in Nursing.  This program offers a minimum of five seats each year in Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing’s Second Degree Accelerated BSN Program to Arcadia students who have satisfied all of the admission requirements.

The program incorporates all the standard components of the Bachelor of Science in nursing program in a concentrated timeframe.
 
The BSNExpress, which is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, begins in May and ends in August of the following year. While the track is intense, students are able to take advantage of the same opportunities that are available to other BSN students.
 

Degrees 
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science from Arcadia University.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Villanova University.
 

Prerequisite Courses

• BI 205 Human Anatomy (4 Credits) (prerequisite BI101 and BI102)
• BI 206 Human Physiology (4 Credits) (prerequisite BI101 and BI102)

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• BI 323 Microbiology (4 Credits)

• or

• BI 204 Genetics (4 Credits)
• CH 102 General Chemistry II (4 Credits) (if CH 101 has been taken as well); or
• CH 201 Organic Chemistry I (4 Credits)
• BI 336 Pathophysiology (4 Credits) ; or, this course is offered at Villanova online each spring semester, or, it may be taken elsewhere  

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• BI 215 Principles of Nutrition (4 Credits)

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• MA 141 Elementary Statistics (4 Credits) ;
• MA 242 Intermediate Statistics (4 Credits) or
• MA 342 Mathematical Statistics I (4 Credits)

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• Science Elective (BIO or CHEM pref.), w/lab, 300-level
• PY 111 Introduction to Psychology (4 Credits) or another Psychology course
• PY 212 Developmental Psychology (4 Credits)
• SO 101 Introductory Sociology (4 Credits) or another 4-credit Sociology course Social Studies Elective—any course in History, Politics Government & Law, Economics, Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology
• PL 150 Introduction to Philosophy (4 Credits) or another PL (philosophy) course 
• RE 101 Introduction to Religious Studies (4 Credits) or another RE (religious studies) course
• EN 101 Thought, Expression, and Advocacy (4 Credits) or another English course Three Humanities electives from Modern Language, Art, Music, Media and Communications, English Literature, or English Composition

Minimum Criteria to be Considered

Students completing the BA/BS Program will be accepted into the BSNExpress Track if they satisfy the eligibility requirements and are interviewed and accepted by the Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing.   The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Completion of the prerequisite requirements with a grade of C or better in each course.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 at Arcadia University.
• Submission of a completed application by October 1st of the applicant’s Junior year at Arcadia.
• Meeting all of the standards applicable to applicants for the BSNExpress Track.  The current admissions standards for the BSNExpress Track are available at: https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/nursing/programs/undergrad/bsnexpress/admission.html
• Successful formal interview following completion of the application.

The final decision on admission to the BSNExpress Track will be made by the Villanova University Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Admissions Committee after the formal interview is complete and all application materials have been reviewed.