Accelerated BSN Admission Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program is a 4 consecutive semester program where students are enrolled for four consecutive semesters, including the summer. Classes are conducted on-campus, with didactic classroom, clinical, and lab components. The ABSN program prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX exam to become registered nurses. BSN-prepared nurse graduates may work in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, community agencies, health clinics, long-term care facilities, and private practices. The College of Nursing is located on an academic health science campus that promotes interprofessional collaboration and offers extracurricular activities.

Please note that, due to the clinical components of this program, official immunization records are required of all students upon admission and matriculation.

Requirements

Sixty semester hours of prerequisite coursework are required for students planning to apply to the ABSN program. The preferred minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) is a 3.0. Students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in prerequisite courses. Coursework may be in progress at the time of application, but must be completed by the initial date of enrollment. Three of the four required science courses must be completed at the time of application. The required science courses are human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and a science elective.

Prerequisites for applicants without a baccalaureate degree

Prerequisites for applicants with a baccalaureate degree

Applicants must submit official transcripts, a resume, essay, and references to complete the application.

This coursework may be completed at any accredited college or university. For students planning to apply to the accelerated BSN program who have not earned a bachelor's degree in another area, the courses below must be completed by the time you matriculate at the College of Nursing. View course equivalencies at Trident Technical College and the College of Charleston.

Priority Admission & Early Decisions

The ABSN program offers academically superior students the opportunity to apply for priority admission and receive an early decision. To qualify for priority admission, applicants must meet the same requirements as regular admission. However, applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and a prerequisites GPA of 3.8 or higher to be considered.

The ABSN program offers active-duty military the opportunity to apply for early decisions. Active-duty military who apply within the admission cycle will receive an admission decision within two weeks of submitting a complete and verified NursingCAS application and supplemental MUSC application. Applicants must meet the same requirements as regular admission and provide proof of active duty military status.

Application Process

1. Complete an application through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS).
2. Submit transcripts from ALL colleges attended through NursingCAS.
3. Complete an essay within NursingCAS.
4. Upload a resume within NursingCAS. It is highly recommended that applicants have volunteer or work experience in a health care setting.
5. Provide three references, including one academic reference, within NursingCAS.
6. All application materials within NursingCAS must be received and verified by the posted application deadline. Please note that once your application is in complete status with NursingCAS, it can take several weeks for it to be verified. We recommend that you apply early.
7. Complete a separate supplemental university application through Enrollment Management at MUSC by the posted deadline.
8. After acceptance into the program, you will need to complete several compliance requirements.

In addition to the application itself the applicant must review supplemental materials specific to the program to which they are applying. These forms are available in PDF format within the application and are also sent through email once an application is submitted.

Student Confirmation Fee

The ABSN program at MUSC is one of the top programs in the country with competitive entry, particularly for out-of-state students. Because there is a large out-of-state applicant pool and we have limited enrollment, we must be assured that those out-of-state students who are accepted into our program actually attend. Therefore, all out-of-state students who matriculate are required to pay a one-time, non-refundable confirmation fee of $1,000 that will be applied directly to the student's first-semester tuition charges. The deposit confirms the intention of the accepted out-of-state applicant to enroll and secures a place in the ABSN program. The confirmation fee for accepted out-of-state students is due by the date stipulated in the program acceptance letter and is non-refundable. If a student pays the confirmation fee and does not enroll in the program, the confirmation fee is forfeited.

TOEFL Scores

The score report of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for all applicants whose native language is not English. A TOEFL score of at least 80 is required.

International Applicants

MUSC's College of Nursing degree programs are unable to admit international students requiring an F-1 visa. Applications will only be accepted from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or those holding other valid nonimmigrant visa classifications that allow participation in lawful study while in the United States.

Use of Marijuana and/or CBD Products

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug and is illegal to purchase in South Carolina. Apart from a narrow and limited scope of codified/documented medical exceptions, it is illegal for individuals to use marijuana/tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in South Carolina, even if purchased legally in another state. Although cannabidiol (CBD) products may be purchased and used in South Carolina, please be aware that CBD products may contain higher levels of THC than represented on packaging and use of CBD products can result in a positive drug screen for THC/marijuana. Be aware that current drug testing methods cannot accurately ascertain the origins of THC metabolites (i.e., whether from marijuana or CBD products). Your academic program has the authority to conduct random and/or scheduled drug testing; if your test result is reported as positive for THC metabolites (even if you only used a CBD product), your ability to be accepted into the program, progress in the program, and/or successfully complete the program may be negatively impacted.

Scholarship Eligibility

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means those scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit the FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit the FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the Fall.

Application Deadlines

Admissions decisions for the ABSN program are made approximately one month after each deadline.