ABSN Prerequisites And Education Requirements

Our 16-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) is rigorous, making it important that you feel confident and prepared before enrolling. Your previous education plays an important role in how prepared you are, which is why you may need to fulfill any outstanding prerequisite courses and general education coursework prior to beginning the curriculum.

CSP nursing student reading a textbook

Depending on your previous education, you may have taken all or none of the Accelerated BSN prerequisites — or you took certain science courses more than seven years ago. Whatever the case, so long as your previous college coursework meets the GPA and accreditation requirements, you can complete any outstanding ABSN prerequisites with us to prepare you for your nursing program.

When you call, one of our admissions counselors will walk through your transcripts with you to determine which, if any, courses you will need to take. 

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Required Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to admission with a “C” grade or higher. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college courses taken as well as a 3.0 GPA of combined Science prerequisites.

PrefixCourseCourse TitleCredits
PSY230Lifespan Developmental Psychology4
MAT165Quantitative Reasoning for Health Care Professionals3
CHE105Chemistry for Health Sciences4
BIO300Microbiology
Note: BIO 120 General Biology I with Lab is a prerequisite to this course.
4
BIO315Human A&P I with Lab
Note: BIO 120 General Biology I with Lab is a prerequisite to this course.
4
BIO316Human A&P II with Lab
Note: BIO 315 Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab is a prerequisite to this course.
4
  • All science and math prerequisites must be current within seven years from the date of acceptance to the University.
  • PSY230 must be current within ten years from the date of acceptance to the University.
  • General education requirements transferred from another institution do not expire.
  • Prerequisite courses may be repeated in their entirety in order to meet the grade and GPA requirements: Two re-takes due to failure/withdrawal are allowed (Note: This is two re-takes total, not two re-takes for failure and two re-takes for withdrawal).

Please contact an admissions counselor for more information.

General Education Requirements

Students are required to complete 36 semester credit hours in general education in the content areas below prior to the start of the nursing program. General education courses are eligible for equivalent transfer credit with a “D” grade or higher for Minnesota students and a “C” grade or higher for students in Oregon. Remedial courses cannot be counted toward graduation requirements. General education requirements may be satisfied by prerequisite requirements.

Students should work with an admissions counselor to determine their individual path to completion.

nursing student walking outside by tree
  • Communication 6 credits (Writing (ENG) and Oral Comm)
  • Math 3 credits
  • Natural Science 4 cr. Science (3 + 1) with lab
  • Social Sciences 6 credits (History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Sci)
  • Humanities/Arts 6 credits (Literature, Music, Theatre, Art)
  • Theology 5 credits (Must be completed at CSP and is integrated within the ABSN program)
  • General Education Electives 6 credits (Any course from the other categories)

Have questions about how you can use your non-nursing experience to become a nurse in 16 months? Contact us to talk to an admissions counselor today.