Additional Resources
Viewbooks and Catalogs
Nursing Technical Standards
University Viewbook
Undergraduate University Catalog
Technology Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Commonly asked questions about the BSN Second Degree program
The application deadline is June 1 of each academic year.
The Second Degree BSN program offers a 12-month and a 16-month pathway. Both pathways begin each year in August.
The program is full time only, with the majority of class and clinical experiences
taking place during the day time.
The cost varies depending on the program of study and the option a student selects. Students are encouraged to talk with their academic advisor for guidance in deciding
which pathway is best.
It is strongly recommended that you do not work while in the program due to the time
and effort necessary to excel in the program.
The coursework may be completed at any accredited college or university. Online course
work is acceptable. For example, we do accept credit from , which offers all prerequisite courses required for the Second Degree program.
No. You may apply to the program before completing the prerequisites. If accepted,
your admission will be contingent upon successful completion of the coursework before
the program begins.
No. The primary consideration for admission is the first undergraduate GPA and the
GPA for the prerequisite coursework.
The NCLEX-RN Exam is the National Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. All nursing students are required by law to take the NCLEX-RN in order to become licensed registered nurses. The NCLEX-RN is taken after graduation from an accredited nursing program.
NCLEX preparation begins in the first semester of the Second Degree Program. Students use particular software programs to promote success in their courses as well as on the NCLEX. Faculty are committed to active learning strategies that enhance critical thinking and test taking skills. Nursing exams are constructed similarly to the NCLEX and NCLEX questions are used during class time as a teaching strategy.
Students take a specific nursing course in the final semester that focuses on the NCLEX-RN exam. Students will have the opportunity to take standardized clinical specialty exams and a comprehensive exam to prepare them for the NCLEX-RN exam. Duquesne employs the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI), a United States company that provides exams and other educational material designed to prepare student nurses for professional licensure and predict their likely success in tests such as the NCLEX-RN. Duquesne requires a score of 900 on the Exit HESI Exam in the student's final course, Role Preparation II.
Additional Questions
Janey Mazur, BSN, RN
