George Mason University
Accelerated Second Degree BSN Program · Fairfax, VA · school's own site (opens the school's website in a new tab)
ActiveIn personlast verified Oct 2026
Prerequisites
The courses George Mason says you need before you start, as published on its own pages. Credits, labs, and minimum grades are shown where the school states them.
- 01Anatomy & Physiology IAnatomy and Physiology I · BIOL 124 or GCH 270The program page lists 'Anatomy and Physiology (8 cr)'. Must be no more than 5 years old at enrollment.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“Anatomy and Physiology I (4 Credits)”
credits4min gradeC - 02Anatomy & Physiology IIAnatomy and Physiology II · BIOL 125 or GCH 271Must be no more than 5 years old at enrollment.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“Anatomy and Physiology II (4 Credits)”
credits4min gradeC - 03MicrobiologyMicrobiology · BIOL 246 + BIOL 306The catalog lists BIOL 246 Introductory Microbiology plus BIOL 306 Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory. Must be no more than 5 years old at enrollment.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Microbiology (4 cr)*”
credits4min gradeC - 04EthicsBioethics · PHIL 309
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Bioethics (3 cr)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 05Lifespan / Human Growth & DevelopmentHuman Lifespan Development · PSYC 211The info session also calls it Developmental Psychology.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Human Lifespan Development (3 cr)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 06StatisticsStatisticsThe catalog says ABSN students may complete any statistics course.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Statistics (3 cr)”
credits3labnomin gradeC - 07NutritionNutrition · NUTR 295
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Nutrition (3 cr)”
credits3labnomin gradeC
Minimum prerequisite grade
C (C- not accepted)
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“No grade lower than C (not C-) in each nursing prerequisite, Mason Core, and elective course”
Prerequisites in progress Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“2 of 3 sciences must be complete when you apply. All other prerequisites must be complete by May 20.” vs “2 of 3 sciences done at application; all prerequisites done by May 20; no summer prerequisites”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Do prerequisites expire?
Prerequisite repeats
No more than one nursing prerequisite course may be repeated
This comes from the catalog's academic progression policy, which covers all BSN pathways. The info session lists 'multiple repeats' as a common reason for denial.
source · catalog.gmu.edu
“No more than one (1) nursing prerequisite course can be repeated due to unsuccessful completion (C-, D, F).”
Science course time limit Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology must be no more than 5 years old at BSN enrollment” vs “5 years at time of enrollment (A&P, Microbiology)”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
GPA and grades
Minimum cumulative GPA for admission
2.85
The catalog describes this as the cumulative GPA in the first degree.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“US-based, four-year, regionally accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.85 GPA”
Minimum nursing prerequisite GPA
3.0
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Minimum GPA of 3.0 in nursing prerequisite coursework”
Science GPA Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Is there an entrance exam?
Entrance exam Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Where can courses be taken?
AP/IB/CLEP
AP, IB or CLEP scores are uploaded if applicable
No limit is published on credit by exam.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“a copy of unofficial AP, IB, or CLEP scores”
Online labs Not published. Confirm with the school.
Community college credit Not published. Confirm with the school.
Pass/fail prerequisites Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Application deadlines and start dates
Upcoming cycles George Mason publishes. A date without a year on the school's page is noted rather than guessed.
Fall cohortDue January 15 each yearnext Jan 15, 2027 · opens December 15The admissions page also states 'Application Deadline: January 15, 11:59 PM (EST)' without a year. The opening date comes from the 2024-2025 information session PDF, which may be dated. All remaining prerequisites must be complete by May 20, the end of Mason's spring term. No year is printed for that date.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“BSN Application opens on December 15 BSN Application Deadline is January 15, 11:59 p.m. (EST)”
Application route Not published. Confirm with the school. Our two readings of the page disagreed (“No. Apply through Mason's own online BSN Application plus the Mason university application.” vs “School of Nursing online BSN Application plus Mason transfer application; NursingCAS is not mentioned”), so we are not publishing a value yet.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Cost
Tuition and fees as the school publishes them. Living costs vary; the source link has the full table.
Tuition (approx.)
About $23,600 in-state or about $65,000 out-of-state for the entire program
Based on fall 2024 tuition rates. Excludes books and BSN fees.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“In-state tuition: approximately $23,600 for entire program”
Application fee
$60, non-refundable
Fee subject to change. A separate Mason university application is also required.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“$60 non-refundable BSN Application fee*”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Other requirements
What the school asks for beyond courses and scores.
Prior degree
US-based, four-year, regionally accredited bachelor's degree earned before the program starts
The info session PDF says the degree must be earned by May 20 before the fall start. An international degree judged equivalent may satisfy Mason Core, but proof of English proficiency is required.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“US-based, four-year, regionally accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.85 GPA”
Short answers
Short answer responses are required
Likely topics: interest in nursing, leadership experiences, overcoming obstacles, and diversity and inclusion.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Submission of responses to short answer questions (topic provided by the School of Nursing)”
Resume
A resume is required
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Submission of resume”
Clinical hours
About 600 clinical hours in Northern Virginia and D.C.
There are currently no Maryland sites. Students must provide their own transportation to clinicals.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“Approximately 600 clinical hours completed in:”
Information session
Recommended
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“We recommend that all applicants attend an Information Session to learn more about important application guidelines and requirements.”
- Resume required.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Submission of resume”
- Upload an unofficial transcript from every institution attended. Include spring course registration if you are taking spring courses.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“unofficial transcript, one copy from each higher education institution attended”
- After admission you must complete: mandatory orientation, AHA BLS CPR, immunizations, a criminal background check and a drug screen.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“CPR Certification (American Heart Association –BLS for Healthcare Providers)”
Interview Not published. Confirm with the school.
Recommendations Not published. Confirm with the school.
CNA Not published. Confirm with the school.
Healthcare experience Not published. Confirm with the school.
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Good to know
What the school says about the program that is not a requirement: how it selects, how many it admits, what to expect.
Format
Full-time, in-person, year-round
Clinical sites are in Northern Virginia and D.C.
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“Full-time, in-person, year-round program (Fall, Spring, Summer)”
Start term
Fall only
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“The program admits once a year in Fall and spaces are limited.”
University admission
Separate admission to Mason as a degree-seeking transfer student is required. You must have a G number when you apply to the BSN.
Submit the Mason application at least 10 business days before starting the BSN Application.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Admission to Mason as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student”
Decision timing
By the end of March. Decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
Admission offers are provisional until in-progress prerequisites are completed with a C or better.
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“The College of Public Health's Office of Student Affairs will send decision letters via email by the end of March.”
Graduate courses
Graduate courses are not accepted for prerequisites
source · webdocs.gmu.edu
“Graduate courses WILL NOT be accepted to meet undergraduate course requirements”
Mason university admission
Required; you need a G number before applying to the BSN
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Admission to Mason as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student”
Single submission
Only one BSN application; it cannot be edited after submission
source · nursing.gmu.edu
“Applicants may only submit one BSN Application”
Last verified Oct 2026 · Something wrong here? Report an error
Sources
Every page we read for George Mason, with when we last checked it. Tier 1 is the program's own pages; tier 2 the nursing school's general pages; tier 3 university-wide pages.
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN Program | School of Nursingtier 1 · program page · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Accelerated Second Degree BSN Admissions | School of Nursingtier 1 · program page · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Information Events | School of Nursingtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Admissions | School of Nursingtier 1 · how to apply · checked Oct 15, 2026
- https://webdocs.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Equiv-Table-NURS-Pre-reqs-2022-ACCEL-08-23-22.docxtier 1 · prereqs · checked Oct 15, 2026
- https://webdocs.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Apr-15_ABSN_detailed_course_hours.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 15, 2026
- https://webdocs.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Accelerated-Second-Degree-BSN-Program-2024-2025.pdftier 1 · pdf · checked Oct 15, 2026
- Nursing, BSN | George Mason University Catalogtier 3 · catalog · checked Oct 15, 2026
Open questions we're still checking
- Application years are not printed. The January 15 deadline and December 15 opening date are recurring dates, and the opening date comes from a 2024-2025 info session.
- It is unclear whether the microbiology lab (BIOL 306) is strictly required for transfer microbiology courses; the admissions page lists only 'Microbiology (4 cr)'.
- Policies on online labs, community college coursework and pass/fail grades are not published.
- It is unclear whether the catalog's limit of one repeated prerequisite is applied at ABSN admission.
- Whether the Microbiology prerequisite must include a lab: the catalog pairs BIOL 246 with the BIOL 306 lab, but the admissions page does not say a lab is required.
- The catalog's limit of one repeated prerequisite comes from a progression policy; it is unclear whether it is enforced at admission.
- Application dates are printed without a year; the opening date (December 15) comes from 2024-2025 information session slides.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on course_age_limit: Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology must be no more than 5 years old at BSN enrollment | 5 years at time of enrollment (A&P, Microbiology).
- Two readings of the page disagreed on partial_completion: 2 of 3 sciences must be complete when you apply. All other prerequisites must be complete by May 20. | 2 of 3 sciences done at application; all prerequisites done by May 20; no summer prerequisites.
- Two readings of the page disagreed on uses_nursingcas: No. Apply through Mason's own online BSN Application plus the Mason university application. | School of Nursing online BSN Application plus Mason transfer application; NursingCAS is not mentioned.
Something wrong here? Report an error
ABSNcheck summarizes requirements that schools publish on their own websites, with a link to each source and the date we last verified it. Schools change requirements, sometimes contradict themselves, and make individual decisions. Results show whether you meet published minimums; they are not an admission decision or a guarantee, and are not official advice from any school. Always confirm requirements with each program before you apply or enroll in a course.
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