RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The RN to Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) is designed for the Registered Nurse (RN) with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) who is ready to change healthcare delivery to patients. This degree builds on nursing practice skills and experience integrating new and innovative methods to advance healthcare. Emphasis is placed on the professional nursing role including patient-centered care, use of technology, improving outcomes and innovative leadership while using evidence as a foundation for best practice.
Program Learning Outcomes
The RN to Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing provides a curriculum that links theory and practice to promote nine program learning outcomes that are based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2008) Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice:
- Liberal Education: Integrate knowledge, skills, and values from the arts and sciences into nursing practice.
- Organizational and Systems Leadership: Incorporate managerial and leadership principles to achieve desired healthcare outcomes.
- Scholarship: Implement evidence-based thinking into practice.
- Information and Patient Care Technology: Apply informatics and patient care technology skills to improve patient care.
- Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments: Demonstrate responsibility and accountability as a manager of care in all healthcare environments.
- Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration: Engage in effective interprofessional, personal and collaborative communication to improve patient outcomes.
- Clinical Prevention and Population Health: Provide population focused nursing care with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention across healthcare settings.
- Professionalism and Professional Values: Demonstrate core professional values and practices within an ethical and legal framework.
- Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice: Incorporate knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to clinical decision making and patient care provision for individuals and populations across the lifespan.
Course Delivery
The RN to Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) is designed for the working RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) from a regionally accredited institution. Students have 4 options to complete this degree program:
- Option 1: Full-time students take 2 courses per 8-week session and complete the nursing core coursework within 1 academic year.
- Option 2: Part-time students take 1 course per 8-week session and complete the nursing core coursework within 2 academic years.
- Option 3: Community College Dual Enrollment Full-time: Students will take 2 courses in the summer sessions between their first and second year in the associate degree program, and 2 courses during the following summer session. Students will take 2 courses per 8-week session during the fall and spring semesters following the completion of their associate degree program. Students complete the RN to BSN program within 1 year of completing their Associate Degree in Nursing.
- Option 4: Community College Dual Enrollment Part-time: Students will take 2 courses in the summer sessions between their first and second year in the associate degree program, and 2 courses during the following summer session and 1 course during each of the subsequent 8-week sessions. Students complete the RN to BSN program within 2 years of completing their Associate Degree in Nursing.
The Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions program blends three instructional strategies to produce an engaged learning curriculum. The first is Immersion: our programs require virtual meetings 1 to 4 day sessions. There is one Immersion session for the RN to BSN program, at the beginning of the program to introduce students to their cohort, to the University and to orient them to our digital platforms. During the Immersion sessions, students may receive orientation instruction, work as teams, and participate in demonstrations, exercises, assessments, and evaluations.
The second is practicum experience: our program includes a community health nursing practicum and evidence-based leadership experience conducted where students live or work.
The third is self-directed study: all courses include online lectures, discussions, social networking, demonstrations, tutorials, readings, and/or other homework. Many courses include additional real-time instruction via web conference, phone conference, or live chat sessions.
Attendance: Students may be dismissed from the program at the Dean’s discretion due to absence from required meetings.
Transfer Credit
University of Massachusetts Global awards a maximum of 72 semester credits in a block transfer for successful completion of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution. Additional transfer credits may be granted per University of Massachusetts Global Transfer Credit Policy.
Admission to the Program
Admission into the RN to BSN program can be three times per year in Fall I, Spring I or Summer I for students taking Option 1 or Option 2. Community College Dual Enrollment Program students are admitted once a year during Summer 1 for Option 3 or Option 4.
2023-2024 Application Deadlines
- Final application deadline for Fall 1, 2023 admission is June 15, 2023.
- Final application deadline for the Spring 1, 2024 admission is October 15, 2023.
- Final application deadline for Summer 1, 2024 admission is February 15, 2024.
2024-2025 Application Deadlines
- Final application deadline for Fall 1, 2024 admission is June 15, 2024.
- Final application deadline for the Spring 1, 2025 admission is October 15, 2024.
- Final application deadline for Summer 1, 2025 admission is February 15, 2025.
Admission Requirements
- Complete a Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions RN to BSN application available online at https://www.umassglobal.edu/nursing-health-professions.
- Students who are applying for Options:
- Applicants who are eligible for Option 1 or Option 2 must have an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN or ASN) from a regionally accredited Institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- Applicants who are eligible for Option 3 or Option 4 must be currently enrolled in a regionally accredited Institution and currently maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Only credits from regionally accredited institutions will be accepted in transfer. Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or university is considered a violation of academic integrity.
- Applicants who are eligible for Option 1 or Option 2 must hold an unencumbered RN license in the state where they plan to do their practicum experiences (or has evidence of a scheduled National Council Licensure Examination [NCLEX]*).
- *
The NCLEX must be passed by the end of the first session of enrollment to continue in the program.
CastleBranch Requirements
All requirements are due by the end of the first session and are required to stay in compliance (current and updated) throughout your program. Students who do not start their RN-BSN Community Health or Leadership clinical practicum experience hours due to incomplete CastleBranch requirements will require a modified education plan, which may result in a program completion delay.
Immunization and Health Screening Requirements:
- Proof of annual negative Tuberculosis (TB) screening:
- TB blood test (IGRA) OR
- Negative chest x-ray AND a provider signed negative symptom checklist.
- Proof of completion of Hepatitis A and B immunization series or titer demonstrating immunity.
- Proof of two doses of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) immunization or titer demonstrating immunity.
- Proof of one Tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunization (after 19 years of age) and boosters per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s adult vaccination schedule.
- Proof of Chicken Pox (Varicella) immunization or titer demonstrating immunity.
- Proof of annual influenza immunization.
- Additional laboratory tests, immunizations, and/or documentation may be required for specific practicum sites.
Additional Requirements:
- Annual Background Check.
- Annual negative 10-panel Drug Screen.
- Annual CastleBranch Elearning (HIPAA/OSHA trainings)
- Copy of current CPR “Level C” Certification (Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider) that will not be expiring in the next 12 months.
- Certification MUST be an American Heart Association approved course.
- Approved courses must have a didactic component AND skills verification component.
- Online only courses, where skills are not validated by an instructor will not be approved. Skills must be validated by an instructor using a feedback device that measures and provides real-time audio feedback or visual feedback (or both) on compression rate and depth.
- Proof of unencumbered RN license
- Proof of STUDENT Malpractice Insurance ($1 million per occurence / $3 million in aggregate)
- Any additional laboratory tests, immunizations, and/or documentation required by specific RN-BSN clinical practicum or residency sites (e.g., proof of physical examination, health insurance, etc.).
Catalog Year
Students admitted to the Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions are admitted to the catalog year that is in effect on the date when they begin the program (either Fall I, Spring I or Summer I).
Specific Requirements for the RN to Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing
In addition to the general education requirements as described below, the RN to Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing consists of three components. The first component involves five foundation courses. The second component describes the 36 credits of upper division nursing core requirements. The third component entails possible elective credits to satisfy the 120 undergraduate credits for the degree.
Foundation courses will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis in the block transfer of credits to be applied to the degree and must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
All courses taken in the Nursing Major (36 credits) must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Total Credit Hours for the Degree
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education and Block Transfer Credit Hours: | ||
| ASN/ADN Block Transfer | 68 | |
| Foundation Credits * | 16 | |
| Total Nursing Core Credits | 36 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- *
Electives: If the 5 foundation courses (16 credits) are embedded in block transfer, students may need additional elective credits to satisfy the degree requirement of 120 credit hours.
General Education Requirements for the RN to Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing
Note: General Education Requirement credits may be embedded in block transfer.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Skills (12 Credits) * | ||
| Writing Communication I: | ||
| ENGU 103 | Writing and Rhetoric | 3 |
| Written Communication II: | ||
| ENGU 104 | Writing About Literature | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Breadth Requirements (30 credits) * | ||
| Humanities: | ||
| Select 9 credits from three different areas: | 9 | |
Communications | ||
English | ||
Fine Arts | ||
Foreign Languages | ||
Humanities | ||
Liberal Studies | ||
Philosophy | ||
Religious Studies | ||
| Natural Sciences (12 credits): | ||
| Select 12 credits | 12 | |
| Social Sciences (9 credits): | ||
| Select 9 credits from 3 different areas: | 9 | |
Criminal Justice | ||
Early Childhood Education | ||
Economics | ||
History | ||
Marketing | ||
Organizational Leadership | ||
Political Science/Legal Studies | ||
Psychology | ||
Social Science | ||
Social Work | ||
Sociology | ||
| Foundation Courses (16 credits) ** | ||
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGU 104 | Writing About Literature | 3 |
| Introduction to Chemistry, with a lab: | ||
| CHMU 101 | Introduction to Chemistry (with a lab) | 4 |
| Introduction to Statistics: | ||
| MATU 203 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Growth and Development across the Lifespan: | ||
| PSYU 320 | Human Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Humanities (Foreign Language or Sign Language preferred) | 3 | |
| Nursing Core Courses (36 credits) | ||
| NURU 400 | Transitions to Inquiry Based Practice: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice | 3 |
| NURU 401 | Nursing's Public Image and Professional Issues | 3 |
| NURU 403 | Managing Health Care Reform | 3 |
| NURU 404 | Healthcare Communication and Collaboration | 3 |
| NURU 405 | Evidence-Based Thinking for BSN-Prepared RN Scholarship and Practice | 3 |
| NURU 406 | Improving Patient Health Care Outcomes: Quality Care & Patient Safety | 3 |
| NURU 407 | Cultural and Spiritual Diversity in Health and Nursing | 3 |
| NURU 408 | Information, Patient Care, and Decision-Support System Technology | 3 |
| NURU 409 | Understanding Health Issues and Health Delivery in the Community Setting | 3 |
| NURU 410 | Practicum in the Community Setting (96 required practicum hours) | 3 |
| NURU 411 | Transformational Leadership and Management in Nursing | 3 |
| NURU 412 | Practicum in Transformational Leadership and Management in Nursing (80 required practicum hours) | 3 |
*Students in the RN to BSN degree program must meet the minimum 42 general education credits. Credits are satisfied with the Basic Skill and Breadth Requirements sections.
**These credits may be embedded in the block transfer and/or satisfy General Education Requirements for course content. However, if these credits are not embedded in the block transfer, additional credits may be required to meet the 120 total credit hours for the degree.