Nursing (BSN) - RN-BSN

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
Select General Education Requirements59
Major Requirements
Nursing RN to BSN Major Core
A. Complete the following:
NU 450Lead/Mang Roles Prof Nsg Pra-W4
NU 451Current Issues/Trends Prof Nsg4
NU 452Clinical Preven & Pop Health4
NU 453Infor Manag & Tech in Hlthcare4
NU 454Research & EBP Practicum-W4
NU 455Concept Interprofessional Care4
RN Nursing Credit Hours Awarded
Courses awarded for RN Education and Experience upon completion of degree requirements
AHN 447Adult Gerontological Nursing4
AHN 448Adult Gerontological Nsg Clin4
CMN 350Psy-Mental Health Nsg2
CMN 351Psy-Mental Health Nsg Clin2
MCN 352OB & GYN Nursing Care2
MCN 353OB & GYN Nsg Care Clinical2
MCN 354Pediatric Nursing Care2
MCN 355Pediatric Nsg Care Clinical2
NU 300Foundations of Prof Nsg5
NU 301Foundations of Prof Nsg Clin3
NU 332Clinical Nutrition2
NU 325BHealth Assessment3
NU 327BPatho Basis of Nursing3
HSC 343BClinical Pharmacology3
Minor Requirements
A minor is not required for this degree program0
Total Hours122

General Education Requirements

Gen Ed Formatting Note: Graduate of an Associate Degree in Nursing

Area I – Written Composition
A. Complete the following:
EH 101English Composition I3
EH 102English Composition II3
Area II – Humanities & Fine Arts
A. Select one of the following Literature Electives:3
Brit Lit before 1785
Brit Lit after 1785
Am Lit before 1865
Am Lit after 1865
World Lit before 1650
World Lit after 1650
B. Select one of the following Fine Arts (Music, Drama, or Art) Courses:3
Survey of Art
Art History I
Art History II
Art Appreciation
Introduction to Theatre
Introduction to Music
C. Select six hours from the following Humanities Electives (Literature for sequence, Philosophy, Foreign Language, Music, Art, Drama, Public Speaking, or Religion):6
Intro to African Amer Studies
Survey of Art
Art History I
Art History II
Survey of Non-Western Art
Art Appreciation
Public Speaking
Intro Anc Greek Roman Culture
Introduction to Theatre
Brit Lit before 1785
Brit Lit after 1785
Am Lit before 1865
Am Lit after 1865
World Lit before 1650
World Lit after 1650
Introductory Latin I
Introductory Latin II
Introductory French I
Introductory French II
Introductory Chinese I
Introductory Chinese II
Introductory Spanish I
Introductory Spanish II
Intro Classical Greek I
Intro Classical Greek II
Introductory German I
Introductory German II
Accelerated Intro German
Introductory Russian I
Introductory Russian II
Accelerated Intro Russian
Intermediate Latin I
Intermediate Latin II
Intermediate French I
Intermediate French II
Accelerated Inter French - H
Intermediate Chinese I
Intermediate Chinese II
Intermediate Spanish I
Intermediate Spanish II
Inter Spanish Accel -H
Interm Classical Greek I
Interm Classical Greek II
Intermediate German I
Intermediate German II
Intermediate Russian I
Intermediate Russian II
Intensive Second Year Russian
Introductory Japanese I
Introductory Japanese II
Introductory Arabic I
Introductory Arabic II
Intro American Sign Language I
Intro American Sign Lang II
Introductory Korean I
Introductory Korean II
Intermediate Japanese I
Intermediate Japanese II
Intermediate Arabic I
Intermediate Arabic II
Intermediate ASL I
Intermediate ASL II
Introduction to Music
Introduction to Philosophy
Critical Thinking
Introduction to Logic
Introduction to Ethics
Social Ethics
Western Philosophy: Classical
Intro to the Study of Religion
Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
Survey of the New Testament
Area III – Natural Sciences & Mathematics
A. Select one of the following (College Algebra, Finite Math, or Pre-Calculus):3
Finite Mathematics
Precalculus Algebra
Precalculus Trigonometry
Precal Algebra-Trigonometry
Calculus and Its Applications
Calculus I
Calculus II
Calculus III
Linear Algebra I
Differential Equations I
B. Select either Chemistry with Lab or Biology with a Lab:4
Life Science I
and Life Science I Laboratory
General Biology I
and General Biology I Lab
Survey of Inorg and Org Chem
and Survey Inorg-Org Chem Lab
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
C. Select a Second Natural Science with a Lab (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, or Astronomy):4
Biological Anthropology
and Biological Anthropology Lab
Life Science II
and Life Science II Lab
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Lab
Earth History
and Earth History Lab
Ocean Science
and Ocean Science Lab
Introduction to Astronomy
and Introduction to Astronomy Lab
Concepts of Physics
and Concepts of Physics Laboratory
Physics with Algebra-Trig I
and Alg-Trig Based Physics I Lab
Physics with Algebra -Trig II
and Alg-Trig Based Physics II Lab
Calculus-Based Physics I
and Calculus-Based Physics I Lab
Calculus-Based Physics II
and Calculus-Based Physics II Lab
Area IV – History, Social & Behavioral Sciences
A. Select one of the following Psychology Courses:
PSY 120Introduction to Psychology3
or PSY 250 Life Span Development
B. Select one of the following History Electives:3
HY of Western Civilization I
HY of Western Civilization II
US History to 1877
US History since 1877
C. Select two of the following History/Social/Behavioral Science Electives:6
Intro to Cultural Anthropology
Intro Archaeology-Bio Anthro
Intro to Communication
Interpersonal Comm
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Prin of Microeconomics
Prin of Macroeconomics
People, Places, Environment
World Regional Geography
Intro to Gender Studies
HY of Western Civilization I
HY of Western Civilization II
US History to 1877
US History since 1877
Global Issues
Seasons of Life
Intro Native American Studies
Intro to US Government
Introduction to Psychology
Life Span Development
Introductory Sociology
Social Problems
Area V
A. Select one of the following Microbiology Courses:4
Microbiology
and Lab Studies Microbiology
Microbiology in Healthcare
and Microbiology in Healthcare Lab
B.Complete the following Human Anatomy & Physiology Courses:
BMD 251Human Anatomy & Physiology I4
BMD 252Human Anatomy & Physiology II4
C. Select one of the following Statistics Courses:3
Stat Reason and Application
Data Analytics I
Res Design and Analysis I
Applied Stat Health Sciences
D. Select one of the following Computer Courses:
CIS 140Intro to Tech for Healthcare (see footnote table below)3
or CIS 150 Intro to Computer Applications
or CIS 010 Computer Proficiency Exam
Total Hours59

Footnote

1

Students who complete CIS 010 Computer Proficiency Exam, must replace the credit hours with a 3 credit hour computer course.

Notes:

All undergraduates must complete two designated writing credit (W) courses, at least one of which must be in the student's major or minor.

Additional Information

RN to BSN Pathway for Associate Degree and Diploma Nurses

The College of Nursing has a Pathway designed especially for registered nurses pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. The RN to BSN Prerequisites consist of eighteen (18) courses, totaling 59 semester credit hours. These general education courses may be completed at any regionally accredited institution. They must be successfully completed before admission to the Professional Component. It is the policy of the College of Nursing to average grades for all coursework repeated.

Online RN to BSN Professional Component

  1. The Professional Component consists of six (6) fully online nursing courses for a total of 24 Credit hours.

  2. These courses must be completed at the University of South Alabama.

  3. Upper division nursing courses taken at another institution will not transfer or apply toward the 24 Credit hours required to earn the BSN degree at USA.

  4. Students proceed through the six online nursing courses at their desired pace.

  5. The Professional Component may be completed in a minimum of two (2) semesters.

  6. The Professional Component must be completed within five (5) years of beginning the BSN curriculum.

  7. Thirty credit hours of nursing credit are awarded the semester students graduate.

  8. Nine credit hours are applied as residential credit during the final semester of the pathway.

Admission Criteria for RN-BSN Pathways

  1. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States of America.

  2. Current registered nurse licensure with no restrictions. Nurses with any restrictions on their license, including participation in a voluntary disciplinary alternative program, cannot be admitted.

  3. Completion of an accredited diploma or associate degree in nursing. Degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution

  4. Complete all eighteen (18) required pre-requisite courses at a regionally accredited school. These 59 Credit hours of general education courses are in addition to the nursing courses completed to become a Registered Nurse.

  5. Minimum grade of “C” in all pre-requisite courses.

  6. Minimum GPA of 2.5 on all prerequisite courses.

  7. Minimum University GPA of 2.0 and be in good standing within the University or previous college.

Application Procedures

RN to BSN applicants are required to complete a Primary Application in NursingCAS, as well as a supplemental application available on the College of Nursing's website. Students who drop out of the program for two or more consecutive semesters must apply for readmission through the Office of the Admission. Readmission is not automatic.

Admission Procedures For RN-BSN Pathway

Completion of Primary and Supplemental Applications are required for admission.

  1. Admission to the University of South Alabama requires the submission of a completed application to the University of South Alabama along with official transcripts from all colleges and schools you have attended.
  2. Supplemental Application submitted online. This application requires a non-refundable processing fee of $50.00, by the deadline. Application can be submitted via credit or debit card. There is a $20.00 fee for non-sufficient funds.

Contingency for Admission and Initial Registration

Admission and initial registration is contingent on completion of the following requirements:

  1. Acceptance Packet

  2. Negative Drug Screen

  3. Acceptable Background Check

  4. All Health Requirements as outlined in the Medical Documents Manager. 

Notification of missing documents will be sent to your JagMail email account. Only students who have successfully completed the Acceptance Packet in its entirety, have a negative drug screen and acceptable background check, and completed all required portions of the Medical Documents Manager will be permitted to register for classes.

Application Deadline

  • Fall Semester Deadline is March 15

  • Spring Semester Deadline is July 15

  • Summer Semester Deadline is March 1

The deadlines for admission to RN-BSN program are rolling. Applications will be accepted past the stated deadline for the RN- BSN pathway.

Academic Progression Policy for RN-BSN

The University of South Alabama College of Nursing will recommend for promotion only those students who, in the judgment of the faculty, satisfy the requirements of emotional and physical health, conduct, scholastic achievement, and aptitude for nursing.

  1. In accordance with University policy, students may not use the Grade Replacement Policy to replace professional nursing courses.
  2. A grade of "C" or higher is required for all professional nursing courses. A student may repeat only one nursing course in the curriculum. A second "D", "F", or "U" will result in an academic dismissal from the nursing program. Students who are academically dismissed may not return to the RN-BSN program.
  3. A minimum GPA of 2.0 at the University of South Alabama is required to continue in the program and for graduation.
  4. Students in the RN-BSN program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all work attempted in the program at USA. 
  5. Failure to show good ethical and moral character including but not limited to any of the following may result in dismissal from the program:

conviction of a crime,

disciplinary action against a nursing license in Alabama or any other state,

positive drug screen,

adverse background check, or

disruptive behavior including online behavior.

  6.  All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours of any of the above stated incidents.

  7.  All students must notify the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean of the College of Nursing immediately or no later than 48 hours following an arrest. Failure to report an arrest may result in removal from the program.

  8.  All students are subject to testing for controlled substances and must submit to random drug testing as requested. A positive test or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.

  9.  All students are subject to a background check and must submit to additional background checks as requested. An adverse finding or refusal to submit to testing will result in removal from the program.

 10.  Students must complete the RN-BSN program with 5 years. If a student's progression is interrupted for any reason, it is the student's responsibility to contact the Office of Student Services.

Revised May 10, 2023

Readmission Policy

Students who are academically dismissed from the RN-BSN program may apply for readmission. If selected for readmission after dismissal, students may only be readmitted one time. Students readmitted to the online pathway will be required to repeat courses in which they were not successful. Students who make one D grade or lower will be dismissed and be ineligible to reapply to the program. One additional failure after readmission will be cause for final dismissal from the College of Nursing.  

Graduation

RN-BSN students who will complete all BSN degree requirements are required to apply for graduation by the application deadline established by the Registrar’s Office. Deadlines for each semester application are located on the Registrar’s Graduation Website.