Nursing Major (RN-BSN), B.S.N.

Registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma may apply for admission to the program and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing by completing the required University Core Curriculum and nursing courses. The nursing courses required for the RN-BSN completion option are provided through a combination of technologies, including Internet delivery, video streaming, pod casting, and email. The flexibility of the RN-BSN option gives nurses the opportunity to complete the course requirements in their own home and on their own schedule with minimal costs.

The curriculum is built upon a foundation of biological, physical, and social sciences with acknowledgement of previously learned content. No further testing of prior knowledge is required if a nurse holds a valid unencumbered RN license in the current state of employment. Additional information about the RN-BSN program is available at health.usi.edu.

University Admission

The requirements for admission to the RN-BSN program include:

• University admission;
• Completion of the University application; and
• documentation of completed degrees.

RN-BSN Program Admission

Completion of an associate degree or diploma program in nursing with a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale in previous academic work; unencumbered RN license (action or pending action against license); completion of the USI nursing program application; submission of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended; employed by or have access to a healthcare work environment to complete course projects; two years of recent RN experience prior to application to the University preferred. Non-native speakers of English must provide an official report confirming a TOEFL score of 525 (paper test) or 71 (Internet based), or APIEL score of 3, or IELTS score of 6.

RN-BSN Curriculum

A maximum of 64 hours may be transferred from community colleges (36 hours of nursing and 28 hours of non-nursing courses). Credit hours remaining include 31 hours of University Core Courses and 33 hours of nursing courses.