Degree Overview

The Online RN to BSN Program is designed to prepare professional nurses capable of meeting societal healthcare needs in a variety of settings. Legal, ethical and professional standards guide the students in the art and science of nursing. The graduate is prepared to respect diversity and social responsibility as well as to possess a commitment to excellence in the practice of holistic nursing.

Requirements and Curriculum

ACCUPLACER(ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA PLACEMENT

TEST)REQUIREMENT

Liberal Arts and Science Credits

In order to obtain a BSN from Fitchburg State University, students are required to take 121 credits. A total of 59 Liberal Arts & Science credits must be fulfilled as part of the RN to BSN program. Most Associate Degree registered nurses are able to use transfer credits to fulfill many of these credits. Additionally, some of those credits may be fulfilled through College Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing, which can be arranged through Placement Testing at Fitchburg State.

To graduate with honors, a student must have completed at least 60 credits with a numerical grade at the university.  For more information, please refer to the “Graduation Honors” section in the online catalog (PDF).

Art

Five courses; a minimum of 15 credits. One of these courses must have a global diversity non-western designation.

Citizenship

Three courses; a minimum of 9 credits. Introduction to Sociology fulfills the global diversity designation.

Science, Math, Technology

Four courses; a minimum of 12 credits

Option C

Four courses; a minimum of 12 credits with a minimum of 6 credits at or above the 2000 level.

Free Electives

2 or 3 courses; a minimum of 8 credits

Required Nursing Courses

A total of 62 nursing credits must be fulfilled as part of the RN to BSN program. Associate degree registered nurses may transfer a maximum of 30 nursing credits from their associate degree institution: diploma registered nurses may be awarded 30 nursing credits through the successful completion of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Acceleration Challenge Exam (ACE) II. The examinations are given in the areas of Care of the Adult Client, Care of the Client during Childbearing/Care of the Child, and Care of the Client with a Mental Disorder. A minimum score of 90 is required on each examination. If a score of 90 is not achieved in a specific area, the diploma registered nurse student will be allowed to retake the exam.
All RN to BSN students are required to earn the remaining 32 nursing credits through Fitchburg State University. These courses are:

Career Opportunities

Once the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is completed, graduates are eligible to apply to graduate programs in nursing, apply for management positions in nursing, and after two years experience become a preceptor for nursing students.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online

WHAT NEXT?

Contact Admissions Office: (978)665-3144, gceadmissions@fitchburgstate.edu