Nursing, RN to BSN

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

About

An RN will get you in the door; a BSN will help you advance professionally—and give you the skills to hold the door open for others.

Introduction

Why come back to school for your BSN? Like other highly specialized fields, nursing is varied and complex. Additional education can help position you as an advanced professional in your field. When you earn a BSN, you’re building on top of your skills as an RN. Nurses with BSNs are better trained in specialty areas and often eligible for higher salaries.

Learn how to:

  • Synthesize knowledge from the humanities, natural, and behavioral sciences as a foundation for safe, client-centered nursing practice.
  • Apply leadership concepts, skills and decision making in the provision of high-quality nursing care in a variety of settings.
  • Demonstrates clinical judgment based on evidence-based practice for individual, families and groups.
  • Demonstrates proficiency in information management and patient care technology in the delivery of quality health care.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of healthcare policy and regulations to assist individuals, families and groups to identify and mobilize resources to meet health care needs.
  • Collaborate with consumers, members of the health care team and others to improve the delivery of health care.
  • Integrate health promotion and disease prevention strategies for individuals, families and groups to improve health outcomes for individuals, families and groups.
  • Demonstrates professional, ethical, and legal responsibility for nursing practice.
  • Apply the nursing process to deliver and manage nursing care for culturally diverse individuals, families and groups across the life span in a variety of health settings.
  • Use clinical reasoning strategies, communication and other affective skills as well as psychomotor skills to provide therapeutic nursing intervention to culturally diverse individuals, families and groups in varying health states.
Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Admission Requirements

Any student interested in the RN to BSN program must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The application process has several steps, and requires you to submit application materials to both the Office of Admissions and the College of Health Professions Academic Success Center (formerly the STAR Office). Be sure to pay attention to when and where you must submit any required documentation. .

To be considered for admission to RN to BSN undergraduate program, submit the following:

Note: RN to BSN students do not need to take the HESI A2 exam. Prospective students may also be invited to come in for an interview. 

Important Dates to Remember

  • December 1st is Early Decision deadline
  • February 1st is Final Decision deadline

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, students must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among General Education Requirements (GERs), course prerequisites, and major courses. Each section below explains the range of course offerings.

General Education Requirements (GERs)

Students must complete 40 GER credits. Specifically for Health Information Management majors, your program plan should also include:

GER Requirement Course options
Mathematics MATH 131 College Algebra
Behavioral and Social Science

PSYC 201: General Psychology

and

SOCI 201: Introduction to Sociology 

Natural Sciences

BIOL 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

and

BIOL 203 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues

Any HEED course
or MISY 150 Technology Fluency
or equivalent

Hum & Fine Arts WLIT 207 World Lit or equivalent
PHIL 102 Logic or equivalent
SPCH 105 Speech or equivalent
HIST 201 World Hist I or equivalent
HIST 205 African American History
or equivalent
English

ENGL 101 Composition I

and

ENGL 102 Composition II

 

Pre-requisites or Electives (26 credits)

Course Name
FRSEM 101 Freshman Seminar
HSC 213 Principles and Practices of Nutrition
BIOL 101 Biological Science
BIOL 308 Microbiology or equivalent
CHEM 101 General Chemistry I
NURS 319 Pathophysiology
MATH 203 Basic Statistics
PSYC 335 Developmental Psychology

Program Core

These courses are based on RN licensure and Maryland State Articulation Agreement.

Course Name Credits
NURS 310 Pharmacology 3
NURS 320 Maternity and Women's Health 5
NURS 321 Nursing Care for Children  5
NURS 323 Medical/Surgical Nursing 6
NURS 424 Advanced Medical/Surgical Nursing 6
NURS 432 Mental Health Nursing 4

Sample Degree Plan

Be sure to connect with your academic advisor to plan your semester courses. The plan below is just an example—your journey may have different requirements.  

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Course credits name
NURS 210 3 Nursing Informatics
NURS 216 3 Transition to Professional Nursing Practice
NURS 217 3 Health Assessment (Required Clinical Component)
NURS 220 3 Ethics in Nursing
NURS 315 3 Research in Nursing

Spring Semester (9 credits)

Course Credits Name
NURS 411 2 Contemporary Issues in Nursing
NURS 421 3 Leadership in Nursing
NURS 430 4 Community Health (Required Clinical Component)

Related Nursing and Health Programs

Nursing

Undergraduate

Nursing

Graduate
MSN

Nursing

Post-Master's

Nursing

Doctorate
DNP

Health Information Management

BS
College

Nursing is in the Helene Fuld School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions.