RN BSN Online Nursing Degree

Advance your nursing education and expand your career path.

The Cal U RN to BSN online degree program is designed for registered nurses who already have completed a diploma or associate degree in nursing. The bachelor's degree in nursing offers a solid foundation in the arts and sciences that prepares you for graduate studies and career advancement.

The RN to BSN is a 100% online degree program that can be completed full time in three terms and part time in four terms when you apply to Cal U as a transfer student.

Increase competencies in the delivery of healthcare.

This online program enables experienced registered nurses to:

Build upon professional strengths to become outstanding nurse leaders.
Develop a foundation for advanced nursing education and career

Cal U's nursing degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

FOR SUMMER 2020 AND FALL 2020 ONLY: If you have earned a nursing diploma or associate degree in nursing but have been unable to take your licensing exam because of the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact our Admissions Office (admissions@calu.edu or 724-938-4404). You may be eligible for conditional admission to the RN-BSN program.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS : RN BSN

Accelerated: The 100% online program is available in an accelerated format: Students take one 16-week course and two 8-week courses each term. New nursing student cohorts begin each fall and spring.

Higher level: Other online nursing degrees just incorporate RNs into generic courses, often making the RNs repeat previous nursing knowledge. At Cal U, RNs can expect to build upon and expand nursing knowledge at a higher level. Complete Cal U's transfer application to receive credit for your previous nursing education.

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Ranking in Online U's 2016 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Nursing Programs.

16^%

Employment growth for registered nurses is projected through 2024, faster than the average for all occupations.

Degree Benefits

Cal U's online nursing degree offers you exceptional benefits, including:

Opportunities for research in such courses as Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice.
Focus on the latest trends and issues in nursing and specialized areas such as family health, community health and nursing
Accreditation by CCNE.
Competitive tuition rates and fees, and availability of financial aid.
Cal U partnerships with Community College of Allegheny County and Washington Health System School of Nursing to accelerate program completion.

Graduate Outcomes

Cal U's RN to BSN online degree program enables graduates to advance with their current employers or move on to a wide range of professional nursing roles in diverse healthcare environments. Here is a sampling of area employers who hire Cal U BSN graduates:

Allegheny Health Network.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.
Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Pennsylvania school districts.

Nursing RN BSN Online

Honors Society

Cal U hosts Pi Rho, the local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society for nursing. Students eligible for membership must rank in the upper 35% of the class with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher. Pi Rho promotes networking and continuing education.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth for registered nurses is increasing for a number of reasons: an increased emphasis on preventive care; growing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare services from Baby Boomers as they live longer and more active lives.

Graduate Study

Cal U BSN students go on to many leading graduate nursing schools throughout the country, or they choose Cal U's accelerated options to earn master's degrees in nursing in less time.

Online Bachelor's Degree in Nursing

Courses in the BSN curriculum prepare Cal U nursing students for today's increasingly complex healthcare experiences and settings. They also serve as a prerequisite for admission to graduate programs in research, consulting, teaching, advanced practice or clinical specialization.

Curriculum

Course	Credits
NUR 330 Philosophy of Professional Nursing	3
NUR 350 Health Assessment	3
NUR 360 Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice	3
NUR 375 Leadership and Change in Nursing	6
NUR 420 Intro to Nursing Informatics	3
NUR 450 Trends & Issues in Nursing	3
NUR 470 Family Health Nursing	6
NUR 475 Community Health Nursing	6
Total	33

Please note: To complete the RN-BSN program, students will be required to take the 33 credits in nursing courses listed in Cal U's cohort plan. However, it is a national standard that students to earn 120 credits total to be awarded a baccalaureate degree.

The following is a break-down of the required 120 credits:

33 credits for Cal U's nursing courses
12 credits for submission of the Entry Level Portfolio (submitted during the first term at Cal U)
30 credits awarded for pre-licensure nursing courses (diploma, AD, or international nursing courses)
45 general education courses (transferred from pre-licensure and/or from Cal U as needed): Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, English Composition, Public Speaking, Statistics for Health Care, Social Science course, Humanity course, Fine Arts course, Computer Literature course, and 9 free electives

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Admission Requirements

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