Nursing, R.N. to B.S.N.
Interim Coordinator: Karen Weeks
Email: weekska@jmu.edu
Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program offers a degree-completion pathway for individuals licensed as a Registered Nurse (R.N.). The R.N. to B.S.N. pathway builds on the liberal arts and previous nursing education to further develop discipline-specific knowledge, skills and abilities. An emphasis is placed on scholarship and evidence-based practice, clinical decision-making, quality and safety, systems-based practice, and population health. By the end of the program, students are prepared to provide comprehensive nursing care to individuals, families and populations and to take on leadership and management roles to promote quality and safety in healthcare.
Admission and Retention Requirements
The R.N. to B.S.N. pathway provides flexible learning opportunities for licensed R.N.'s who have an associate degree or diploma to complete the baccalaureate degree. Classes are offered online to allow schedule flexibility while completing the B.S.N. degree. The R.N. to B.S.N. pathway provides a foundation for professional nursing practice and prepares students for further opportunities such as graduate study and advance practice.
JMU will award R.N. to B.S.N. students up to 37 experiential learning credits for prior learning and practice experience as a R.N. (a minimum of 540 hours), and up to 41 transfer credits toward the General Education requirements for a B.S.N.
Six additional corequisite and thirteen general education credits will be required which may be taken concurrently at a local community college and transferred to JMU for credit. Students will complete 30 credits in the R.N. to B.S.N. program in three semesters of full-time study or five semesters of part-time study, completing a total of 120 semester hours for the baccalaureate degree.
Students should apply to the R.N.to B.S.N pathway to initiate an academic transcript review. Additional program eligibility criteria include:
- Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing from an accredited college/university.
- Current unrestricted R.N. license in any state, Washington, D.C., or a U.S. possession or territory or an equivalent credential in another country.
- Employment as an R.N. for a minimum of four months and/or plans to practice concurrently with course work.
- Graduates of foreign nursing schools, who are licensed outside of the United States, are required to pass the Qualifying Exam of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) prior to application and include the exam report with their application materials.
- TOEFL minimum score of 81 (internet-based test) or IELTS minimum score of 6.5 for international applicants.
- Cumulative Nursing GPA of 2.5 on a 4-point scale.
- Completion of the General Education courses required for the Bachelor of Science. May be taken concurrently with nursing course work but must be completed prior to graduation.
- Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "C."
- Ability to meet the school's technical standards for nursing practice (posted on the nursing website).
Admission is contingent on admission to the university.
Once admitted, the student must earn a minimum grade of "C-" or "Credit" in each required nursing course to remain in good standing in the nursing program. A grade of "D+/-", "F," "No Credit" or "WF" (withdrawn failing) is considered a course failure. A student who for the first time receives a failure in a nursing course may, with school approval, repeat the course. A student who receives a failing grade in a nursing course may repeat one nursing course, with school approval. A student who receives a second failing grade in a nursing course will be ineligible to continue in the program.
* Students admitted through and including the Fall 2026 semester will follow the program requirements as listed in the 2024-2025 catalog. Students entering in or after Spring 2027 will follow the curriculum listed here.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education courses 1 | |
| Arts and Humanities | 9 |
| American and Global Perspectives | 4 |
| Co-requisite courses: PHIL 262 (ethics) | 3 |
| Nursing courses | 30 |
| Experiential learning credit given for R.N. qualifications | (up to) 37 |
| Credit for Associate Degree and prerequisites 2 | 34 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
According to transfer agreements, students are required to take at minimum 13 credits of general education courses in the Arts and Humanities and American and Global Perspectives areas.
- 2
Prerequisite courses include the following JMU or VCCS equivalents: WRTC 103; BIO 270/BIO 270L and BIO 290/BIO 290L; PSYC 160; BIO 245/BIO 245L or CHEM 120.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| NSG 381 | The Evidence Based Clinician | 3 |
| NSG 384 | Professional Integration II | 3 |
| NSG 440 | The Team Member | 3 |
| NSG 441 | Optimizing Wellness III | 3 |
| NSG 443 | Health Alterations III | 3 |
| NSG 444 | Professional Integration III | 3 |
| NSG 445 | Evolution as a Leader | 3 |
| NSG 446 | Optimizing Wellness IV | 3 |
| NSG 480 | Health Alterations IV | 3 |
| NSG 481 | Professional Integration IV | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Recommended Schedule for Majors
Full-Time Sequence of Classes
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| Fall or Spring | ||
| NSG 381 | The Evidence Based Clinician | 3 |
| NSG 384 | Professional Integration II | 3 |
| NSG 441 | Optimizing Wellness III | 3 |
| NSG 443 | Health Alterations III | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Fall or Spring | ||
| NSG 440 | The Team Member | 3 |
| NSG 444 | Professional Integration III | 3 |
| NSG 445 | Evolution as a Leader | 3 |
| NSG 480 | Health Alterations IV | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Summer | ||
| NSG 446 | Optimizing Wellness IV | 3 |
| NSG 481 | Professional Integration IV | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Part-Time Sequence of Classes
| First Semester | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall or Spring | ||
| NSG 381 | The Evidence Based Clinician | 3 |
| NSG 441 | Optimizing Wellness III | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Fall or Spring | ||
| NSG 384 | Professional Integration II | 3 |
| NSG 443 | Health Alterations III | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Fall or Spring | ||
| NSG 440 | The Team Member | 3 |
| NSG 480 | Health Alterations IV | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Fall or Spring | ||
| NSG 444 | Professional Integration III | 3 |
| NSG 445 | Evolution as a Leader | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| Summer | ||
| NSG 446 | Optimizing Wellness IV | 3 |
| NSG 481 | Professional Integration IV | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |