Program Description:

This online, part time degree completion program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN), is designed for the student who has earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing, or an Associate Degree in Nursing, or a Diploma in Nursing from a hospital program, and holds a RN license to practice nursing in North Carolina or a compact state. The RN-BSN program provides the academic knowledge and skills necessary to advance in the nursing field by seeking a higher level position and/or to apply for graduate study in nursing. The Appalachian RN-BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Click here for a list of careers associated with this degree program.

Distance Education RN-BSN programs are cohort based, a concept of providing a schedule of courses to an identified group of students who begin and complete their program of study within a specified timeframe. The major nursing courses are offered only one time in each cohort program, and must be taken according to the program schedule.

The RN-BSN program duration is approximately 16 months (four terms, including one summer term), with two nursing courses scheduled for each term.

The BSN degree requires a total of 124 semester hours of credit. It is comprised of 30 semester hours of major nursing courses, 30 semester hours of Appalachian credit awarded for prior learning after successful completion of the third term of the program, and 64 semester hours of lower-division transfer credit (consisting of the RN-BSN Required Core, nursing cognate courses, and elective courses) to complete the BSN degree.

All students must have reliable access to the internet, and a high-speed/broadband access (cable or DSL) is strongly recommended.

Components of the RN-BSN Program

124 Semester Hours, Minimum Grade of "C"/2.0 is required in each course

Required Core (44 SH):

The RN to BSN Required Core (effective for students entering the program through Fall Semester 2015) is to be completed at a community college or other accredited institution, preferably before entering the cohort or before the last term of the program:

1. English Composition (6 SH)
   
   • Two Composition Courses
2. Humanities/Fine Arts (12 SH)
   
   • One literature course required
   • One fine arts course required
   • Two additional courses from: art, dance, drama, foreign language, music, literature, interdisciplinary humanities, philosophy, and religion
3. Social/Behavioral Sciences (12 SH)
   
   • One History Course
   • An Introductory course in sociology
   • An Introductory course in psychology
   • An additional course from:  anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology
4. Mathematics (6 SH)
   
   • An introductory mathematics course (survey, college algebra, trigonometry, calculus, etc.)
   • An introductory statistics course (does not have to have a math prefix)
5. Natural Sciences (8 SH)
   
   • Human Anatomy and Physiology with Lab

Nursing Cognate Courses (18 SH)

Nursing Cognates are support courses for the major that are required for the BSN degree, and must be completed at a community college or other accredited institution. All cognate coursework must be completed before the last term of the RN-BSN program.

1. Human Anatomy & Physiology* if not taken as part of the Required Core (8 SH)
2. Microbiology w/lab (4 SH)
3. Developmental Psychology or Human Growth and Development* if not taken as part of the Required Core (3 SH)
4. College level Statistics* if not taken as part of the Required Core (3 SH)

*Courses in Nursing Cognates may also count as part of the Required Core, and additional hours needed are made up in General Electives to earn the total 124 Semester Hours required for the BSN Degree.

Click here to access a list of community college courses that may be taken to fulfill the RN-BSN requirements [pdf 350k] for students entering the program through Fall Semester 2015.

Nursing Major Coursework (30 SH):

The following nursing major courses (30 SH) are offered in the RN-BSN program (two courses per term):

• NUR 3000 Nursing Informatics (3 SH)                                                 
• NUR 3011 Concepts of Professional Nursing (4 SH)            
• NUR 3021 Health Assessment (4 SH)                         
• NUR 3031 Nursing Care of Older Adults (3 SH)             
• NUR 4021 Nursing Care of Communities (4 SH)                        
• NUR 4029 Nursing Leadership & Management (4 SH)    
• NUR 4032 Professional Nursing Synthesis (5 SH)         
• NUR 4033 Nursing Research (3 SH)

Tentative Schedule Fall 2013 Program:

Clinical Hours – The Department of Nursing has set the following clinical hours for major Nursing courses in the RN-BSN program:

3^rd Term of the program
NUR 4021 – 30 clinical hours
NUR 4029 – Clinical hours for this course have been eliminated effective for the new Fall Semester 2013 cohort

4^th Term of the program 
NUR 4032 – 120 clinical hours

(Clinical sites will be located within the state of North Carolina)

Appalachian Credit Awarded (30 SH):

Students who successfully complete three terms of the RN-BSN program will be awarded 30 semester hours of Appalachian credit for prior learning.

Elective Course Requirements (to complete the required 124 SH):

The BSN degree requires a total of 124 semester hours. If a student would have fewer than 124 hours on record after completing all other degree requirements, the remaining credit hours must be obtained by taking general elective courses that are transferable to Appalachian.

Any required elective courses should be taken at a community college or other accredited institution, and must be completed before the last term of the RN-BSN Program

Completion of lower-division (freshman and sophomore) coursework:

Concurrent enrollment (i.e., taking courses through Appalachian and a NC community college or other accredited institution during the same term) is allowed during the first three terms of the program as long as maximum hours per term are not exceeded. All lower-division coursework (Required Core, nursing cognate courses, and any elective courses) should be completed before the last term of the RN-BSN program.

Admission to the University:

Students must meet Appalachian State University admission requirements. (Admission to the university does not automatically guarantee admission to the RN-BSN program.)

Admission Requirements for the RN-BSN Program:

Admission Decisions for the RN to BSN program are made by the Department of Nursing. To meet the RN-BSN admission requirements, in addition to meeting university admission standards, students must:

• hold an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing, or an Associate Degree in Nursing, from an accredited institution, or a Diploma in Nursing from an accredited hospital nursing program
• hold a current, unrestricted and unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license to practice nursing in North Carolina or a compact state
• have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale calculated over all college coursework (cumulative GPA as calculated by the Department of Nursing)
• have completed the majority of lower-division coursework requirements, with no more than six non-nursing courses remaining to be completed prior to admission (NOTE: For the Fall Semester 2014 program - with no more than TWO non-nursingcourses remaining to be completed prior to admission)

Test Scores:

No test scores (ACT or SAT) are required for admission to this RN-BSN program.

Proposed Cohorts:

Cohort starts depend upon demonstrated interest.

If a cohort becomes full, your name may be placed on a waiting list upon acceptance to the RN-BSN program.

Application for Admission

Applications must be complete (online application submitted, fee paid, and all supporting documents received) and ready for review by the applicable the deadline.

Click here to access online application for admission.

Prospective students holding a bachelor's degree should contact the program manager.

AppConnect

Create an AppConnect account to stay up-to-date on important program information and announcements.

Important Links:

Note:  AsULearn (Appalachian's virtual learning management system) is the starting place for all of your online courses:  AsULearn & AsULearn log-in

Progression Policies/Academic Policies

Managing Your Academic Career - Access to Schedule of Classes, Registration Instructions, Textbook Information, Library Resources, Financial Aid, and other Student Resources

Program Manager:  Debi Tabor, tabords@appstate.edu, (800) 355-4084

Program Assistant:  Adryona Nelson, nelsonam1@appstate.edu, (800) 355-4084

Academic Program Coordinator:  Ms. Kimberly Priode, priodeks@appstate.edu, (800) 355-4084 Ext. 8004