RN to BSN
The RN to BSN program courses are 100% online to accommodate a working nurse’s schedule. Full and part-time options are available to provide flexibility for the working registered nurse. Faculty are available at SHSU-The Woodlands Center for questions and advising.
The RN-BSN Online Track is designed for the student who is enrolled in or graduated from a community college with a degree in nursing and will be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, or who has passed the NCLEX-RN, holds a current, unencumbered Texas license as a registered nurse and wishes to obtain the baccalaureate degree. Earning a baccalaureate degree will open more doors in an RN's nursing career, allowing for positions of leadership, enhanced career advancement opportunities, and the potential to pursue graduate education.
There are three types of admission to SHSU’s RN to BSN program:
1) Unconditional Admission
2) Conditional Admission
3) Joint Admission while enrolled in a community college nursing program.
The table below illustrates the requirements for each type of admission.
| Admission Type | Application to SHSU | Application to RN BSN | Texas RN License | Cumulative GPA | Prerequisiste GPA | 1Proof of Clinical Readiness | Completion of all Prerequisite Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unconditional | X | X | X | 2.5 | 2.5 | X | X |
| Conditional | X | X | Within 1 semester, before beginning clinical courses | 2.5 | 2.5 | X | Within 1 year* |
| Joint | X | X | Before beginning clinical courses | 2.5 | 2.5 | X | Before beginning clinical courses** |
Notes
*For Conditional Admission, prerequisite courses may be taken following enrollment in RN-BSN program, but must be taken within one year.
**Joint Admission students may apply after completion of 1st semester of ADN courses. Students must have unencumbered RN license to practice in Texas prior to enrolling in clinical courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RN to BSN | ||
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) 1 | 3 | |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 2 | 8 | |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 3 | 3 | |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 4 | 3 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 5 | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| BIOL 2403 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I 2, 6 | 4 |
| BIOL 2404 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II 2, 6 | 4 |
| BIOL 2420 | Intro Applied Microbiology | 4 |
| or BIOL 3470 | General Microbiology | |
| CHEM 1406 | Inorganic & Envir Chemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | |
or CHEM elective or approved elective | ||
| FACS 2362 | Nutrition 7 | 3 |
| MATH 1314 | Pre Calculus Algebra 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 1324 | Mth for Mngl Decision Making | |
| or MATH 1410 | Elementary Functions | |
| or MATH 1420 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 1342 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or MATH 1370 | Intro Biomedical Statistics | |
| or PSYC 3402 | Psychological Statistics | |
| PSYC 1301 | Introduction To Psychology 4 | 3 |
| PSYC 3374 | Development Psychology | 3 |
| Track Specific Requirements | ||
| NURS 3340 | Older Adult Health Management | 3 |
| NURS 3360 | Introduction to Research | 3 |
| NURS 3370 | RN-to-BSN Role Transition | 3 |
| NURS 4030 | Community Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 4060 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NURS 4372 | RN-to-BSN Capstone | 3 |
| NURS 4381 | Legal & Ethical Issues in Nurs | 3 |
| NURS 4382 | Informatics | 3 |
| NURS 4383 | Rural Health Nursing | 3 |
| NURS 4384 | Nursing Genetics and Genomics | 3 |
| Articulation Credit | ||
| ADN/Diploma Nursing courses applied to the RN-BSN degree | 32 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
| 1 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics). |
| 2 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science). |
| 3 | PHIL 1301 recommended. |
| 4 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences). |
| 5 | SOCI 2319 recommended. |
| 6 | BIOL 2401 and BIOL 2402 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see a SAM Center advisor for more details. |
| 7 | FACS 1367 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see a SAM Center advisor for more details. |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prenursing Prerequisites and Texas Core | 59 | |
| Nursing Credit Hours | 62 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Notes:
Students admitted not core complete, must meet the SHSU core curriculum requirements. For students who are taking prerequisite hours at SHSU, see the pre-licensure BSN requirements.
NURS 4372 recommended to be taken in the final semester.
Science courses do not require a 7 year renewal.
The nursing credit hours include 32 articulation credits and 30 hours taken at SHSU. Course substitutions in the degree specific credit hours may require additional elective credit hours to reach the total 121 credits required for the degree.
Students must apply and be accepted into the SHSU School of Nursing prior to registering for any NURS courses.
Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in each NURS course.
Students accepted into the SHSU School of Nursing are required to adhere to additional policies indicated in the School of Nursing student handbook.
For more information on the RN-BSN program, contact: prenursing@shsu.edu
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| Component Area IX | 1 | BIOL 24041 | 4 | ||
| BIOL 24031 | 4 | ENGL 13022 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 1406 or 1411 (or CHEM elective or approved elective) | 4 | HIST 13014 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 13012 | 3 | MATH 1342, 1370, or PSYC 3402 | 3 | ||
| MATH 1314, 1324, 1410, or 14203 | 3 | PSYC 13015 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| BIOL 2420 or 3470 | 4 | Component Area IV7 | 3 | ||
| FACS 2362 | 3 | Component Area V | 3 | ||
| HIST 13024 | 3 | Component Area IX8 | 3 | ||
| POLS 23056 | 3 | POLS 23066 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 3374 | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 12 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | Third Semester | Hours |
| NURS 3360 | 3 | NURS 4030 | 3 | NURS 3340 | 3 |
| NURS 3370 | 3 | NURS 4383 | 3 | NURS 4381 | 3 |
| NURS 4382 | 3 | NURS 4384 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 6 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours | ||
| NURS 4060 | 3 | ADN/Diploma Nursing courses applied to RN-BSN Degree | 32 | ||
| NURS 4372 | 3 | Includes 12 hours NCLEX exam credit: NURS 3620 and NURS 4620 | |||
| 6 | 32 | ||||
| Total Hours: 121 | |||||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Prerequisites and Texas Core | 59 | |
| Nursing Credit Hours (32 credits transferred in from ADN and 30 credits in nursing taken at SHSU) | 62 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
| 1 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Science). |
| 2 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications). |
| 3 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics). |
| 4 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History). |
| 5 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences). |
| 6 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government). |
| 7 | PHIL 1301 recommended. |
| 8 | SOCI 2319 recommended. |
Notes:
Students admitted not core complete, must meet the SHSU core curriculum requirements. For students who are taking prerequisite hours at SHSU, see the pre-licensure BSN requirements.
NURS 4372 recommended to be taken in the final semester.
Science courses do not require a 7 year renewal.
The nursing credit hours include 32 articulation credits and 30 hours taken at SHSU. Course substitutions in the degree specific credit hours may require additional elective credit hours to reach the total 121 credits required for the degree.
Students must apply and be accepted into the SHSU School of Nursing prior to registering for any NURS courses.
Students must receive a grade of “C” or better in each NURS course.
Students accepted into the SHSU School of Nursing are required to adhere to additional policies indicated in the School of Nursing student handbook.
For more information on the RN-BSN program, contact: prenursing@shsu.edu
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The RN to BSN is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Lead in the provision of safe quality care using evidence-based practice.
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Collaborate with patients and members of the healthcare team to promote health and provide preventive care.
- Incorporate ethical principles and professional standards to provide quality care to diverse populations.
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Advocate for patients and the nursing profession while incorporating dynamic system practices, health policies, and global healthcare factors.
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Maintain confidentiality and protect patient rights utilizing technology and information management systems.
