RN to BSN

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

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 (RN). Faculty are available at SHSU-The Woodlands Center for questions and advising.  For more information on the RN-BSN program, contact: prenursing@shsu.edu.

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 partner 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**

*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.   

RN to BSN
Core Curriculum
Component Area I (Communication)6
Component Area II (Mathematics) 13
Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 28
Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 33
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) 43
Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 54
Degree Specific Requirements
BIOL 2403Human Anatomy & Physiology I 2, 64
BIOL 2404Human Anatomy & Physiology II 2, 64
BIOL 2420Intro Applied Microbiology4
or BIOL 3470 General Microbiology
CHEM 1406Inorganic & Envir Chemistry4
or CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I
or CHEM elective or approved elective
FSCN 2362Nutrition3
or approved elective
MATH 1314Pre Calculus Algebra 13
or MATH 1324 Mth for Mngl Decision Making
or MATH 1410 Elementary Functions
or MATH 1420 Calculus I
MATH 1342Elementary Statistics3
or MATH 1370 Intro Biomedical Statistics
or PSYC 3402 Psychological Statistics
PSYC 1301Introduction To Psychology 43
PSYC 3374Development Psychology3
Track Specific Requirements
NURS 3340Older Adult Health Management3
NURS 3360Introduction to Research3
NURS 3370RN-to-BSN Role Transition3
NURS 4030Community Nursing3
NURS 4060Leadership and Management3
NURS 4372RN-to-BSN Capstone3
NURS 4381Legal & Ethical Issues in Nurs3
NURS 4382Informatics3
NURS 4383Rural Health Nursing3
NURS 4384Nursing Genetics and Genomics3
Articulation Credit
ADN/Diploma Nursing courses applied to the RN-BSN degree 832
Minor: Not Required 9,10
Total Hours121
Prenursing Prerequisites and Texas Core59
Nursing Credit Hours62
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 is recommended and satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture). 

4

Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences).

5

SOCI 2319 and KINE 2115 are recommended and satisfy Core Curriculum requirements for Component Area IX (Component Area Option).

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

FSCN 1367 may be used as a transfer course for this requirement; please see a SAM Center advisor for more details.

8

Includes 12 hours NCLEX exam credit: NURS 3620 and NURS 4620.

9

A minor is not required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so additional semester credits hours will be needed above the degree program’s stated total semester credit hours. 

10

All minors can be paired with this degree program.

Notes

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework. 

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.

Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.

Students must apply and be accepted into the SHSU School of Nursing prior to registering for any NURS courses.

Science courses do not require a 7 year renewal.

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.

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 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.

NURS 4372 is recommended to be taken in the final semester.