Nursing RN to BSN: Degree Completion Program

The “RN to BSN” degree completion program is designed for the licensed Registered Nurse (RN) who has completed an Associate degree program or hospital-based education program. Many students will be able to achieve the BS degree in as few as 30 credits.  The program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis, with most courses available in online, asynchronous format. 

Individual program plans are based on a student’s prior learning:

• Completion of AA or AS degree program in NY or NJ, or
• Completion of AAS degree program, or other AA or AS degree program +/- additional credits, or
• Completion of Hospital-Based training program +/- additional credits.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation, of which at least 30 credits are taken at FDU.  

Students who have completed the requirements for licensure in nursing and are currently licensed as an RN will receive 30 credits for prior learning (contingent upon review of licensure documentation) toward the BSN degree.

Students with an AA or AS degree in NY or NJ will ALSO: (1) receive 60 credits toward the BSN degree; (2) have GenEd requirements waived; and (3) be able to substitute major electives for University Requirements (6 credits).

Students with AA or AS degree from another state, or students with an AAS degree will ALSO: (1) be able to transfer up to 60 credits toward the BSN degree, including to complete GenEd requirements; and (2) be able to substitute major electives for University Requirements (6 credits).

Students who completed a hospital-based training program will ALSO (1) receive 30 credits toward the BSN degree; and (2) be able to transfer up to 30 credits from an approved university toward the BSN degree, including completing GenEd requirements.

Admission Requirements

• License to practice as a RN in the United States. (Applicants who are associated with an organization that has an articulation agreement with FDU can defer the requirement for licensure until second enrolled semester.)
• Evidence of potential to succeed in college.

Curriculum

Modified BS General Education Requirements

GenEd requirements are waived for students who completed an AA or AS degree program in NY or NJ. Transfer credits (from recognized institutions) can be applied to fulfill GenEd requirements for other students.

• MEDT1130 Bioethics – 3 credits
• WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric and Inquiry – 3 credits
• WRIT1003 Composition II: Research and Argument – 3 credits
• Inquiry in the Arts & Humanities – 3 credits 
• Information & Technology Literacy – 3 credits

University Requirements (6 credits)

Students who completed an AA or AS degree program in NY or NJ may take a NURS or MEDT elective course in lieu of UNIV 2001 and/or UNIV 2002 (up to 6 credits). Transfer credits cannot be applied to fulfill these University Requirements.

• UNIV2001 Cross-cultural Perspectives
• UNIV2002 Global Issues

Major Requirement (3 credits)

• MEDT4307 Health Studies Practicum 

Major Elective Requirement (minimum 15 credits)

Transfer credits cannot be applied to fulfill these requirements. Students will choose among NURS or MEDT courses such as these and others:

• MEDT3204 Social Determinants of Health
• MEDT2217 Information Systems and Applications in Healthcare
• MEDT4430 Utilization of Healthcare Research
• MEDT4304 Population Health
• MEDT3351 Epidemiology in Healthcare  
• MEDT3208 Introduction to Healthcare Economics
• MEDT4301 American Health Care
• MEDT3353 Introduction to Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition
• MEDT4302 Health Care Law and Policy
• MEDT4308 Management Principles for Healthcare 
• MEDT4303 Introduction to Global Health 
• MEDT2006 Medical Terminology

Free Elective Requirement (up to 9 credits)

Transfer credits cannot be applied to fulfill these requirements.

Academic Program Plan

Sample full-time plan for Fall Start (actual plan based on prior learning):

• UNIV2001 Cross-cultural Perspectives (3 credits) (Fall)
• MEDT4307 Health Studies Practicum (3 credits – 90 practice hours) (Fall)
• Choose TWO (6 credits): MEDT3204, MEDT4301, MEDT3351, MEDT4308, MEDT4430 (Fall)
• MEDT2006 Medical Terminology (3 credits) (Winter)
• Choose THREE (9 credits): MEDT2217, MEDT3204, MEDT3351, MEDT3208, MEDT3353, MEDT4303, MEDT4304 (Spring)
• Free Electives (6 credits) (Spring)

Total credits: 30. Total practice hours: 90.  

Cost of Attendance 

Students can complete this degree program in as little as one year (i.e., 15 credits in Spring and 15 credits in Fall) as a full-time student. The tuition rate for full-time students is discounted from the individual credit rate and can be found on the FDU tuition webpage. All full-time applicants are automatically considered for merit awards. Merit awards are based on the student’s cumulative college GPA and range up to $16,000/year. Many regional healthcare organizations also offer special pricing and/or tuition support for FDU programs – please inquire with your employer. 

There is also a significant tuition discount for part-time students in this program track, such that degree completion can often be achieved for under $20,000 (and often can be covered in full by employee tuition assistance programs). Please see our nursing home page for the current tuition discount for students pursuing an RN to BSN completion degree.