Nursing (RN-BSN) BSN
Looking for an online Nursing RN to BSN degree?
Program-at-a-Glance (Undergraduate)
Credit Hours:
Total Hours: 120
Major Area of Study: 66
Additional Requirements: 16-33
Cost per Credit Hour:
$383.59
Completion Time:
3 semesters
Accreditation:
Special Requirements:
Student is (1) a graduate from either an associate degree program in nursing or a diploma nursing program; (2) registered to practice nursing in Mississippi with an unrestricted RN license
You’re already an RN, which means you have the foundation to excel in the healthcare industry. Our accredited fully online Nursing RN to BSN degree program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills to build upon your prior education and earn your BSN while staying in your current place of employment! Our online RN to BSN degree can be completed in as few as three semesters and there are no required chemistry courses. All of our courses and all course prerequisites are available fully online.
The online RN to BSN degree is designed with you, the working RN professional, in mind. You can choose to begin this program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semester with an 8, 10, or 16 week option, which allows you to earn this degree on your time.
The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The online RN to BSN degree is accredited by the CCNE.That means you can expect a program with the highest standards and quality. Looking for more? Our enrollment coaches are standing by to assist you. Click here for more info! This is your life, plus college!
A number of scholarship opportunities are available for online students! Our Online Student Scholarship gives first time, fully online students an opportunity for $500 towards their first semester. To get started with our Online Student Scholarship, or to view our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, visit our Student Scholarship page now!
We are here to help! Our enrollment coaches are standing by to help you take the next step.
We’ll call you soon! In the meantime, learn more about us from our blog or start your application.
General Education Curriculum
Written Communication (6 hours)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Composition One
|
3 hrs. |
|
Composition Two
|
3 hrs. |
Natural Science and Mathematics (8- 10 hours minimum)
Select 2 courses with labs:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Biology and Society
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Principles of Biological Science I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Principles of Biological Science II
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Chemistry and Our Environment
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Chemistry I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Chemistry II
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Weather and Climate
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Physics I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Physics II
*
|
3 hrs. |
Humanities (9 hours)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
World Literature
|
3 hrs. |
Select 2 course, 1 history required:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E.
|
3 hrs. |
|
World Civilization: 1500 C.E. to the present
|
3 hrs. |
|
Introduction to Philosophy
|
3 hrs. |
|
Ethics and Good Living
|
3 hrs. |
|
Comparative Religion
|
3 hrs. |
Aesthetic Values (3 hours)
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Art Appreciation
|
3 hrs. |
|
Dance Appreciation
|
3 hrs. |
|
The Enjoyment of Music
|
3 hrs. |
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)
Select 2 courses:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
The Human Experience: A Global Perspective on Human Diversity
|
3 hrs. |
|
Basic Economics
|
3 hrs. |
|
World Geography: Dynamics of a Changing Earth
|
3 hrs. |
|
American Government
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Psychology
|
3 hrs. |
|
Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology
|
3 hrs. |
Mathematics (3 hours)
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Quantitation Reasoning
|
3 hrs. |
|
College Algebra
|
3 hrs. |
|
Higher-level MAT course
|
3 hrs. |
Writing-Intensive Requirement (Major Area)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Role Development as a Nurse Scientist
|
3 hrs. |
ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites
Speaking-Intensive Requirement (3 hours)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Business and Professional Speaking
|
3 hrs. |
Capstone Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Leadership
|
3 hrs. |
Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102
Progam Curriculum
Major Area of Study Requirements (66 hours)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Commonalities of Nursing Practice
|
3 hrs. |
|
Pathophysiology
|
3 hrs. |
|
Health Assessment & Health Promotion Theory
|
3 hrs. |
|
Role Development as a Nurse Scientist
|
4 hrs. |
|
Population Health Nursing Theory and Praxis
|
3 hrs. |
|
Medical-Surgical Nursing
|
14 hrs. |
|
Psychiatric Nursing
|
6 hrs. |
|
Maternal-Child Nursing
|
10 hrs. |
|
Health Care Systems
|
3 hrs. |
|
Evidence-Based Practice
|
3 hrs. |
|
Professional Nursing Concepts II
|
3 hrs. |
|
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Practice Experiences
|
3 hrs. |
|
Leadership
|
3 hrs. |
Additional Requirements (16-33 hours)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
College Algebra
|
3 hrs. |
|
Nutrition
|
3 hrs. |
|
General Psychology
|
1 hrs. |
|
Developmental Psychology
|
3 hrs. |
|
Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology
|
3 hrs. |
|
The Family
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course with lab:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
General Microbiology
*
|
3 hrs. |
|
Microorganisms in Health and Disease
*
|
3 hrs. |
Select 1 course:
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
|
3 hrs. |
|
Introduction to Biostatistics
|
3 hrs. |
|
Statistical Methods I
|
3 hrs. |
Hours to Degree
120 hours are needed to graduate with a BSN in Nursing (RN Completion). At least 50 percent of the hours applied to a degree at The University of Southern Mississippi must be earned from a senior college, and 30 of these hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. The student must earn at least 21 of the last 30 hours of course work and at least 12 hours in the major area of study from Southern Miss. See Residence Hour Requirements for more information.
Additional Note
Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Licensure requirements and approval are determined by each state’s licensing board. For general information about professional licensure, please review the Online Programs & Professional Licensure Page. If you have professional licensing questions regarding licensure relative to one of our online programs, please read our Professional Licensure Disclosure and then fill out the Professional Licensure Inquiry Form. If you have other questions regarding licensure, please email professional licensure.
There is a fee for each online course ranging from $ 30 – 100 depending if the course has a clinical component. Validation Credit Fees are a one-time fee of approximately $800
The RN-BSN Program provides you with opportunities to:
- Improve your practice as a BSN nurse
- Climb the career ladder at your health care agency
- Pursue advanced degrees, i.e., MSN, DNP, PhD
- Become a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, a Nurse Executive, a Faculty Member
Yes. At Southern Miss, 34 credits (called ‘validation credits’) are given to RN-BSN students as a way of respecting the previous course work already taken in your associate degree. You will register for these validation credits during your program of study.
- Spring Semester (Application Deadline: November 1st)
- Summer Semester (Application Deadline: April 1st)
- Fall Semester (Application Deadline: June 1st)
Yes. All prerequisites must be completed before starting the program. However, at the time of application, only two of the three natural sciences must be completed.
No. As long as the prerequisite courses were completed with a “C” or better, those courses will transfer.
Scholarships and financial aid are available: A full range of financial assistance is available through the Southern Miss Office of Financial Aid. For information about the NELR scholarship for RN to BSN go to http://riseupms.com/state-aid/nelr. The deadline dates for this scholarship application are January 1 – March 31. Additional scholarships are available through The University of Southern Mississippi. For more information, contact your advisor.
For more information or for transcript evaluation before applying, call Southern Miss RN-BSN Advisor at 601-266-5454 or 228-865-4555.
To find pricing information, visit our pricing page. For financial aid information, view our financial aid page. For detailed tuition information, visit our business services page.
Other classes that aren’t listed may count towards your degree once your transcript has been evaluated and posted.
If yes, visit online.usm.edu/military for more information on how Southern Miss can serve you and your needs. We will help you with funding and scholarship information, admissions and course enrollment.
No, online students pay resident tuition.
Yes, all courses in the program are available totally online; however, there are two clinical experiences that are completed in your health care agency or through community health services. Students are not required to visit campus for any in-class lectures.
If you still have questions, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!
Admission Requirements
The RN-BSN program is for registered nurses who have graduated with either an associate degree or diploma from a nursing program, and are registered to practice nursing in Mississippi with an unrestricted RN license. So before getting started, make sure you meet those requirements.
In addition to filing an application, the following minimum requirements must be met for consideration for admission to the baccalaureate nursing program:
- A national composite ACT of 21 or above; a corresponding score on the ACT taken prior to October 1989 or the SAT is acceptable (not applicable to RN-BSN students but is required for students enrolled concurrently in ADN program and non-clinical RN-BSN courses);
- An overall grade point average of 2.5 on courses prerequisite to the nursing major (BSN);
- A minimum of a C in each prerequisite course applicable to the nursing curriculum;
- Successful completion of all prerequisite courses before beginning the nursing plan;
- Kaplan Nursing Admission (BSN only);
- Successful completion of a criminal background check, immunizations and controlled substances drug screen before beginning the nursing plan;
- Earned at least a C in each nursing course from associate degree in nursing program or diploma program with a minimum of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (RN-BSN); and
- May only repeat one associate degree/diploma nursing course one time. (RN-BSN)..
Admission Requirements:
Questions about this degree?
Talk to one of our enrollment coaches today for more information.
