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Nursing (RN-BSN) BSN

Undergraduate

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.

A number of scholarship opportunities are available to online students. To find our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, click here.

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.

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

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
4 hrs.
Medical-Surgical Nursing
14 hrs.
Psychiatric Nursing
6 hrs.
Maternal-Child Nursing
10 hrs.
Mental Health Across the Life Span *
3 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

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.

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.

* Requires additional 1 hour lab
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this program lead to initial or an upgraded license in Mississippi or any other state?

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.

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, click here. For financial aid information, click here. For detailed tuition information, click here.

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

Admission Requirements:

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