Nursing, RN to Bachelor of Science

School of Nursing

WVU nursing student is supervised as she practices

The WVU School of Nursing's online RN to BSN degree program offers licensed registered nurses the opportunity to advance their careers by completing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Whether you're looking to enter a graduate nursing program, move into administration or teaching, or become a nurse specialist, this program provides a flexible and accessible path to achieve your goals.

Cost:

$567 / Cost per credit hour ^*

Courses and Credits:

8 Courses / 30 Credit hours

Duration:

One to two years

Dates:

Next Start: August 20, 2025 Admission Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer

Learning Format:

Online asynchronous

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Program Overview

The WVU School of Nursing's online RN to BSN program is your gateway to advancing your nursing career while maintaining your busy schedule. This flexible and convenient program allows you to complete your BSN degree online, with a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, nursing interventions, professional role development, caring, and communication.

Designed specifically for licensed registered nurses who have graduated from diploma or associate degree nursing programs, the RN to BSN program at WVU can be completed in as little as three semesters once all general education requirements are met. This flexibility ensures you can balance your studies with your professional and personal commitments, making it easier to take the next step in your nursing journey.

Elevate Your Nursing Expertise

Flexible Learning: Our 100% asynchronous online format allows you to study at your own pace, making it easier to fit education into your busy schedule.
Career Advancement: Earning a BSN opens doors to advanced roles in nursing, including administration, teaching, and specialized nursing positions.
Graduate Opportunities: The BSN degree provides a strong foundation for entering graduate nursing programs, further enhancing your career prospects.
In-State Tuition Rates: All students benefit from in-state tuition rates, regardless of residency.

The RN to BSN program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring high standards of academic and professional excellence. As a graduate you will be eligible to seek licensure as registered nurses in West Virginia and other states, depending on individual state laws.

Curriculum

As a student, you will focus on the five core competencies that provide the framework for the RN to BSN curriculum:

Critical Thinking: Employ scholarly inquiry and evidence-based reasoning and creativity in the process of assessment, interpretation, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and inference as a basis for professional nursing practice.
Nursing Intervention: Ensure quality care by applying theory, evidence-based clinical judgment and decision-making, and patient care technology in the delivery of safe and skilled nursing therapeutics with individuals, families, communities, and populations across the health-illness continuum.
Professional Role: Demonstrate knowledge, attitudes, professional values, personal qualities and behaviors consistent with the nursing roles of health care designer and coordinator, organization and system leader, and advocate for consumers and the nursing profession.
Caring: Provide empathetic, culturally sensitive, and compassionate care for individuals, families, communities, and populations that upholds moral, legal, and ethical humanistic principles.
Communication: Integrate therapeutic, interpersonal, intraprofessional, interprofessional and informatics communication processes in professional nursing practice.

The WVU School of Nursing RN to BSN program offers licensed registered nurses, who are graduates of diploma and associate degree nursing programs, the opportunity to complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The online RN-BSN program is designed for completion in three semesters of full-time study or six semesters part-time, once all general education requirements are met. All nursing courses are offered online, and a total of 30 credit hours of nursing coursework are required.

Registered nurses are admitted directly into the School of Nursing with 50 credit hours of undifferentiated nursing credit. To complete the 120 credit hours required for the BSN degree, you must meet all WVU general education requirements. The specific number of additional courses needed will be determined after an evaluation of your transcript.

General Education Foundations

ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 or ENGL 103 Composition & RhetoricIntroduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research, Accelerated Academic Writing, 3-6 credit hours

F2A/F2B: Science & Technology, 4-6 credit hours
F3: Math & Quantitative Reasoning, 3-4 credit hours
F4: Society & Connections, 3 credit hours
F5: Human Inquiry & the Past 3, credit hours
F6: The Arts & Creativity, 3 credit hours
F7: Global Studies & Diversity, 3 credit hours
F8: Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree), 9 credit hours

Total hours: 31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

RN to BSN Curriculum

All Registered Nurses will transfer 50 hours of undifferentiated nursing credit. All RN to BSN students will be required to meet WVU's General Education Foundations Curriculum (GEF). If a student already holds a bachelors degree in another discipline, you will be required to complete ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and STAT 211 (if not already completed at a regionally accredited college or university) to fulfill nursing requirements. Advisors will work with students to identify courses already appearing on the transcript that meet GEF requirements, and then develop a plan to fulfill any remaining requirements.

Student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on college work attempted and carry an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher throughout through completion of degree. Note that the last 30 credit hours taken for the degree MUST come from WVU in order to meet residency requirements.

Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher is required through completion of degree. Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on college work attempted is required.

Transfer Credits

Undifferentiated nursing transfer credit 50GEF 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 25Additional elective transfer credit * 6

Required Courses (Must be completed with a grade of C- or better)

ENGL 101: Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric (GEF 1), 3 credit hours
ENGL 102: Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) **, 3 credit hours
STAT 211: Elementary Statistical Inference (GEF 3) **, 3 credit hours
NSG 333: Ethics in Nursing, 3 credit hours
NSG 361: Health Assessment, 4 credit hours
NSG 362: Clinical Health Promotion, 4 credit hours
NSG 373: Leadership in Organizations, 3 credit hours
NSG 461: Health Policy for Professional Nursing Practice, 3 credit hours
NSG 465: Foundations of Research and Evidence Based Practice, 3 credit hours
NSG 471: Community Health Nursing:Theory and Interventions, 5 credit hours
NSG 475: Applied Research and Evidence Based Practice, 5 credit hours

Total hours: 120

* Used to meet minimum total credits of 120 for the degree.

** Transfer credit equivalent to the specific course is allowed.

*** 120 credit hours are required by WVU for awarding of an undergraduate. degree

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency/fellowship programs in nursing.

Video: Program Overview

Learn more about the benefits and features of the online RN to BSN program offered by the WVU School of Nursing from Melanie Whelan, Teaching Assistant Professor.

Admissions Requirements and Eligibility

Diploma or associate's degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program.
Minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.5 on all college-level work ever attempted.
Applicants with a GPA of below 2.5 may be considered for provisional admission on a case-by-case basis. Consideration for provisional admission may include the number of seats available in the program and the number of hours completed in previous degree programs.
Once admitted, students must maintain a nursing GPA of at least 2.5. Students who do not maintain a nursing GPA of at least 2.5 will be placed on academic notice for two semesters. Students who do not raise their nursing GPA to at least 2.5 after two semesters on academic notice will be dismissed from the School of Nursing.

All registered nurses will transfer 50 hours of undifferentiated nursing credit based on RN licensure. All RN to BSN students will be required to meet WVU's General Education Foundations (GEF) requirements (the University waives the GEF requirements for those with a previous bachelor's degree, Associate of Arts degree, or Associate of Science degree, but the student is still required to complete nursing general education requirements). Advisors will work with students to identify courses already appearing on the transcript that meet GEF requirements and develop a plan to fulfill any remaining requirements. RN to BSN general education requirements, regarding of University GEF credit requirements, include ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and STAT 211.

For example:

120 credits (minimum required to graduate)
-50 undifferentiated nursing credits for RN license
70 credits remaining
-30 credits RN-BSN nursing courses (See program of study)
40 general education credits remaining*

*General education credits may be fulfilled by course work from associate degrees or other college work completed at regionally accredited colleges or universities. For more information about General Education Foundations; see link GEF Requirements. For more information about course equivalence please see the following website: Transfer Course Equivalency System.

PLEASE NOTE: The last consecutive 30 enrolled credits must be taken with WVU in order to meet residency requirements for graduation. Residency is defined as: "being registered for officially approved coursework which will satisfy graduation requirements." It does not require that you reside physically in the state of West Virginia, or that you take courses in-person at WVU. The RN to BSN program is 100% online.

Direct and indirect clinical experiences are included in WVU School of Nursing RN-to-BSN courses. Clinical assignments are designed to enrich course work and differ from pre-licensure clinical assignments. The purpose of these clinical experiences is to advance professional growth and assist students in demonstrating proficiencies essential to BSN-prepared nursing practice. Clinical experiences include assessing and providing interventions for individuals, families, and communities; communicating and collaborating in an interprofessional manner; and designing and disseminating an evidenced-based nursing practice plan to address a health issue or problem in a community or acute care setting.

Washington State Regulations: In compliance with the Washington State Nursing Commission regulations, WVU cannot accept students who are residents of Washington into our online Nursing programs at this time.

Admissions Process and How to Apply

How to Apply

To get started you'll need to create an account and complete the WVU Online Application. For type of student, please choose Health Sciences Transfer. The application and supporting materials must be received by the following dates:

The application period for the Spring (January) term will open on May 1 and close on November 1. All transcripts must be received no later than November 15.
The application period for the Summer term will open on September 1 and close on March 1. All transcripts must be received no later than March 15.
The application period for the Fall term will open on December 1 and close on July 1. All transcripts must be received no later than July 15.

Application Requirements

Request official transcripts from all institutions attended (other than WVU), or high school transcripts if fewer than 24 college credits be sent to:

WVU Office of Admissions P.O. Box 6009 Morgantown, WV 26506-6009
or Email: WVUadmissions@mail.wvu.edu

Note: Students who have been dismissed from any nursing program (WVU or otherwise) are ineligible for admission to any of the WVU BSN programs; however, students who have received degrees or additional credentialing post-academic dismissal from a nursing program are eligible for admission to the BS/BA to RN, RN to BSN, or graduate programs provided that they meet all other admission requirements and based on space available.

How to Apply

Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid

The University provides a comprehensive approach to helping you finance your education. Learn more on the WVU Financial Aid Website.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies, and living expenses. Visit the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

Students are encouraged to:

File the application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the June deadline to determine eligibility for funding and scholarships.
Inquire with your employer about potential financial support for continuing your education.

Tuition per credit hour is listed on the page of your program of interest. Please note, tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change at the start of each academic year.

Connect with an Admissions Coach

Jessica Carr Online Admissions Coach

(304) 293-6841 jessica.carr1@mail.wvu.edu

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Careers and Employment

Overall, the future for BSN degree majors is very promising. With increasing demand, specialization opportunities, leadership roles, continuing education options, and technological advancements, there are many opportunities for nurses to advance their careers and make a difference in the healthcare industry.

Career Paths

Nurse Practitioner
Acute Care Nurse
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Medical and Health Services Manager
Nurse Manager
Nurse Educator
Public Health Nurse
Travel Nurse