RN to B.S.N.

Each session is seven weeks long.

Tuition Information

» Estimated cost is based on 2024-2025 BOR tuition/fees.

» All courses are worth three credits each and delivered in seven-week format.

» 30 SDSU credits are required for program completion.

» Full-time: 12 credits per semester • Completion in 10 months.

» Part-time: 6 credits per semester • Completion in 18 months.

» Additional costs will be incurred throughout the B.S.N. program, including but not limited to textbooks.

Financial Aid

SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college — our Office of Financial Aid is here for you.

Please contact your adviser regarding financial aid if you would like to consider dual enrollment in you associate degree program and RN to B.S.N. program.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The academic advising guide sheet promotes student success by guiding all students to timely completion their degree.

RN to B.S.N. Courses

• NURS 300: Transition to B.S.N. (3 credits)
• NURS 301: Emerging Issues in Nursing (3 credits)
• NURS 452: Introduction to Population Health (3 credits)
• NURS 455: Quality Improvement and Safety (3 credits)
• NURS 462: Application of Population Health (3 credits)
• NURS 463: Systems-Based Practice in Healthcare (3 credits)
• NURS 465: Evidence-Based Practice and Research (3 credits)
• NURS 466: Healthcare Informatics and Technologies (3 credits)
• NURS 468: Palliative Care Nursing (3 credits)
• NURS 469: Nursing Leadership in Practice (3 credits)

30 credits must be completed with SDSU

As a graduate of the RN to B.S.N. program, you will have the knowledge to:

• Integrate theories and concepts from liberal education into nursing practice (cross-curricular skill: critical and creative thinking).
• Integrate effective leadership skills to improve the quality of health care (cross-curricular skill: teamwork; diversity, inclusion and equity).
• Incorporate evidence-based practice (cross-curricular skill: inquiry and analysis; critical and creative thinking).
• Demonstrate proficiency in patient care technologies and informatics (cross-curricular skill: information literacy).
• Evaluate the implications of health policy and health care delivery systems on the professional nursing practice environment.
• Integrate effective interprofessional communication and collaboration into professional nursing practice (cross-curricular skill: teamwork).
• Integrate behaviors that reflect nursing values and professional standards into practice (cross-curricular skill: ethical reasoning; diversity, inclusion and equity).
• Provide patient-centered, quality care (cross-curricular skill: diversity, inclusion and equity).
• Improve population health through health promotion and disease prevention.

Applicants for the RN to B.S.N. program must:

1. Be a registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing and an unencumbered license in the state of practice.
2. Meet SDSU GPA transfer requirements.
3. Have achieved "C" grades in all courses.
4. Have three or fewer prerequisite courses to complete.

Conditional admission may be granted to approved students currently enrolled in an associate degree program. For more information on special circumstances, contact the program adviser.

To apply, you must complete the:

1. General application to the university (if you are not currently an SDSU student)
2. NursingCAS Application

The RN to B.S.N. program can be completed in 10 months if the student chooses to be full-time and take 12 credits every seven weeks.  Less than 12 credits could mean 15+ months. The student determines a pace that fits personal and professional responsibilities.

RNs can be admitted to the major with three or fewer prerequisite courses left for completion. These courses must be completed in semester one and two of the major.

Discuss financial aid options with the Financial Aid Office early in the application process by calling 605-688-4702. There are also several College of Nursing Scholarship opportunities available to RNs.

Registered nurses who have an associate's degree in nursing and an unencumbered license in the state of practice are eligible to apply, with 2.5 GPA or greater, "C" grades in all courses and three or fewer prerequisite courses to complete. The College of Nursing requires grades of "C" or higher in all courses applied toward graduation.

Number of admissions may vary, based upon faculty and financial resources.

Acceptance is conditional on completion of ADN program, unencumbered license in state of practice, completion of prerequisites and College of Nursing requirements for drug screening, background check, evidence of personal liability insurance, current immunization status and CPR certification.

Visit theContinuing and Distance Education page for technical/software requirements and much more.

Many RNs complete associate nursing programs offered by community or technical colleges. Current SDSU general degree requirements for transferring community/technical college credits: SDSU baccalaureate degree requires 120 credits, 46 community/technical college nursing credits, students must complete 30 SDSU credits.

Transfer students who have begun but not completed a nursing program at another college or university must submit official transcripts as part of the University general admission process. Students must also submit a letter to the Dean of the College of Nursing indicating the reason for program non-completion and transfer request. Additionally, provide three letters of recommendation from former nursing faculty, one letter must be from nursing program dean or director. The College of Nursing evaluates transcripts to award appropriate credits.

Clinicals for the RN to B.S.N. program include population health and evidence-based nursing experiences in your own community. The RN to B.S.N. program coordinator works to establish agreements so you can complete the clinical experiences close to home. SDSU adheres to NC-SARA and NCSBN rules for clinical placement, so if you are a student from out of state, check to see if our RN to B.S.N. program is right for you.