Go above and beyond: Advance to preferred positions in nursing management, research, and public health with a bachelor's degree in nursing.

University of Maryland Global Campus's Bachelor of Science in Nursing for registered nurses provides a pathway for career advancement and preparation for graduate study, building on your established clinical and practical experiences. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, this program will help equip you to assume the role of the professional nurse in diverse and challenging settings, take on responsibility for client care, and provide exceptional evidence-based nursing care to patients.

These program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2019–2020 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit the catalog archive in the Current Students section.

Submit third-party comments for the upcoming CCNE accreditation visit below.

Program Mission Statement

To prepare graduates to assume leadership roles in diverse and challenging settings, be accountable for their patients' care, provide exceptional evidence-based nursing care to all patients, and be equipped for graduate study and leadership positions in nursing.

About the Nursing for Registered Nurses Bachelor's Degree

In your nursing courses, you'll build on your established clinical and practical experiences. The curriculum covers health assessment, global health, family and community health nursing, nursing leadership and management, nursing research, information technology, evidence-based practice, gerontology, legal and ethical issues in healthcare, and advocacy. The coursework can help prepare you to assume leadership roles in diverse and challenging settings, take on responsibility for client care, and provide exceptional evidence-based nursing care to patients.

What You'll Learn

Through your coursework, you will learn how to

  • Demonstrate clinical reasoning in selecting and applying healthcare approaches for individuals, families, and communities
  • Evaluate and apply research to promote evidence-based nursing practice
  • Apply management and leadership concepts in various settings to promote health
  • Evaluate and communicate the effects of health policy and healthcare systems on the nursing profession and the delivery of care
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the value of continuous personal and professional development as healthcare evolves

Coursework Examples

In past projects, students have had the opportunity to

  • Evaluate and critique research findings
  • Develop an evidence-based patient care proposal
  • Devise a plan to address a global healthcare issue
  • Develop and implement a community health promotion plan
  • Create a quality improvement plan for a patient care issue

Nursing for Registered Nurses Bachelor's Degree Requirements

Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.

Courses in the Major

This program requires 30 credits of coursework in the major.

If you were admitted to this program prior to the fall 2018 term, contact an advisor before enrolling in courses.

  • NURS 300
  • IFSM 305
  • NURS 362
  • NURS 350
  • HMGT 372
  • NURS 420
  • NURS 410
  • NURS 462
  • NURS 485

Related Required Courses

The following may be applied to general education or elective requirements:

  • STAT 200
  • PSYC 100
  • SOCY 100
  • General microbiology with lab
  • Anatomy and physiology I with lab
  • Anatomy and physiology II with lab

RN License

Your active unencumbered RN license, a program admission requirement, counts for an additional 30 credits.

Electives

This program requires 19 credits of minor and/or elective coursework.

General Education Requirements

This program requires 41 credits of general education coursework.

Research and Computing Literacy

  • PACE 111S or other PACE 111 course
    (to be taken in first 6 credits)
  • LIBS 150, CAPL 398A, other general education elective, or 1 credit from a second 4-credit science course
  • IFSM 201 or another computing course appropriate to the major

Communication

  • WRTG 111 or other writing course
  • WRTG 112
  • SPCH 100 or other communication, writing, or speech course
  • WRTG 393 or other advanced upper-level writing course

Mathematics

  • STAT 200
    (related requirement for the major)

Arts and Humanities

  • HIST 125 or other arts and humanities course
  • HUMN 100 or other arts and humanities course

Behavioral and Social Sciences

  • PSYC 100
    (related requirement for the major)
  • SOCY 100
    (related requirement for the major)

Biological and Physical Sciences

  • 7 credits of lower-level coursework including general microbiology with lab and human anatomy and physiology I with lab

Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may require you to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options. Please also see more information on alternate courses (where allowable) to fulfill general education requirements.

Overall Bachelor's Degree Requirements

In addition to the general education requirements and the major, minor, and elective requirements, the overall requirements listed below apply to all bachelor's degrees.

  • You must complete a minimum of 120 credits.
  • You must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 overall and a minimum grade of C for any class applied to the academic major or minor.
  • Within the 120 credits required, the following coursework must be taken through UMGC:
    • 30 credits (normally the final 30)
    • Half of the required number of credits within both the major and the minor
    • 15 credits at the upper level (earned in classes numbered 300 to 499), preferably within the major or minor
  • At least 45 credits must be upper level and include at least half of the credits required for the major. The remaining upper-level credits can be earned in any part of the curriculum.
  • At least half the required number of credits for any academic major or minor must be earned through graded coursework. Credit earned by examination, portfolio assessment, or noncollegiate training does not count as graded coursework.

Double majors: You can earn a dual major upon completion of all requirements for both majors, including the required minimum number of credits for each major and all related requirements for both majors. The same class cannot be used to fulfill requirements for more than one major. Certain restrictions (including use of credit and acceptable combinations of majors) apply for double majors. You cannot major in two programs with excessive overlap of required coursework. Contact an admissions advisor before selecting a double major.

Second bachelor's degree: To earn a second bachelor's degree, you must complete at least 30 credits through UMGC after completing the first degree. The combined credit in both degrees must add up to at least 150 credits. You must complete all requirements for the major. All prerequisites apply. If any of these requirements were satisfied in the previous degree, the remainder necessary to complete the minimum 30 credits of new classes should be satisfied with classes related to your major. You may not earn a second bachelor's degree in general studies and may not obtain a second associate's degree within the second bachelor's degree. Contact an admissions advisor before pursuing a second bachelor's degree.

Electives: Electives can be taken in any academic discipline. No more than 21 credits can consist of vocational or technical credit. Pass/fail credit, up to a maximum of 18 credits, can be applied toward electives only.

Career Preparation

This program is designed to help prepare you for career advancement in clinical research or public health nursing and provides preparation for graduate study in nursing.

Program Admission Requirements

UMGC's Bachelor of Science in Nursing for registered nurses (RN to BSN) is only open to students who have an associate's degree in nursing or a diploma from a registered nursing education program that is recognized by the appropriate State Board of Nursing.

State-Specific Details

Students must reside in and have an active, unencumbered nursing license in one of the following approved states at the time of admission and throughout completion of the program: Arizona; Arkansas; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Michigan; Mississippi; Montana; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Washington, D.C.

Learn more about professional licensure and how to contact your state's licensing board.

Student Clubs and Organizations

  • Nursing Club

    • Type:
    Available To: Undergraduate

    The Nursing Club is a student- and alumni-led group where members can collaborate and share information on resources, scholarships, and career opportunities. Students and alumni are encouraged to network with one another and discuss topics that are of interest to the nursing community.

Program Accreditation

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)The baccalaureate degree in nursing at UMGC is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001-2399, 202-887-6791.



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CCNE: Invitation for Third-Party Comments

A team representing the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) will visit UMGC April 15–17, 2020 for an on-site evaluation of the Nursing for Registered Nurses bachelor's degree program (RN-to-BSN). CCNE is an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education. The baccalaureate degree in nursing program at UMGC is accredited by CCNE.

As such, the RN-to-BSN program has been undergoing a self-study process, addressing the CCNE Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (2018). An evaluation team will visit the university to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate. The team will make a recommendation to CCNE regarding continuing accreditation for this program. Following a review process, CCNE will take the final action.

In accordance with its procedure, CCNE provides the opportunity for program constituents and other interested parties to submit, in writing, third-party comments concerning the program's qualifications for accreditation through one of two methods below:

Written and signed third-party comments will be accepted by CCNE until March 24, 2020 and must relate to the CCNE Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (2018). All third-party comments submitted to CCNE must be signed and written in English, consistent with CCNE's policy on Conduct of Business in English. Comments are shared only with the CCNE evaluation team appointed to review the RN-to-BSN program.