Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is designed for currently licensed Registered Nurses (RNs) with an associate degree or nursing diploma who wish to continue their education with a BSN. This online degree program aims to advance the knowledge of theory and clinical skills, making RNs more marketable in the current healthcare industry.

Program Summary

The program focuses on contemporary issues in the field of nursing, including anatomy, chemistry, data management, ethics, health assessment, human development and family studies, human resources management, microbiology, nursing research, nutrition, and sociology. The curriculum is designed to prepare RNs for more challenging and possibly higher-paying positions in the healthcare industry.

Clinical Experience

The clinical requirement involves working with an individual within a community to gain professional experience, which can be completed within or outside of a healthcare system. The main goal of the experience is for students to grow professionally and take the next step in a successful career.

Application Deadline

Apply by March 15 to start May 18.

Credits and Costs

The program requires 120 credits, with tuition fees of $638/$685 per credit.

Nationally Recognized

The Penn State RN to BSN program is one of the top online programs in the nation, and the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.

Career Opportunities

The BSN degree can open the door to positions in community agencies, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospices, schools, family planning centers, and business and industry. Penn State RN to BSN graduates can choose from numerous nursing career opportunities and work in different areas of the healthcare industry.

Job Titles

Some job titles related to this degree include:

• Progressive Care Unit RN (Progressive Care Unit Registered Nurse)
• Emergency Department RN (Emergency Department Registered Nurse)
• School Nurse
• Staff RN (Staff Registered Nurse)

Employment Outlook

The employment growth for Registered Nurses is estimated to be 6% over 10 years, with a total employment of 3,282,010.

Career Services

Penn State World Campus Career Services provides resources and tools to further students' careers, including opportunities to connect with employers, career counselor/coach support, occupation and salary information, internships, and graduate school resources.

Accelerated RN to BSN Format

The program offers an accelerated format, allowing students to take some nursing courses at an accelerated pace for ultimate flexibility. The accelerated nursing courses can be taken in conjunction with standard semester-length courses.

Clinical Requirements

The clinical requirement involves 45 total program hours, which can be completed within or outside of a healthcare system. The main goal of the experience is for students to grow professionally and take the next step in a successful career.

Set Your Own Pace

Students can finish their degree in two to three years by taking 6 courses per semester, or in three to four years by taking 4-5 courses per semester.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades.

Convenient Online Format

The program's convenient online format gives students the flexibility to study around their busy schedule, without sacrificing the quality of their education.

How to Apply

To apply for the program, students must review the admission requirements, gather required materials, create a Penn State login account, and complete the application. The application deadline is March 15 to start May 18.

Admissions Help

If students have questions about the admissions process, they can contact an admissions counselor.

Faculty

The program is taught by distinguished faculty who have special training and experience teaching in an online environment. Some of the faculty members include:

• Stephanie Barrett, RN, ONC
• Patricia Conroy, RN
• Elizabeth Cutezo, CNE
• Michael Evans
• Lisa Firestine, RN
• Abby Hackenberger, RN
• M. Ellen Hollars
• Suzanne Kuhn, RN, CNE
• Delores McCreary
• Nickolaus Miehl
• Melissa Miner, RN, CNE
• Mary Alyce Nelson
• Janet Ritenour, RN
• Joyce Taylor
• Brenda Terry-Manchester
• Rebecca D. Toothaker
• Beth Ann White, DNP, CRNP-BC, RN

News

Penn State has been featured in U.S. News' 2025 'Best Online Programs' rankings, and the Smart Track to Success scholarship program has been expanded for the first time.

Student Success Story

Michael Bach, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate, has found that every bit of information he gained from Penn State World Campus is used every day on the job.

Explore Other Academic Programs

Other academic programs offered by Penn State World Campus include:

• Nursing Master of Science in Nursing program
• Nursing Informatics Undergraduate Certificate program
• Nursing Forensics Undergraduate Certificate program
• Nursing Practice – Leadership Doctor of Nursing Practice program
• Homeland Security Undergraduate Minor program

General Education Requirements

Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses.

Course Availability

If students are ready to see when their courses will be offered, they can visit the public LionPATH course search to start planning ahead.

Program Requirements

The program requires 120 credits, including 42 prescribed core course credits, 45 General Education credits, and 33 additional core credits earned by portfolio verification for licensed RNs.

Prescribed Courses

Some of the prescribed courses include:

• NURS 200W: Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
• NURS 352: Advanced Health Assessment for the Registered Nurse
• NURS 357: Introduction to Nursing Informatics
• NURS 390: Transition and the Professional Nursing Role
• NURS 417: Family and Community Health Concepts
• NURS 465: Health Concepts for Adults with Complex Health Care Needs
• NURS 475: Integrated Concepts in Nursing Practice

Portfolio Assessment

The portfolio assessment includes credits earned by credit by portfolio assessment for RNs, such as:

• NURS 225: Pathophysiology
• NURS 230: Introduction to the Fundamentals of Nursing
• NURS 250: Professional Role Dev I: Intro to Professional Issues in Nursing Practice and Nursing Informatics
• NURS 301: Nursing Care of Client through the Adult Life Span Requiring Medical Intervention
• NURS 305: Introduction to Pharmacological Concepts
• NURS 306: Nursing Care of Children and Adolescents
• NURS 310: Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client
• NURS 320: Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family and Gynecological Client
• NURS 405B: Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part B
• NURS 420: Mental Health Nursing

Supporting Courses and Related Courses

Some of the supporting courses and related courses include:

• NURS 245: Violence and the Impact on Society
• NURS 325: Health and Environmental Sustainability
• NURS 409: Introduction to Forensic Nursing
• NURS 410: Forensic Evidence Collection and Preservation
• NURS 411: Seminar in Forensic Nursing
• NURS 430: Organization and Administration for the Nurse Manager
• NURS 431: Data Management for Nurse Managers
• NURS 432: Nursing Management of Human Resources
• NURS 433: Seminar for Nurse Managers
• NURS 440: Trauma/Critical Care Nursing
• NURS 458: Ethical Challenges in Health Care Informatics
• NURS 460: Advanced Concepts in Clinical Nursing Informatics
• NURS 495: Nursing Study in Specialized Setting
• NURS 496: Independent Studies

Courses Meeting General Education Requirements

Some of the courses that meet General Education requirements include:

• BIOL 129: Mammalian Anatomy
• BIOL 141: Introductory Physiology
• CAS 100: Effective Speech
• CHEM 110: Chemical Principles I
• CHEM 111: Experimental Chemistry I
• ENGL 15: Rhetoric and Composition
• ENGL 202A: Effective Writing: Writing in the Social Sciences
• ENGL 202B: Effective Writing: Writing in the Humanities
• ENGL 202C: Effective Writing: Technical Writing
• ENGL 202D: Effective Writing: Business Writing
• HDFS 129: Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies
• MICRB 106: Elementary Microbiology
• MICRB 107: Elementary Microbiology Laboratory
• NUTR 251: Introductory Principles of Nutrition
• PSYCH 100: Introductory Psychology
• SOC 1: Introductory Sociology
• SOC 5: Social Problems
• STAT 200: Elementary Statistics

General Education Requirements

The General Education requirements include:

• Foundations: 15 credits
• Knowledge Domains: 15 credits
• Integrative Studies: 6 credits
• Exploration: 9 credits

Tuition and Financial Aid

The tuition fees for the program are $638/$685 per credit, and financial aid is available to eligible students. The program also offers scholarships, grants, and payment options.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at The Pennsylvania State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001.