Program Overview

RN to BSN Online Nursing Program

The Drexel University Bachelor of Science in Nursing accredited online program is a career-focused RN-to-BSN program that empowers students to challenge tradition by focusing on evidence-based and experiential learning. The program is designed to move beyond lectures and note taking, with a curriculum that focuses on action-based, practical, in-depth clinical skills.

Program Overview

• The program is fully online and can be completed in as little as 1 year.
• It is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Students can transfer up to 135 of the required 180 quarter credits to graduate.
• The program has a generous transfer credit policy and an accelerated format option.

Curriculum

The program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year. Students can take more courses in a shorter time period, with one semester credit equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits. The curriculum includes:

• Tier 1 Courses:
  • ENGL 101: Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research
  • ENGL 102: Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing
  • ENGL 103: Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres
  • Humanities Elective
  • Intro to Sociology
  • General Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Nursing Electives
  • Anatomy & Physiology I & II (w/ Labs)
  • Microbiology w/ Lab
  • Science Elective
• Tier 2 Courses:
  • Intro to Computer Science of Communication
  • Statistics of the Health Sciences
  • Health Care Economics, Macro or Micro
  • Health Care Ethics I Advanced Health Care Ethics
  • Social Science Electives
  • Science Electives
  • Pharmacology or Advanced Physiology or Pathophysiology
  • Open Electives
• Tier 3 Courses:
  • NURS 333: Appreciative Inquiry into Nursing: Science, Theory, and Patterns of Knowing
  • NURS 334: Nursing Research: Investigations to Improve Health Outcomes
  • NURS 341: Using Genetics and Genomics to Inform Nursing Care Delivery
  • NURS 342: Inclusive and Equitable Health Assessment: Promoting Health; Respecting Diversity
  • NURS 343: Leading and Managing Complex Systems of Health
  • NURS 344: Safety Science and Quality Improvement: Delivering a Safe and Excellent Care Experience
  • NURS 347: Educating Patients, Professionals, and the Public to Improve Health Outcomes
  • NURS 348: Responding to the Challenges of Global and Population-based Health Needs
  • NURS 349: Transitions of Care: Investigating Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care across the Life Span
  • NURS 351: Healthy Aging: Personal and Professional Opportunities to Promote Aging Well
• Total Credits: 180.0

Admissions Criteria

• High School diploma or equivalency
• Associates degree or diploma in Nursing
• College GPA of 2.0 or above
• Current, unrestricted United States RN licensure
• Official transcripts must show that 60 semester hours of the following college prerequisites were completed with a grade of C or better:
  • Nursing - 30 hours
  • English (including one semester of composition) - 6 hours
  • Humanities (studio courses not acceptable) - 3 hours
  • Anatomy and Physiology - 8 hours
  • Microbiology - 4 hours
  • Sociology - 3 hours
  • Growth and Development - 3 hours
  • Psychology - 3 hours

Articulation Credits

Students must be graduates of a nursing program that is both regionally accredited and accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education for Nursing (ACEN), or the National League for Nursing Commission on Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Students who meet criteria of the Pennsylvania Nursing Articulation Model will receive credit for 30 semester hours of nursing, which may be applied toward the program entrance requirements.

Tuition

The tuition rate for the academic year is $566 per credit, which is a 40% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $942 per credit. This program is eligible for Financial Aid. Special tuition rates are available for Drexel University Alumni, Military members, and members of Partner Organizations.

Academic Calendar

The academic year is divided into four 10-week quarters:

• Fall 2025: September 22, 2025 - December 6, 2025
• Winter 2026: January 5, 2026 - March 14, 2026
• Spring 2026: March 30, 2026 - June 6, 2026
• Summer 2026: June 22, 2026 - August 29, 2026

Career Opportunities

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing will prepare students for a wide variety of job opportunities, including:

• Registered Nurse
• Operating Room/Perioperative Nurse
• Critical Care/ICU Nurse
• Emergency Room Nurse
• Labor and Delivery Nurse
• Medical/Surgical Nurse
• Charge Nurse
• Case Manager
• Home Health Nurse
• Hospice Nurse
• Oncology Nurse According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses can expect a 6% increase in employment opportunities by 2033. Registered nurses with their BSN will have an easier time finding a job than those without a BSN.