RN to BSN Prerequisites & Course Requirements

To become a Registered Nurse (RN), you'll need to earn at least an associate degree or diploma in nursing and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

However, there are benefits to holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and some nurses return to school to earn their bachelor's degree through an RN to BSN program.

RN to BSN programs have varied requirements for prerequisites and courses. At the most basic, RN to BSN programs require you to have your RN license.

What Are Common RN to BSN Prerequisites and Course Requirements?

While every RN to BSN program has different prerequisites and course requirements, some requirements are fairly consistent.

All RN to BSN programs require you to have completed an accredited associate degree or diploma program and to hold a current, unencumbered RN license.

Other programs may require you to have a specific GPA, and most require that you've completed your general education courses as well as a certain amount of core nursing courses.

Like admissions requirements, the courses included in RN to BSN curriculums vary between programs. Some common course topics covered in RN to BSN programs include:

• community nursing
• evidence-based practice
• genetics
• health assessment
• healthcare quality
• nursing informatics
• pathophysiology

You can typically find a full list of admissions prerequisites and course requirements on the college or university's program page.

Top RN to BSN Programs

Below, we've listed some top RN to BSN programs and broken down their prerequisite and course requirements to give you an idea of what to expect.

1. Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University is a public university in Boone, North Carolina. Its Department of Nursing offers an RN to BSN program.

The program includes courses like:

• Concepts of Professional Nursing
• Nursing Informatics
• Nursing Care of Communities
• Nursing Research

To be accepted into this program, you'll need an associate degree in nursing as well as a valid RN license. You'll also need a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and at least 60 hours of transferable coursework, including 30 hours of major nursing courses.

2. Clemson University

Clemson University is a public research university in Clemson, South Carolina. It offers an RN to BSN program through its School of Nursing.

Courses in this program include:

• Family Nursing in the Community
• Health Assessment for RNs
• Pathophysiology
• Scientific Writing and Communication

In order to enter this program, you'll need to have graduated from a nationally accredited registered nursing program, have a valid RN license, have a cumulative GPA of 2.75, and have completed all prerequisite courses.

3. Drexel University

Drexel University is a private research university based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its College of Nursing and Health Professions offers an RN to BSN program.

This program includes courses like:

• Complex Systems of Care: Technology, Patient Safety, and Quality
• Genetics and Genomics: Application to Nursing Practice
• Issues in Aging and Longevity
• Nursing Research: Methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice

To be accepted into this program, you'll need a nursing degree and valid RN license, as well as a college GPA of 2.0 or higher and at least 60 credits of prerequisites, including 30 core nursing credits.

4. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University is a public university in Hays, Kansas. It offers an RN to BSN through its Department of Nursing.

Courses offered in this program include:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement for the RN
• Informatics for the RN
• Legal & Ethical Issues in Healthcare
• Trends Facing Healthcare

In order to enter this program, you'll need a nursing degree and a valid RN license. You must also have completed prerequisite courses with a GPA of at least 2.5, though students with a lower GPA may be admitted on probation.

This program is not available to residents of Alabama, Tennessee, or Washington.

5. George Washington University

The George Washington University is a private, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its School of Nursing offers an RN to BSN program.

This program includes courses like:

• Dynamics of Nursing Leadership and Management
• Genetics for Health Care Providers
• Patient safety and Health Care Quality
• Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

To be accepted into this program, you'll need an associate degree in nursing and a valid RN license. You'll also need to have completed 84 credits and have a GPA of at least 3.0.

6. Herzing University

Herzing University is a private, non-profit university based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with locations across the country. It offers an RN to BSN program through its School of Nursing.

Courses offered in this program include:

• Advanced Leadership and Management
• Evidence Based Practice in Nursing
• Health Assessment and Promotion Across the Lifespan
• Policy, Trends, and Ethics in Healthcare

In order to enter this program, you'll need a valid RN license and to have completed an associate or diploma nursing program. This program is not available to residents of New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming.

7. Ohio State University

The Ohio State University is a public research university in Columbus, Ohio. Its College of Nursing offers an RN to BSN program.

This program includes courses like:

• Cultural Competence in Health Care: US and Global Contexts
• Evidence Based Practice: Transforming Healthcare
• Foundations and Contemporary Issues for Registered Nurses
• Health Care Informatics

To be accepted into this program, you'll need a valid RN license, an associate degree in nursing, and a cumulative GPA of 2.0. This program is not available in Tennessee.

8. University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is a public university in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It offers an RN to BSN program through its Eleanor Mann School of Nursing.

Courses in this program include:

• Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
• Leadership for Professional Nurses
• Pathophysiology in Nursing
• Scientific Foundation for Professional Nursing Practice

The requirements to enter this program depend on if you are a recent graduate of an associate program or if you have been working as an RN. Those currently working need to have a valid license and at least 1,000 practice hours.

New graduates must submit their NCLEX testing date and provide the eventual testing outcomes.

9. University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida is a public research university in Orlando, Florida. Its College of Nursing offers an RN to BSN program.

This program includes courses like:

• Essentials of Nursing Practice
• Nursing Care of the Adult
• Nursing Leadership, Management, and Role Transition
• Pathophysiology for Nursing Practice

To be accepted into this program, you'll need to have a valid RN license and have completed all general requirement courses.

10. Western Governors University

Western Governors University is a private, non-profit, online university based in Millcreek, Utah. It offers an RN to BSN through its Leavitt School of Health.

Courses in this program include:

• Comprehensive Health Assessment
• Information Technology in Nursing Practice
• Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare
• Organizational Systems and Healthcare Transformation

In order to enter this program, you must have an associate degree or diploma in nursing, a valid RN license, and submit to a criminal background check.

Prepare for an RN to BSN Program

RN to BSN prerequisites usually include completing a nursing program, holding a valid RN license, and completing general education requirements. With the guide above, you can determine if you're ready for an RN to BSN program today.