*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the requirements outlined below that RN-BSN students complete an international experience in residence for two or more weeks AND take the Writing Placement Exam (WPA) have currently been waived. Please visit the prospective websites for more detailed information.
RN to BSN Students first meet all requirements for completion of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing program from a regionally accredited program. Upon RN licensure, students then enter the SDSU RN to BS program.
For RN to BSN students, the nursing courses taken upon entering the SDSU School of Nursing include:
(schedule of courses subject to change)
- NUR 307: Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice (3 units – offered Fall and Spring Semesters)
- NUR 312: Nursing Professionalism (3 units – offered Fall and Spring Semesters)
- NUR 320: Health Assessment and Health Promotion for RN to BS (4 units – offered Fall and Spring Semesters)
- NUR 415/415L: Community Health (5 units – offered Fall and Spring Semesters)
- NUR 458/458L: Leadership (5 units – offered Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters)
- NUR 400/400L: Nursing Care of the Complex, High Acuity or Critically Ill Patients (6 units – offered Fall and Spring Semesters)
-OR- - NUR 437: Transitional Care of Populations (6 units – offered Fall, Spring, and Summer 2020)
The length of the program may vary. However, most RN to BS students can complete the Bachelor of Science degree at SDSU within fifteen months.
Note: The RN to BSN program curriculum is conveniently offered at both of SDSU’s campuses, the San Diego campus, and the Imperial Valley campus.
SDSU Requirements
(The general education requirements do not apply to second baccalaureate students.)
In addition to the nursing-specific coursework, all candidates for a degree in applied arts and sciences must complete the requirements listed in the “Graduation Requirements” section of the SDSU General Catalog. For additional information on general education and graduation requirements, students must meet with an academic advisor in The Office of Advising and Evaluations
Please note: SDSU requires students to enroll in a minimum 6 units their first semester at SDSU.
- All undergraduates must demonstrate competency in writing skills at the upper division level as a requirement for the baccalaureate degree. The Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA) is a one and one-half hour examination used to evaluate writing competency.Transfer students are eligible to take the WPA once they have received an offer of admission. They must take the examination during their first semester at SDSU. For more information http://arweb.sdsu.
edu/es/admissions/transfers/ admitted/step2.html - You must complete Section IV, Explorations of Human Experience to satisfy your General Education requirements at SDSU. Complete one course from categories A, B, and C (9 units).
- Select one course from Category A. (3 units)
- Suggested course from Category B – HHS 350: Applied International Health and Human Services (3 units) or PSY 351: Psychology of Personality (3 units)
- Required course from Category C – PHIL 330: Medical Ethics (3 units)
International Experience
All BS in Nursing students (including incoming freshmen students, continuing SDSU students, transfer students, and RN to BSN students) are required to participate in a pre-approved international experience to increase awareness of cross-cultural issues, global health, economic, political, cultural, social services, and health challenges experienced by local populations in international environments. Students participate in residence for two or more weeks (exemption from the study abroad portion of the requirement must be approved by the dean of the college based on serious and compelling life events or physical limitations; a relevant course will be substituted). Specific details can be found on the CHHS Undergraduate International Experience web site OR by contacting a CHHS International Programs Advisor.
To meet the international experience requirement, majors must complete one of the following:
- A CSU Study Abroad Program;
- An SDSU Study Abroad Program;
- An SDSU Study Travel Program;
- OR one course selected from:
- Health and Human Services 290 or 350;
- Asian Studies 490;
- Education 450;
- General Studies 450;
- Honor 450;
- International Security and Conflict Resolution 450;
- Latin American Studies 320, 450, or 550;
- Political Science 450;
- Science 350
Second Degree Students
For those students entering the program as a second baccalaureate student:
- International experience is waived
- SDSU Upper Division General Education Requirements are waived
