Get ready for the fast-track to your BSN degree. Georgia Southern’s 100% online RN to BSN program gives you the flexibility to gain a BSN on your schedule. Graduate in as few as two semesters or take up to five years.
RN to BSN Program Highlights
Fully online program
Full- or part-time enrollment
Flexible, individualized clinical hours
Credit for up to 29 previously earned nursing credits
Specifically designed for working registered nurses
Program can be completed in as few as two semesters
Individual advising from the RN-BSN program director and a professional academic advisor (pre- or post-admission to the University)
Upgrade your Registered Nursing credential with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree!
Finish in as few as 2 semesters (less than 12 months) and students must complete within 5 years
Online convenience with 24/7 access, but with individualized guidance and expert faculty
Admission Requirements
Admission to Georgia Southern
Associate degree from an accredited institution
Current Georgia or Compact RN licensure
Minimum 3.0 GPA (provisional admission may be granted with minimum 2.7 GPA)
Completion of all prerequisite credits with “C” or better grade
Ten or fewer core credit hours remaining
Complete the RN-BSN application
Full Admission Requirements
Admission Criteria
Requirements for admission to the program are based on those in place at the time of application. To be considered for admission, applicants must have:
Requested official transcript(s) for all college course work attempted and assured that the transcripts have been received in the Georgia Southern University, Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 8024, Statesboro, GA 30460;
Received an Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing from an NLN or CCNE accredited institution;
Current Georgia RN Licensure or Compact RN License;
Achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all course work attempted. Provisional admission with a 2.70-3.0 is available. Students admitted on provisional status must earn a minimum of “B” grade in the first 6 hours of nursing courses attempted;
Completed Area A math course, Area D, and Area F. Applicants must have no more than 10 hours of core courses left to complete;
Submitted a completed RN-BSN online application to the School of Nursing, by the posted deadline: April 1st for the Fall semester or October 1st for the Spring semester;
Students may take two select nursing courses without being admitted to the RN-BSN Program, with permission from the RN-BSN Program Director.
No nursing entrance exam is required.
Upon admission to the program, students must:
Attend the RN-BSN Orientation.
Meet all School of Nursing clinical course requirements, including: (a) Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross CPR for Healthcare Providers certification; (b) Professional RN Liability Insurance (a word about liability insurance); and (c) USG-SHIP mandatory health insurance enrollment or waiver (information provided to student after admission); Release of Records; Program Agreement.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees charged by Georgia Southern University are approved by the University System of Georgia annually. For a comprehensive costs and affordability analysis, please visit https://em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid/costs-affordability/.
Georgia Southern’s Online RN to BSN program is affordable
Ranked second in the Most Affordable Online BSN Programs by TopRNtoBSN.com
Ranked in the top 35 colleges offering the most affordable online bachelor’s degrees in nursing by RNtoMSN.org
“I got my degree and I was so proud. I am now a clinical nurse leader in my unit at Memorial Health in Savannah, Georgia. But if I choose to, I can also advance to be a clinical educator. I can get into management. There’s all kinds of opportunities that I can explore with my degree.” – Sharen Martin, BSN, RN, CCRN
Advantages of Georgia Southern University’s Online RN to BSN Program
Accelerated fast track with only eight courses to earn a BSN.
About half the cost of other online universities.
Designed with flexibility around your work and life.
Five Good Reasons to Get a BSN Degree
With a BSN degree, nurses can advance their careers to leadership and specialty positions.
There is a competitive advantage and higher demand for a nurse with a BSN degree.
With a BSN degree, nurses have more advanced training to better care for patients leading to a greater sense of career satisfaction.
Those with a BSN degree have increased knowledge and expertise required by the complex and ever-evolving healthcare environment.
Last but not least, those with a BSN degree can earn more money and have higher job security!
RN to BSN Curriculum
The RN-BSN Program is a participant in the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model for registered nurses returning for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. After successful completion of 6 credit hours of RN-BSN nursing courses with a grade of C or higher, RN students will be awarded 29 hours of proficiency credit.
This course enhances and facilitates the development of the RN student to the role of a BSN prepared professional nurse. The focus is on developing personal and professional growth to promote better advocacy, critical thinking, educator skills, effective communication, and leadership abilities in a complex healthcare environment. Course content includes concepts from historical contributions and theories that have guided the profession, to promoting professional philosophies, visions, and practices to help prepare for future trends in healthcare. Topics relate to culture and diversity, professional ethics, political and legal issues in nursing, and technology. Students will apply knowledge of standards of practice, evidence-based practice, and caring science to course topics.
Nursing Research Application
This course provides the registered nurse with an overview of the major research concepts as applied to the profession of nursing, to scholarship, and to clinical practice. Analysis, critique, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, including ethical implications, for evidence-based nursing practice will be examined. Emphasis is placed on how to critique, analyze, and apply published and empirical research findings to evidence-based nursing practice.
Health Assessment
This course is a study of the advanced knowledge and skills beyond the Associates’ degree in Nursing, designed to enhance health assessment for nursing practice in the care of individuals across the lifespan. Theory and skills essential to completing a comprehensive and holistic health history and physical examination are emphasized. In addition, the holistic delivery of care will include cultural, spiritual, nutritional, alternative, complementary therapies, and health promotion for the delivery of safe and person-centered care. The importance of comprehensive and accurate documentation as a tool for effective communication amongst the interdisciplinary team is reviewed.
Complementary Therapeutic Modalities
The course introduces culturally specific therapeutic modalities that are complementary to western health care. These therapeutic modalities are examined relative to their combination with scientific therapies and professional and lay healers. Ethical, legal, and teaching responsibilities are elaborated. Emphasis is placed on the roles and responsibilities of the nurse in collaboration with the client and the multi-disciplinary team to facilitate health promotion.
Complex Nursing Concepts
The course provides an opportunity for thorough analysis of complex concepts relative to nursing such as person, environment, health, holistic nursing, caring, rurality, spirituality, and power. Multiple theoretical models are analyzed: Health Promotion, Caring, Transcultural Nursing and others. Case study analysis and other modes, including fieldwork, are used to apply models to life events such as birth, death and changes in health status. Attention is given to the availability and use of community resources for individuals and families experiencing dynamic change and complex health events. Additionally, considerable attention is given to the impact of social, economic, cultural, legal, and ethical variables on the experience of profound life events.
Community Health Nursing
This course examines the concepts and principles of community and population health nursing. The course provides an overview of health issues that transcend borders, class, race, ethnicity, and culture. Emphasis is placed on roles, levels of prevention, principles of epidemiology, public health policy, and disaster preparedness. The Community Health Nursing Clinical must be taken concurrently.
Community Health Nursing Clinical
Application of concepts and principles of community and population health nursing through practice of the role of the baccalaureate prepared registered nurse. A total of 60 hours of clinical experience in an approved community setting is required. Community Health Nursing must be taken concurrently.
Leadership & Management
This course introduces the leadership roles and management functions of professional registered nurses within the structure of an organization. The management process provides the foundational structure for the course, while the theoretical framework for this course is established through exploration of leadership styles, organizational theory and management theory. Quality assurance and the provision of evidence-based, patient-centered care and collaborative relationships are emphasized. The impact of political and legislative processes, the integration of informatics, and the legal and ethical issues in management are also discussed. The Leadership & Management Clinical must be taken concurrently.
Leadership & Management Clinical
Application of concepts and principles of leadership and management in the role of a professional registered nurse within the structure of an organization. A total of 60 hours of clinical experience in an approved setting is required. Leadership & Management must be taken concurrently.
Critical Analysis of Nursing Concepts
This course facilitates the synthesis and application of evidence based care using policy, politics, and ethical principles to guide discussion and critical discourse. Students will engage in seminar discussion, critical discourse, case analysis, and ethical applications.
Student Learning Outcomes
The program incorporates the same Program Outcomes (Student Learning Outcomes*) as the pre-licensure program, however, instructional methods that fit the requirements of online education are used within the courses. Most of the course work is asynchronous but live sessions may be scheduled for purposes of course orientations, presentation of content experts, faculty office hours and student presentations.
Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, the graduate will be able to:
Demonstrate core knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, and nursing as the foundation for entry level professional practice.
Use knowledge of organizational systems, leadership principles, and resources to become responsible, safe, and accountable entry level professional nurses that demonstrate professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct.
Develop entry level clinical judgment/decision making by using healthcare information, technology, scholarship, inquiry, and current evidence to improve individual and population healthcare outcomes.
Demonstrate entry level inter-professional communication to develop collaborative partnerships for improving patient health outcomes.
How long does it take to get a BSN if I have an Associate Degree in Nursing?
Because the program is designed for working registered nurses, it is recommended that you complete the program in 3-4 semesters, which is 1 -2 years. Individual circumstances may be considered if a faster or slower pace is desired.
How many hours is theRN-BSN Program?
You will take a total of 8 nursing courses, which total 28 hours.
How important is my GPA (grade point average)?
The minimum cumulative GPA for regular admission to the program is 3.0. Provisional admission is available for a GPA of 2.70-2.99.
I am an RN in another state; must I have a GA RN License to apply?
Yes, a valid RN license with the State of Georgia is required or you must have a valid multi-state compact license.
How do I know what core classes will transfer to Georgia Southern University?
We cannot determine if your courses will transfer until you have been accepted to Georgia Southern, so your first step is to apply. Once you have been accepted to the university and have applied to the RN-BSN program, we can evaluate your transcript. In the meantime, you can determine if courses from your college have already been evaluated by looking at the transfer equivalency web site.
What core classes must I take before I apply to the School of Nursing?
Applicants must have the following courses completed before applying:
Pre-Requisites for Areas D, Area F and Area A-2 Math:
Must have completed the Area A math class, Area D lab science sequence (Chemistry preferred, Biology or Physics accepted) and statistics courses, and all Area F courses. There are courses that can be substituted for the Lifespan Development course and the Nutrition courses. Please check with RN-BSN program director before registering for either of those courses.
It is acceptable to apply to the program with 8-10 hours of other core remaining.
If I am finishing up my Associate Degree in Nursing and am scheduled to take the NCLEX before the application deadline, can I go ahead and apply?
Yes, if you have completed the required core courses and are otherwise eligible to apply, you may do so. Please note that in the event you are granted admission, it will be contingent upon verification of your RN License prior to the beginning of the semester.
How and when do I get credit for my Associate Degree nursing courses?
After 6 hours of nursing courses are completed successfully at Georgia Southern University, nursing courses totaling 29 hours are approved and credited to you.
What is the tuition rate for the RN-BSN Program?
Tuition and Fees charged by Georgia Southern University are approved by the University System of Georgia annually. Changes in tuition and fee rates are typically effective fall semester each year. The tuition and fees listed provide an estimate of tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and supplies. Actual costs are determined when a student registers for classes each semester and are based on student level, residency, credit hours, miscellaneous course fees, housing and meals.
Do I have to attend the SOAR orientation on campus?
SOAR for students admitted to the RN-BSN program is offered online. You will also be required to attend program orientation, which is offered through a virtual platform, such as Zoom.
Who do I contact if I have more questions regarding the RN-BSN program?
For general program questions and RN-BSN advisement questions (admission eligibility or admission decision questions, transcript questions, core course questions, etc.):
Tuition and Fees charged by Georgia Southern University are approved by the University System of Georgia annually. For a comprehensive costs and affordability analysis please visit https://em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid/costs-affordability/.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing/master’s degree program in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice program and/or post-graduate APRN certificate program at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation).
For all Online Programs:
Federal Law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, complaint processes, adverse actions, and refunds.
For required disclosures in general with regard to online programs offered by the University, visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.
