Registered nurses who enroll at The University of Alabama may opt to pursue one of two options toward the completion of a higher degree or degrees. Both programs of study allow students to continue working while completing coursework online.
RN to BSN
The RN to BSN program of study is specifically designed for the registered nurse student to earn a bachelor’s degree. The program consists of a minimum of 50 semester hours of lower-division coursework and 30 semester hours of upper-division coursework. Lower-division studies include courses that meet University Core Curriculum requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Upon admission to the University as a RN to BSN student, credit for 40 hours of NUR courses is awarded.
| RN to BSN | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Division courses | ||
| BSC 215 & BSC 216 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I and Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 8 |
| BSC 242 | Microbiology And Man | 4 |
| EN 101 & EN 102 | English Composition I and English Composition II | 6 |
| BSC 114 & BSC 115 | Principles Of Biology I and Laboratory Biology I (or other approved Natural Science ) | 4 |
| HD 101 | Life Span Human Development (or other approved Social Behavioral Science course) | 3 |
| MATH 110 | Finite Mathematics (or higher) | 3 |
| PHL 223 | Medical Ethics (or other approved Humanities course) | 3 |
| PY 101 | Intro To Psychology (or other approved Social Behavioral Science course) | 3 |
| Fine Arts or other approved Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| Literature 1 | 3 | |
| History 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 43 | |
| Upper Division courses | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur | 5 |
| NUR 329 | Inq. Evidence Based Pract RNS | 4 |
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs | 6 |
| NUR 455 | Leadership & Management Roles | 6 |
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 73 | |
| Footnotes | |
|---|---|
| 1 | List of approved Fine Arts, Literature, and History courses can be found here. |
Promotion to Upper Division
Every effort will be made to promote all applicants who meet the criteria. The number of applicants promoted is dependent on the educational resources available to support this program. The application for promotion is due in the Office of Nursing Student Services by April 15 for summer promotion, July 15 for fall promotion and November 15 for spring promotion. Applications submitted after the deadlines may be considered.
Following promotion to the upper division, students are required to submit to a drug screen and background check which must be renewed annually. Costs for background check and drug screen are billed directly to the student by a third party vendor. Instructions regarding this process will be sent upon promotion to the upper division.
Promotion Criteria
To be eligible for promotion to the upper division, a registered nursing student must have the following:
- all lower-division coursework requires a grade of C- or higher
- no more than 2 outstanding prerequisites
- an overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on the required lower-division courses
- an overall grade point average of 2.0 on all required science courses
- an unencumbered RN license in the state where experiential learning requirements will be completed
- graduation from an ACEN or CNEA accredited school of nursing
- applicants must reside and be licensed in one of the states in which the Capstone College of Nursing is authorized to provide online education. To view the list of approved states click here.
Advanced degree opportunities for Registered Nurses
The Capstone College of Nursing has a pathway for RNs that hold an associate degree or diploma in nursing to attain their BSN and MSN degrees. The pathway is divided into two specific phases, undergraduate and graduate. Students who are accepted for this pathway will earn the BSN degree and the MSN degree upon successful completion of the plan of study. The concentration areas offered for the MSN portion are Nurse Executive and Nurse Educator. Nurse Educator will begin admission Summer 2026.
This RN to BSN/MSN pathway requires a minimum of 50 semester hours of lower-division undergraduate coursework (see lower division courses above) in addition to undergraduate and graduate nursing upper-division coursework. Enrollment in this pathway is only considered for summer admission.
Click the “Plan of Study Outline” tab above to view the sequence of courses for phase 1 of the curriculum.
Eligibility requirements for this pathway:
- all lower-division coursework requires a grade of C- or higher
- no more than 2 outstanding prerequisites
- acceptance to the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs
- an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the required lower-division courses
- an unencumbered RN license in the state where clinical course requirements will be completed
- graduation from an ACEN or CNEA accredited school of nursing
- applicants must reside and be licensed in one of the states in which the Capstone College of Nursing is authorized to provide online education. To view the list of approved states click here.
RN to BSN Plans of Study
| Full-Time enrollment | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur | 5 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| NUR 329 | Inq. Evidence Based Pract RNS (W) | 4 |
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs (U.S. & Global Citizenship ) | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 18 | |
| Semester 3 (graduating semester) | ||
| NUR 455 | Leadership & Management Roles | 6 |
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Part-Time enrollment | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur (First Year Compass Course) | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 5 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| NUR 329 | Inq. Evidence Based Pract RNS (W) | 4 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 4 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 3 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs (U.S. & Global Citizenship ) | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6 | |
| Semester 6 (graduating semester) | ||
| NUR 455 | Leadership & Management Roles | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
RN/BSN Pathway to MSN (Phase One)
Click here to view the Phase Two plan of study
| Nurse Executive | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur (First Year Compass Course) | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 8 | |
| Fall 1 | ||
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs (U.S. & Global Citizenship ) | 6 |
| NUR 737 | Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence 1,2 | 3 |
| NUR 506 | Advanced Clinical Foundations | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 12 | |
| Spring 1 | ||
| NUR 727 | Foundations of Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice 1 | 3 |
| NUR 740 | Health Policy & Politics: Implications in Health Care 1 | 3 |
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 6 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 12 | |
| Complete BSN requirements; BSN awarded | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |
| Nurse Educator | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur (First Year Compass Course) | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 8 | |
| Fall 1 | ||
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs (U.S. & Global Citizenship) | 6 |
| NUR 737 | Interdisciplinary Leadership and Role Development for Practice Excellence 1,2 | 3 |
| NUR 531 | Nursing Faculty Roles and Responsibilities | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 12 | |
| Spring 1 | ||
| NUR 727 | Foundations of Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice 1 | 3 |
| NUR 740 | Health Policy & Politics: Implications in Health Care 1 | 3 |
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 6 |
| NUR 506 | Advanced Clinical Foundations | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 15 | |
| Complete BSN requirements; BSN awarded | ||
| Total Hours | 35 | |
| Footnotes | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Course counts towards completion of BSN & MSN |
| 2 | W designated course for RN to BSN/MSN students only |
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Schools, Higher Education, Government Policy Development, Home Health, Public Health Departments, Physicians Offices, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Leaders, Case Management, Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Types of jobs Accepted
Many of our graduates accept positions in hospitals to begin with. From there, they will go on to graduate programs or other areas of practice. The career opportunities are limitless.