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 52-58 semester hours of required lower-division coursework and 25 semester hours of upper-division coursework. Lower-division studies include courses that meet University Core Curriculum requirements for a bachelor’s degree. All lower-division hours must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in upper-division courses. 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 |
| CH 104 | Introductory Chemistry (or other approved Natural Science course) | 4 |
| CS 102 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| EN 101 & EN 102 | English Composition and English Composition | 6 |
| HD 101 | Life Span Human Development | 3 |
| MATH 110 | Finite Mathematics (or higher) | 3 |
| PHL 223 | Medical Ethics (or other approved Humanities course) | 3 |
| PY 101 | Intro To Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Intro To Sociology (or other approved Social Behavioral Science course) | 3 |
| Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| Literature and History 2 | 9 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 55 | |
| Upper Division courses | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| NUR 329 | Inq. Evidence Based Pract RNS | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur | 4 |
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs | 5 |
| NUR 455 | Leadership & Management Roles | 5 |
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 25 | |
| Total Hours | 80 | |
| Footnotes | |
|---|---|
| 1 | List of approved Fine Arts courses can be found here. |
| 2 | All students are required to complete a six-credit-hour sequence in either History or Literature. Students opting to enroll in the Literature sequence must also complete an approved three-credit History course. Students opting to enroll in the History sequence must also complete an approved three-credit Literature course. If students take two history courses and one literature course, one additional literature, humanities or fine arts course is required to satisfy the 12-hour humanities core requirement. |
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 track. The application for promotion is due in the Office of Nursing Student Services by March 1 for summer promotion, June 1 for fall promotion and October 1 for spring promotion. Applications submitted after the deadlines may be considered.
Promotion Criteria
To be eligible for promotion to the upper division, a registered nursing student must have the following:
- satisfactory completion of all lower-division requirements (grade of C- or higher)
- 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 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.
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 area for the MSN is nurse administrator.
This pathway requires 52-58 semester hours of lower-division 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:
- satisfactory completion of all lower-division requirements
- 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 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 (W) | 4 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 7 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| NUR 329 | Inq. Evidence Based Pract RNS | 3 |
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 8 | |
| Semester 3 (graduating semester) | ||
| NUR 455 | Leadership & Management Roles | 5 |
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 25 | |
| Part-Time enrollment | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur (W) | 4 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 4 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| NUR 329 | Inq. Evidence Based Pract RNS (W) | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 3 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 5 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 5 | |
| Semester 6 (graduating semester) | ||
| NUR 455 | Leadership & Management Roles | 5 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 25 | |
RN/BSN Pathway to MSN (Phase One)
Click here to view the Phase Two plan of study
| Nurse Administrator | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | ||
| NUR 319 | Nrsg Informatics for RNs | 3 |
| NUR 348 | Role Tran in Baccalaureate Nur (W) | 4 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 7 | |
| Fall 1 | ||
| NUR 449 | Community Health For RNs | 5 |
| NUR 507 | Organizational & Systems Leadership (W) 1,2 | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 8 | |
| Spring 1 | ||
| NUR 465 | Complex Client Sys RNs | 5 |
| NUR 519 | Health Policy & Finance 1 | 3 |
| NUR 514 | Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1 | 3 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 11 | |
| Complete BSN requirements; BSN awarded | ||
| Total Hours | 26 | |
| 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.