A path for working RNs to earn a BSN degree mostly online with a once-a-month in-person class

  • a two-year, part-time program with most courses onlineRegisteredNursing.org award badge for the best online nursing programs 2022
  • Hybrid format allows students to attend monthly in-person classes while all other learning occurs online
  • Three learning sites from which to choose: Charlottesville, Richmond, or Fairfax
  • Ranked #2 online RN to BSN program (RegisteredNursing.org, 2022)
  • a peer mentoring "buddy system" program that pairs first-year RN to BSN students with second-year RN to BSN students for mentoring and support
  • Application deadline extended to March 15, 2024

Apply

Who should apply?

The RN-to-BSN program offers licensed nurses with associate's degrees or nursing diplomas a pathway to earn a BSN degree. The program is for licensed RNs who seek to expand their knowledge and skills, take on greater responsibility and a broader role in healthcare, who wish to achieve leadership roles, greater professional mobility and for those who are considering graduate study in nursing.

Why UVA's RN to BSN?

  • Hybrid program blends the flexibility of both online and in-person learning. Students attend monthly in-person class in Charlottesville, Richmond or Fairfax; all other learning occurs online
  • A "buddy system" program that partners first-year RN to BSN students with second-year RN to BSN students for mentoring and connection
  • If admitted to the program, students are guaranteed a job interview with the UVA Medical Center
  • Applicants may choose which courses they would like to take as their general education prerequisites (in particular: social sciences, humanities, and elective credits)
  • UVA guarantees admission to all qualified Virginia Community College System (VCCS) graduates
  • Potential applicants may take up to three RN to BSN courses before applying to the program (choice of pathophysiology, health policy, leadership, statistics, research, and/or a University elective)
  • The Nurse Residency Program (NRP) at UVA counts as the UVA elective if completed after January 31, 2014
  • Most courses are small, with 30 students or fewer
  • UVA has a generous alumni base, with many scholarships available
  • UVA Health System employees enrolling in UVA School of Nursing courses may be eligible for "tuition advance" (see UVAHS HR Policy No. 301 Educational Assistance). The student should work directly with Human Resources to initiate payment

 

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the RN-to-BSN program, applicants must:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Have an associate's degree or diploma in nursing from an accredited school of nursing
  • Have completed 48 general education credits by the start of the academic year
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on all college/university courses completed prior to admission
  • Possess an unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the United States by the start of the academic year (submit a copy of your current nursing license with your application)
  • Submit official transcripts from all universities/colleges attended to the UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission

Note: RNs with an undergraduate degree in another subject (non-nursing area) may apply to the program.

Supporting Documents

All supporting documents (recommendation, transcripts, etc.) should be mailed directly to the UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission, PO Box 400160, Charlottesville, VA 22904.

Help

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Kim Dieber, coordinator for recruitment and community engagement, to review transcripts from previous academic institutions.

Important Dates

  • Application deadline: March 1
  • Notification of admissions decisions: typically May 1
General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements

Students are required to satisfactorily complete 48 credits in the following general education courses prior to enrollment. These courses are most often taken at a community college.

  • English composition - 3 credits - required for students except for those who are exempt. You are exempt if you scored 750 or higher on the SAT II Subject Test in Writing or 5 on the English AP test. (Students who are exempt from English Composition must take an additional 3 credit elective.) If you are attending a college with a two-semester composition course, you must complete both semesters to satisfy this requirement. For example, in the Virginia Community College System, we require both ENG 111 and ENG 112.
  • Natural science and math - 12 credits - Anatomy & Physiology is required (if your college has a two-semester sequence, you must complete both semesters). Microbiology will be required beginning in the fall of 2019. Other acceptable courses include mathematics, chemistry, physics, genetics, environmental science, geology, and ecology.
  • Social science and history - 9 credits - acceptable courses include history, government, psychology, sociology, economics, western civilization, political science,  anthropology, linguistics, and women's studies. Special note: while you are required to take lifespan development, it cannot count towards your social science credits, because it is part of the 42 credits awarded for your previous nursing courses.
  • Humanities and fine arts - 9 credits - acceptable courses include philosophy, ethics, art, religion, music, drama, foreign languages, classics, comparative literature, and English and foreign literature.
  • Electives - 12 or more credits to total 48 credits. Note: two courses (up to 5 credits) in skills courses such as studio art or music performance may be counted toward these elective credit requirements. Only 2 physical education (PE) credits can be accepted for elective transfer credit.
VCCS Guaranteed Admission Agreement

VCCS Guaranteed Admission Agreement

If you completed all required nursing courses within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), you may be eligible to apply to our RN-to-BSN program through the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Most of our applicants do not enter through the GAA, as they may not meet all criteria. Indeed, we consider each applicant as an individual with their own strengths and unique circumstances.

As with all RN-to-BSN programs, a minimum of 120 credits are needed to earn your BSN degree:

  • 48 general education credits, which can be taken at your local community college
  • 42 nursing credits, transferred in from your associate’s degree or diploma program
  • 30 RN to BSN credits, taken at UVA
Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing

Advanced Standing (42 credits)

Forty-two credits below are awarded to RN to BSN students for prior nursing courses.  These 42 credit hours will transfer to the School of Nursing as equivalent to the UVA courses listed below. Note that eligible Lifespan Development as well as Anatomy and Physiology transfer classes can be found in the Transfer of Credit section on this page

NUCO 2130 Therapeutic Principles 4 credits
NUCO 2330 Health Assessment 3 credits
NUCO 2210 Foundations of Nursing CARE 3 credits
NUIP 2420 Pathophysiology I 3 credits
NUCO 2440 Case-Based Learning 2 credits
NUIP 2240* Lifespan Development 3 credits
NUIP 2430 + 3430 Pharmacology I + II 4 credits
NUCO 3310  Pediatrics 4 credits
NUCO 3610  Maternal-Child 4 credits 
NUCO 3110  Adult-Gero 4 credits 
NUCO 4310  Mental Health Nursing 4 credits 
NUCO 4110  Complex & Transitional Care 4 credits 
  Total credits: 42 credits


*Equivalent to Growth and Development in the VCCS (transfers in as nursing advanced standing credits instead of social science credits). See the Transfer of Credit section on this page for suggestions.

Transfer of Credit

Transfer of Credit

Please see the UVA Undergraduate Record for information about transferring credit. Questions regarding acceptability of specific courses for transfer should be referred to the School of Nursing's Office of Admissions and Student Services. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with a School of Nursing admissions counselor (contact Kim Dieber) to discuss how their prior credits would apply to the University’s general education requirements. View the UVA Transfer Credit Analyzer.

Equivalent courses for Lifespan Development as well as Anatomy and Physiology are listed below.

Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology

  • Virginia Community College System: PSY 230 or PSY 231 + 232
  • University of Virginia: NUIP 2240
  • Virginia Commonwealth University: PSYC 304
  • James Madison University: GPSYC 160
  • Virginia Tech: HD 1004 + 2004 or PSYC 2034

Human Anatomy & Physiology

  • Virginia Community College System: BIO 141 + 142, BIO 231 + 232 or NAS 161 + 162
  • University of Virginia: NUIP 2060 + 2070
Financial Aid

Financial Aid

All financial aid for undergraduate students at UVA is administered through UVA Student Financial Services. To apply, you need to complete the following forms:

  • Federal FAFSA form
  • CSS/Profile form

All aid is need-based; the University of Virginia meets 100% of demonstrated need.

More information is available on the School of Nursing tuition and financial aid web pages.

Classes

Classes

RN-to-BSN students enroll in 30 credits and upon completion, receive 42 credits for prior learning in the student's associates or diploma nursing program. Students must meet prerequisite general education requirements prior to admission, thus completing a total of 120 semester hours for the baccalaureate degree.

Structure of the Hybrid Courses

  • Meet in person for classes once a month
  • Complete weekly activities and learning online
  • Students in the Richmond program will travel to Charlottesville for approximately 1-2 meetings over the course of the program for on-site activities such as orientation, simulation, graduation, etc.
  • RN to BSN Plan of Study 2024

Professional nursing standards and guidelines incorporated in the curriculum

Spring 2024 classes will be held on: January 23, February 20, March 12, April 9, and April 30

Summer 2024 classes will be held on: May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, and July 30

The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record is the official repository for academic program requirements.