Many colleges and universities offer two ways to receive a BSN. The first option is to attend the school as a first-degree student, meaning you do not have a prior nursing degree and need to complete prerequisite lower-division classes prior to upper-division classes. The alternative is a Registered Nurse (RN) to BSN option. These candidates already hold a four-year degree from an accredited college. In some cases, an associate’s degree or nursing diploma is acceptable.
Prerequisite coursework includes classes such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, biology, behavioral science, nutrition, statistics and, depending on the program, liberal arts courses such as theology, composition or mathematics. For first-degree students, this coursework is usually taken during the first two years of the program. Registered nurses, however, will have already completed this coursework during their previous degrees and typically do not need to complete these classes.
Most programs require a minimum grade point average to remain enrolled or to gain acceptance into the BSN program. This applies to first-degree students as well as to registered nurses with prior degrees. If you are seeking a BSN as a registered nurse, your transcripts should reflect the minimum grade point average during your previous coursework. In many cases, this is a 2.5 cumulative average.
If you are a registered nurse, some BSN programs require a current nursing license to practice professional nursing in your state. Check with your school’s BSN program to see if a license is required for your program.