Bachelor of Science in Nursing in RN to BSN Program

Catalog Year 2024-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for NURSING

Transfer Guidance

Transfer Admission Requirements

• Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing from a community college or diploma nursing school and completion of all RN-BSN prerequisite course requirements.

• Transcripts reflecting a cumulative GPA on all college work attempted of 2.5 or better on a 4-point scale with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in Nursing (if applicable). Transcripts below 2.5 will be reviewed on an individual case-by-case basis.

• Current unrestricted RN license in any state, Washington D.C., or U.S possession or territory.

• Employment as a RN for a minimum of six months or plans to practice concurrently with coursework. Employment is not necessary to begin the program, but applicants must have worked a minimum of 540 practice hours by graduation to obtain the 37 experiential learning credits that are applied toward their BSN.

• TOEFL minimum score of 81 (internet-based test) or IELTS minimum score of 6.5 for international applicants. Graduates of foreign nursing schools who are licensed outside of the United States are required to pass the Qualifying Exam of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).

• Ability to meet the school's Technical Standards for nursing practice.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/

• Admission Application: By July 15 for Fall or November 15 for Spring at https://www.jmu.edu/chbs/nursing/rntobsn/how-to-apply.shtml

• Financial Aid: https://www.jmu.edu/financialaid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Deadline is March 1. Learn more at studentaid.gov.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Successfully apply to and gain entry to an associate degree in nursing program at your local Virginia community college. The RN-BSN program is only for graduates of these programs -- graduates of any other associate degree program of study are not eligible.

• If you have time to take additional general education courses, plan to take VCCS equivalents of Visual and Performing Arts, Literature, Human Questions and Contexts, and the American Experience. Course options at VCCS that satisfy these JMU requirements can be found at VCCS and RBC course equivalents for JMU's General Education Program.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org.

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and a JMU transfer advisor within your first year. College Connect available in your account of www.TransferVirginia.org.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• You already have a passion for health, well-being, and making a positive impact on your community as a RN. But if you are looking to explore the opportunities that are available to you as a baccalaureate nurse, the JMU RN-BSN program may be for you. Many people describe nursing as an Art and a Science, which is a simplified way to say that nursing combines knowledge of the human body with compassion and caring practices to help people live their best lives. Nurses have key roles in health promotion, disease prevention, and care management for people across the illness-wellness continuum.

• The RN-BSN degree builds on the essential nursing coursework you learned at the associate level, taking these fundamentals of science and patient care and advancing them to provide a foundation for professional practice that goes beyond the bedside. The RN-BSN degree aims to empower graduates to be active consumers of research to inform practice, to be comfortable with advancing technology in health care delivery, to be change agents within the practice arena, and to be astute clinical practitioners or managers. Classes are offered asynchronously so students can maintain employment while completing the BSN degree.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: An approved transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College will waive general education requirements at JMU. The list of approved transferable associate degrees can be found at www.jmu.edu/transfer/vccs-transfer/asdegrees.shtml.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students who complete a transferable associate degree from a Virginia Community College through Dual Enrollment will not be eligible for guaranteed admission but will receive the general education waiver at JMU.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Credit for prior learning may be awarded differently at JMU than at your previous institution. JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB CIE, and CLEP examinations for all students with eligible scores. Other credit for prior learning is awarded on a per case basis for the Adult Degree Program and RN-BSN programs in consultation with the department of expertise.

• Catalog Year: Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at JMU.

Is This College Right For Me?

• JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 88% of classes have fewer than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public university in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. Learn more about our college at www.jmu.edu and www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• There is a co-enrollment pathway for students enrolled in ADN programs through VCCS. Students can begin taking courses in the RN to BSN program while completing their ADN, allowing students to complete the RN to BSN in as little as three semesters.

• Half of the credits required for your JMU degree must come from a 4-year institution. For School of Nursing majors at JMU, 120 credits are required for graduation, so you'll need to complete at least 60 credits at JMU after transferring from a community college. Some of those credits may be awarded through the submission of experiential learning credit. That means you can receive up to 37 hours of credit for practice as a registered nurse and completion of an electronic portfolio while at JMU.

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at JMU.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• The RN-BSN degree provides graduates with greater opportunities for advancement in their current roles and equips them with further prospects within the nursing profession afforded through graduate study and advance practice. Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Program Successes & Highlights

• Ranked #2 in Virginia for Best Online RN to BSN programs for 2023-2024 by RNtoMSN.org, #4 in Virginia for Best Online RN to BSN Programs by registerednursing.org, and #13 among the 30 Best Value Colleges for Nursing in the South: RN-BSN Programs.

• Flexible, in a part-time or full-time learning environment.

• Affordable, with competitive pricing compared to similar RN-BSN programs.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• Generally, two-thirds of transfer applicants are admitted to JMU. Competitive applicants will have mostly As & Bs and have completed at least one class in each of our four core areas (English, mathematics, lab science, and social science).

• JMU defines a transfer student as a student that has graduated from high school (or holds a GED equivalency) AND has taken courses in college after high school graduation.

• Learn more about applying at https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/ or www.TransferVirginia.org.

Do More With Your Degree!

• Nurses hold many roles. You will see nurses working in hospitals, clinics, community agencies, insurance companies, universities, and in many other areas. Nurses can be on executive boards. Nurses can be educators. Nurses can be researchers, also called nurse scientists. Nurses have key roles in family, community, and population health as well. In the nursing program, students will learn how to assess individuals, families, communities, and populations to identify factors that positively and negatively impact health, and how to develop and implement care strategies to improve health.