RN-BSN Curriculum

The RN-BSN pathway consists of 24 semester units of nursing coursework that may be completed either full or part-time. Students have the option to choose between the Campus-Based (in-class) or the Distance-Based (online) format.

CAMPUS FORMAT

Nursing courses through the campus-based format are offered on the CSUF campus in Fullerton, CA (except for 402L). This clinical/lab course will be available to students within the following counties: Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, or San Bernardino.

TIMELINE

Full-time or part-time
Finish in as little as 2 semesters

LOCATION

Courses offered at Fullerton campus 
Weekdays and some weekend classes available
Between 8am-8pm 

TUITION AND FEES

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DISTANCE (ONLINE) FORMAT

Nursing courses through the distance-based format will be offered online (except for 340L and 402L). These two clinical/lab courses will be available to students in the following counties: Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles or San Bernardino.

TIMELINE

Full-time or part-time
Finish in as little as 2 semesters

LOCATION

Courses are online except for two lab courses (NURS 340L and NURS 402L). The two lab courses are offered at partner facilities within Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, or Los Angeles County.

TUITION AND FEES

Distance fees (added to normal course fees) - $50/ lecture unit and $100/ lab unit. Distance fees are charged upon registration and are non-refundable.
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STUDY PLANS

Full-Time (2 Semesters)

Note: To be eligible for the Full-Time (2 traditional semesters - Fall, Spring) Study Plan, students must obtain a CA RN license by the end of their first semester in the pathway. 

Note: If a student begins the RN-BSN pathway in a spring semester, the earliest they can graduate is in the fall semester. 

Semester Nursing Courses Total Units
Semester 1 N305 Professional Nursing (3)
N310 Nursing Research/Evidence Based Practice(3)
N340/L Health Assessment/Lab (3)
N345 Pathophysiology(3)		 12
Semester 2  N402/L Population Health Nursing/Lab (5)
N470 The Art & Science of Nursing (3)
N452 Leadership & Management in Professional Nursing (4)		 12

Part-Time (4 Semesters)

Semester Nursing Courses Total Units
Semester 1 N305 Professional Nursing (3)
N310 Nursing Research/Evidence Based Practice (3)

 6
Semester 2 N340/L Health Assessment/Lab (3)
N345 Pathophysiology (3)		 6
Semester 3 N402/L Population Health Nursing/Lab (5)
N470 The Art & Science of Nursing (3)		 8
Semester 4  N452 Leadership & Management in Professional Nursing (4) 4

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CSUF Academic Roadmap – Fall 2021 and beyondPDF File Opens in new window

CSU General Education Requirements

In addition to completing the 24 units of nursing coursework, students without a previous bachelor’s degree must complete at least 6 units of upper-division general education at California State University, Fullerton.

Please note that if a student is not CSU GE Certified from a California Community College and has not completed the US History and American Institutions requirements prior to the RN-BSN pathway, the student may also have to complete lower-division General Education courses.
CSU General Education Requirements

Previous BSN Coursework

Students that have completed courses in a different RN-BSN program can petition to have the courses reviewed for equivalency after admission. However, if courses are approved, students may have to take additional elective courses to meet the CSUF residency unit requirement. 
CSUF Residency Unit Requirement 

Credit for Prior Learning

Units may be awarded for prior learning for passing the NCLEX. These units will be awarded on an individual basis prior to graduation. The maximum number of units that will be awarded is 20 units.

SAMPLE SEMESTER SCHEDULE

First semester of a full-time campus schedule: Two days per week on campus and 12 hours of class meeting time

NURS 305 Wednesday 8:00 AM – 10:50 AM
NURS 310 Wednesday 1:00 PM – 3:50 PM
NURS 340 Monday 8:00 AM – 9:50 AM
NURS 340L Monday 10:00 AM – 12:50 PM

PLEASE NOTE: This sample schedule is based on the Spring 2019 schedule. Course day/times vary each semester.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The RN-BSN curriculum includes 24 semester units of nursing coursework:

NURS 305 Professional Nursing (3)
Professional nursing roles are examined including nursing history, ethics, research, theories and frameworks. Introduces advocacy, health promotion, genetics, genomics, inter-professional practice and patient safety. Instructional technologies and information literacy are explored. This course satisfies the university’s upper-division baccalaureate writing requirement.

NURS 310 Nursing Research/Evidence-Based Practice (3)
Pre/Corequisite: Statistics, NURS 305.
Emphasis is placed on understanding and appraising research evidence and on the role of research in developing nursing knowledge. Research methods are examined and current issues are analyzed in relation to integration and implementation of evidence-based practice

NURS 340  Health Assessment (2)
Pre/Corequisite: NURS 305; Corequisite: NURS 340L
Builds upon and explores skills necessary to perform assessments including interviewing, history taking, and foundational physical assessment The course emphasizes deviations from normal.

NURS 340L Health Assessment Lab (1)
Corequisite: NURS 340.
Hands- on skill building in history and physical assessment techniques are practiced

NURS 345 Pathophysiology (3)
Pre/Corequisite: NURS 305, NURS 310.
Builds upon and explores major pathophysiologic concepts using a body systems approach that is critical to clinical decision making in nursing.  Recognize pathophysiological manifestations as they relate to disease processes.

NURS 402 Population Health Nursing (3)
Pre/Corequisite: NURS 340, 340L, 345; Corequisite: NURS 402L
Introduction to population health, public health core functions and services related to community as client. Epidemiology, ethical principles, mandates, multidisciplinary theories/models, research utilization, and client advocacy applied to the nursing process for best practices for diverse, vulnerable, at risk populations.  (40 words)

NURS 402L Population Health Nursing Lab (2)
Corequisite: NURS 402.
Practicum for community-oriented population nursing practice. Community assessment, epidemiology, environmental, health education, political action, and case-management frameworks are used to guide evidence-based nursing care delivery to persons, families, and populations in community settings.  (33 words)

NURS 452 Leadership and Management in Professional Nursing (4)
Prerequisite: 305, 310, 340, 340L, 345; Pre/Corequisite: 402, 402L.
Emphasizes integration of leadership role within professional nursing. Compares leadership, management, and organizational theories and their application. Explores concepts of professionalism, ethics, advocacy, power, quality, safety, inter-professional collaboration, change, group dynamics, finance and decision making.

NURS 470 The Art & Science of Nursing (3)
Prerequisite: 305, 310, 340, 340L, 345; Pre/Corequisite: 402, 402L.
Concepts of the humanistic art and science of nursing and inter-professional collaboration are explored. Competencies identified by regulatory/accrediting bodies and their association with student learning outcomes are examined with emphasis on transgenerational health behaviors.