Why study nursing at BGSU?
- Maximum flexibility. Our RN to BSN program has three start dates every year and coursework is 100% online.
- Convenient for working nurses. Continue working as you earn your degree. Asynchronous classes let you log in when and where it works best for your schedule.
- Finish faster. Complete your degree in as few as three semesters with seven-week classes. You may be eligible to earn up to 56 credit hours toward your BSN based on your nursing diploma and licensure – and earn your degree even faster.
- Credit for your credentials.
- 40 credits are awarded to registered nurses who passed the NCLEX-RN and earned a diploma in nursing.
- An additional 16 credits are awarded to those who also passed the NCLEX-PN before becoming an RN.
- 40 credits are awarded to registered nurses who passed the NCLEX-RN and earned a diploma in nursing.
- Experienced faculty. All instructors hold graduate or doctoral degrees and are passionate about student engagement and meaningful instruction.
- Individualized support. You’ll receive personalized guidance from faculty and advisors.
- Relevant, real-world learning. Our courses offer meaningful learning opportunities that connect directly to your current role as a nurse and prepare you for future career advancement.
#1 university in Ohio for career preparation
The Wall Street Journal
Career opportunities
More and more nursing roles require a BSN degree. Job candidates with a bachelor's degree in nursing will be more competitive and have more opportunities during their careers.
The RN to BSN program at BGSU prepares you to care for a broad patient population across various healthcare settings.
Career paths
- Nursing informatics
- Charge nurse
- Clinical nurse manager
- Nurse leader
- Nurse educator
- School nurses
- Occupational health nurses
- Healthcare administration roles
- Medical surgical nurses
- Critical care nurses
- Labor and delivery nurses
- Pediatric nurses
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The RN to BSN curriculum is designed to deepen your clinical judgment and broaden your understanding of leadership, policy and evidence-based practice.
You'll explore:
- Frameworks for nurse leadership and management
- National healthcare policy and its impact on nursing
- Evidence-based methods for improving care
- Critical thinking, clinical judgment and communication in clinical settings
- Teaching and mentoring strategies for future nurses
At the end of this program, you will be able to:
- Integrate principles of liberal education in providing care for culturally diverse populations across the lifespan.
- Analyze the role of the nurse leader in quality improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration and communication within an organizational structure.
- Apply evidence in decision-making to improve patient outcomes.
- Use information and healthcare technologies to inform patients and support a safe practice environment.
- Examine quality healthcare through policy, social justice and collaboration with multiple disciplines across diverse populations.
- Evaluate principles of health promotion and disease prevention for individuals, families and communities.
- Integrate professional standards, care, values, ethics, altruism, integrity, resilience, self-well-being and life-long learning.
Degree completion requirements
The RN to BSN program consists of 30 credit hours and can be completed in as few as three semesters or at your own pace.
You’ll also receive transfer credit for applicable general education and support courses. A total of 120 credit hours are required to graduate from BGSU with a BSN.
Students must:
- Maintain a GPA of at least 2.0
- Earn a grade of “C” or better in all RN to BSN core courses
Practice experiences
The program includes direct care practice activities in the following courses: NURS 3098, NURS 4208, NURS 3900 and NURS 4048.
These experiences give students the opportunity to apply professional competencies in real-world settings by:
- Educating individuals or groups based on assessed healthcare needs
- Designing and delivering evidence-based interventions
- Promoting health and wellness in community-based environments
Students are responsible for identifying their own practice sites or participants; however, faculty will assist students who are unable to find their own experience. All students must hold an active and valid RN license to complete practice experiences. Employed hours may not count toward practice experiences.
Sample courses
- Advanced Assessment and Health Promotion
- Nursing Leadership and Quality Improvement
- Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
- Informatics in Healthcare
- Transcultural Health Care
- Policies in Healthcare
#1 public university in the Midwest students would choose again
The Wall Street Journal
BGSU was one of the first universities in the nation to earn the Quality Matters Online Learner Support certificate for all online programs. The certificate recognizes that our programs provide the critical services needed for student success and that we use student feedback to continuously improve those services.
The nursing RN to BSN program is in the BGSU College of Health and Human Services.
Updated: 07/10/2025 05:56PM