School of Nursing

Degree Requirements

RN to BS Link to section

Our RN to BS Online program is tailored to the practicing nurse who brings a wealth of knowledge from prior education and experience to the program.

After reviewing your transcript with your advisor, you will develop a degree plan based on prior coursework and transferred credits to UR School of Nursing. A maximum of 96 credits may be transferred into the program.

The program can be completed in four semesters if the arts and sciences requirements are completed prior to starting. Up to four academic credits may also be awarded for prior experiential learning. Each course runs consecutively for the full semester.

Advantages of an Online Program Link to section

The iROC Initiative was launched in the RN to BS Online program in 2018. Complete interactive and hands-on online courses with an iPad device, with access to faculty and IT support.

Learn more about the iROC Initiative and the RN to BS Online program.

Curriculum Overview Link to section

To complete the bachelor’s degree a total of 128 credits are required, including:

64 Credits: Arts & Sciences Coursework: When you submit your transcripts, a transcript analysis will determine which of your previously-completed courses can be transferred to the School of Nursing as an arts and sciences course. Arts and sciences credits can be transferred in from any accredited college or university and will be awarded automatically upon matriculation if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. You can be accepted into the program even if the required graduation courses or arts and sciences credits have not been completed.

64 Credits: Nursing Major: Upon admission to the program, 32 nursing credits will be transferred for the student’s previous nursing coursework. The remaining 32 nursing credits make up the RN to BS program and include eight courses with content delivered completely online. Several courses also contain clinical field hours, which include time spent observing a leader or manager in nursing, conducting research, and developing small projects for outside agencies.

Total credit hours: 32.0
Total clinical field hours: 168.0

12-Month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) Link to section

The 12-Month ABSN program features a full-time curriculum designed to prepare non-nurses to quickly enter the nursing profession.

Over three consecutive semesters, students complete 49 credits, 720 clinical hours, and 90 labs hours to prepare to pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam and practice as a professional registered nurse.

Students will need to commit an average of 32 hours per week to class or lab/clinical time. Students should also account for additional study time outside of class and lab/clinical hours.

Clinical Rotations and Lab Hours Link to section

Students conduct clinical rotations at the University of Rochester Medical Center, which includes Golisano Children's Hospital, Wilmot Cancer Institute, and Strong Memorial Hospital, as well as URMC affiliates. Clinical rotations are conducted in small groups of 8-10 students.

Lab hours are completed in the school's new state-of-the-art experiential learning building. Experiential learning activities including simulation and hands-on skills activities to provide realistic insight into every aspect of nursing as students learn to:

• Interact with patients and provide the best care
• Build skills and confidence by making safe mistakes in a learning environment
• Solve clinical problems
• Communicate and collaborate within a health care team

To see a typical course schedule for the 12-Month ABSN program, visit the Course Schedules page.

12-Month ABSN Curriculum Link to section

Total: 49.0 credits (*Courses subject to change)