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
Effective fall 2025, the RN-BSN campus format (33NURS) will not be available.
Nursing courses through the campus-based format are offered on the CSUF campus in Fullerton, CA (except for 402L). NURS 402L clinical 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
Student Business Services website
School of Nursing Student Financial Resources
Distance (Online) Format
Nursing courses through the distance-based format will be offered online (except for NURS 340L and NURS 402L). NURS 340L is held on the CSUF campus in Fullerton, CA. NURS 402L clinical course 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). NURS 340L is held on the CSUF campus in Fullerton, CA. NURS 402L clinical will be available to students in the following counties: Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles or San Bernardino.
Tuition And Fees
Distance fees (added to registration and tuition fees) - $50/ lecture unit and $100/ lab unit. Distance fees are charged upon registration and are non-refundable.
Student Business Services website
School of Nursing Scholarships
STUDY PLANS
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 |
| 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 |
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
| Nursing Courses | Date | 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.