Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Online Program
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At a Glance
Designed for working nurses, this flexible online program allows you to maintain your full-time role while earning your BSN in as few as 20 months, with a clear pathway into a master’s degree.
Clinical Practicum Placements
USD partners with you to secure your preceptor and clinical placement, so you can fully focus on learning. Placement costs are included in tuition.
Degree Programs / Bachelor of Science in Nursing
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
You can keep doing what you do best, while finishing your BSN. The online RN to BSN Program at the University of San Diego is designed around the way working nurses actually live, with asynchronous coursework, clinical placements arranged for you, and a direct pathway into a master’s degree if you want to keep going.
Offered through the nationally ranked Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the program builds on your associate degree with coursework in leadership, evidence-based practice, and population health. Courses are thoughtfully sequenced. With Fall, Spring, and Summer start dates, you can begin when the timing works best for you.
Clinical practicums begin in the fourth semester and follow a hybrid format that combines in-person and remote experiences depending on the preceptor’s schedule and the projects you’ll be working on. The program’s academic directors collaborate with you to coordinate a preceptor and clinical site in your home state based on your career goals, with a clinical faculty member supporting you throughout. All placement costs are built into your tuition.
The program also feeds directly into graduate study. Twelve units of BSN coursework apply toward the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nursing Leadership at USD, creating a path from associate degree to master’s degree in about three years. Elsewhere, that progression typically takes longer.
The BSN Completion Program is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and aligns with Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) standards. It is available to students in 13 states, and there is no requirement to relocate or travel to San Diego.
| The USD BSN Completion Program accepts students from California and the following states: | ||
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WHY CHOOSE USD’S BSN COMPLETION PROGRAM?
USD’s BSN Completion Program stands apart, and for many students, those differences are exactly why they choose it.
- Concierge Clinical Placements: USD’s academic directors collaborate with you to coordinate your preceptor and clinical placement in your home state, aligning each experience with your career goals and all at no additional cost beyond tuition.
- Pathway To A Master’s Degree: Twelve units of BSN coursework apply toward the MSN in Nursing Leadership at USD, so you can earn both degrees in approximately three years.
- Coursework Built For Working Nurses: Every course is asynchronous and instructor-led, thoughtfully sequenced across the program. Fall, Spring, and Summer start dates mean you choose when to begin. The expected weekly commitment is estimated to be 15 to 20 hours.
- A Team That Stays Involved: From your first application through graduation, the program’s team includes academic directors, program coordinators, faculty, compliance, and student success staff who support you at every stage. Regular cohort check-ins and open office hours keep you connected throughout.
- A Cohort That Keeps You Connected: The cohort model uses a variety of platforms and approaches to create engaging, interactive learning experiences, building relationships between students who share similar circumstances from the first week. Online doesn’t have to mean isolated.
- Community Built On Belonging: The RN to BSN Program reflects the University of San Diego’s commitment to inclusive excellence and changemaking. The cohort is intentionally built to reflect the communities that nurses serve, and students from all backgrounds are welcomed here.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?
The RN to BSN Program is open to registered nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing with an active, unencumbered RN license. It serves students at different stages of their careers.
- You recently earned your ADN and want to keep building momentum. Begin your BSN online while settling into your first nursing role. Clinical practicums start in the fourth semester, giving you time to prepare before engaging in varied leadership clinical experiences tailored to your interests.
- You’ve been a nurse for years and have been meaning to go back to school. You might be worried about writing papers again, navigating new technology, or keeping up with coursework after a long break. Those concerns are common and the program accounts for them, with academic mentoring and coaching, writing support, and tech resources built in from the start.
- Your employer requires or encourages a BSN. Healthcare organizations with Magnet designation often require BSN completion within a set timeframe, and many offer tuition remission or pay differentials to support it. If you haven’t asked your employer about education benefits, it’s worth having the conversation.
- You came to nursing from a different career. Choosing nursing after another career reflects depth, purpose, and commitment. ADN programs are shaped by students with varied professional experiences. Whether nursing is your second career or your fourth, your background adds richness and perspective to the learning environment and the cohort community.
No matter where you’re starting from, this program is designed to help you grow as a nurse, a leader, and a professional.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING?
A bachelor’s degree in nursing can expand your career options in ways that an associate degree alone may not. In many healthcare organizations, baccalaureate preparation is tied to expanded responsibilities, leadership eligibility, and increased compensation. Nurses working in unionized environments or at Magnet-designated facilities often see these differences reflected in how roles and pay structures are defined.
A BSN also lays the groundwork for graduate education, including USD’s MSN in Nursing Leadership, which can be completed in one additional year through the program’s 12-unit pathway.
Positions that a BSN can prepare you for include:
- Charge Nurse
- Nurse Team Lead
- Care Coordinator
- Case Manager
- Quality Improvement Nurse
- Community Health Nurse
- Nurse Educator (clinical settings)
- Nursing Supervisor
- Population Health Nurse
- Telehealth Nurse
Beyond these roles, many BSN graduates continue into graduate study through programs such as the MSN in Nursing Leadership, HyFlex Clinical Nurse Specialist Program, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or PhD in Nursing at USD’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science.
CURRICULUM AND COURSE PROGRESSION
The BSN Completion Program is structured to let you build momentum one course at a time
Core Structure
- 43 to 52 units spread across five semesters (average completion: ~20 months)
- Two 14-week clinical practicums integrated with coursework (144 hours total)
- Asynchronous, instructor-led format, thoughtfully sequenced and taken year-round (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
- Modularized first and second semesters so courses can be completed in any order
- Part-time friendly schedule comprising ~15 to 20 hours/week of study
- 12 units in the final two semesters that apply toward both the BSN and the MSN in Nursing Leadership
Through courses in leadership, evidence-based practice, population health, ethics, and health information technology, students strengthen clinical reasoning and develop the competencies that healthcare organizations look for in BSN-prepared nurses. The curriculum also includes a liberal arts foundation built specifically for nurses, with courses in literature, philosophy, data visualization, and patient storytelling that develop reflective thinking, empathy, and narrative competence.
CLINICAL PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE
Your clinical practicums are where everything you’ve learned in the classroom meets the realities of practice. They’re also where the BSN Completion Program’s approach to student support shows up most clearly.
Before your first practicum begins, the program’s academic directors sit down with you to understand your career interests, your professional goals, and where you see your practice heading. From there, they collaborate with you and arrange a preceptor and clinical site in your home state that reflects that direction. A clinical faculty member supports you alongside your preceptor for the duration of the placement, and all costs are built into your tuition. If you already have a preceptor or clinical site in mind, the team will work with you to explore the opportunity and ensure it aligns well with your learning goals and program expectations.
The program includes two clinical practicums totaling 144 hours, each paired with theory coursework so you’re building on what you learn in real time.
- Nursing Leadership Practicum (48 hours, 14 weeks) in the fourth semester
- Population Health and Advocacy Practicum (96 hours, 14 weeks) in the final semester
Throughout both experiences, you’ll develop SMART goals, apply leadership strategies in real-world healthcare settings, and collaborate with interprofessional teams. These practicums are designed to give you tangible leadership experience that carries into your career the moment you graduate.
Not all clinical practicum experiences are created equal. Here’s how USD’s approach compares with many other programs.
| Other BSN Programs | USD BSN Completion Program | |
| Placement process | Students find their own preceptor and clinical site | USD’s academic directors collaborate with you to arrange your placement |
| Cost | Placement fees are separate from tuition | All costs included in tuition |
| Site selection | Limited guidance on site fit | Placements are vetted and matched to your career goals |
| Ongoing support | Students navigate the experience independently | Clinical faculty supports you alongside your preceptor throughout |
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the program, BSN graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge, competency, and skills within the following domains:
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Use foundational knowledge from nursing, sciences, and the liberal arts to support safe, effective, and equitable nursing care. |
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Provide person-centered care that reflects empathy, respect, and shared decision-making to promote health and well-being. |
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Support population health through community assessment, health promotion, and advocacy for social justice. |
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Engage in scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice to improve nursing care and outcomes. |
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Deliver safe, high-quality care using quality and safety principles to minimize harm and improve outcomes. |
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Collaborate effectively with the interprofessional team to deliver coordinated, high-quality care. |
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Use knowledge of healthcare systems to coordinate resources and provide equitable, efficient care. |
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Use informatics and communication technologies to manage information and support safe, effective care. |
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Demonstrate professional identity, ethical practice, and self-awareness in all aspects of nursing care. |
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Engage in continuous personal, professional, and leadership development through reflection and self-care. |
DEDICATED MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT
The RN to BSN Program is built around a close, supportive community. The program’s academic directors are personally involved from the application stage through graduation, and faculty and program coordinator remain accessible throughout the program. Students receive personalized guidance, mentorship, and the resources they need to succeed in an online environment.
Support includes:
- Personal interviews and regular check-ins with academic directors
- Open office hours with faculty and program leadership
- A cohort model that uses a variety of platforms and approaches to create engaging, interactive learning experiences from the first week
- A dedicated enrollment advisor and program coordinator
- Academic coaching, writing support, and technology resources for returning students
- Full access to USD’s library and research tools
- Virtual career day events, professional development, and alumni networking
- Campus visits, simulation lab tours, and an on-campus pinning ceremony and commencement for graduates (all optional)
After graduation, alumni stay connected through networking events, professional engagement opportunities, and potential pathways back to USD as clinical faculty or guest lecturers.
EXPERIENCED, STUDENT-FOCUSED FACULTY
The faculty teaching in the RN to BSN Program bring deep expertise in nursing leadership, clinical practice, and academic instruction, with professional networks that span hospitals, healthcare systems, and academic institutions across the country.
Program Directors Jannise T. Baclig, PhD, RN and Nadine Kassity-Krich, MBA, BSN, RN, PHN, CNL are involved from the start. They interview applicants, lead cohort check-ins, hold open office hours, and provide mentorship and coaching throughout the program. They understand working nurses because they are working nurses, and they bring that perspective into every interaction.
Faculty across the program are known for being accessible, responsive, and genuinely invested in student success.
ADVISORY BOARD
The RN to BSN Program is guided by an advisory board of nursing leaders representing healthcare systems, academic institutions, and professional organizations across the San Diego region and beyond.
- Joseph de Veyra, DNP, NP Hub
- Ellen Fleischman, PhD, Scripps Mercy
- Susan Herman, DNP, Rady Children’s Health
- Lindsey Ryan, PhD, Sharp Memorial
- Nancy P. Saks, DNSc, Grossmont College
- Rayne Soriano, PhD, Kaiser
- Teresa Waterbury-Clark, MSN, VA San Diego Healthcare System
- Heather Warlan, PhD, UC San Diego Health
- Josh Wymer, DNP, USD / Missouri DHSS
These relationships keep the program connected to regional workforce needs and help ensure the curriculum reflects what healthcare organizations are looking for in BSN-prepared nurses.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The RN to BSN Program seeks registered nurses who are ready to advance their education and expand their career opportunities. USD offers rolling admission with start terms in Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Core Admission Requirements:
- Associate degree in nursing (ADN) or diploma from an accredited institution
- Proof of an active, unencumbered RN license
- GPA of 3.0 or higher preferred (candidates with a GPA below 3.0 are still encouraged to apply)
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Essay (guidelines provided on the application page)
- Recommendation letter from a supervisor, manager, or academic reference
- Resume (preferred)
- No nursing entrance exams required
Applicants may begin the application process while their NCLEX-RN exam is still pending, but an active, unencumbered RN license is required before starting the program.
Up to 60 to 69 units from prior coursework may transfer toward the 124 total units required for degree completion. Your previous education is the foundation you’ll build on here.
Every applicant meets with the program’s academic directors to discuss goals, interests, and how the program can support their path forward.
TUITION, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND FINANCIAL AID
Program tuition for the RN to BSN Program is $600 per unit, with a total program cost of $25,800 to $31,200 depending on transfer credits. Tuition is the same for all students regardless of state of residence, and clinical practicum placement costs are included.
Federal financial aid is available, and scholarships and grants may also apply. Many healthcare organizations, particularly those with Magnet designation, offer tuition remission or reimbursement for nurses pursuing a BSN. It’s worth checking with your employer to find out what support may be available.
How to apply
Application details coming soon!
ACCREDITATION
The BSN Completion Program is offered through USD’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. Founded in 1973, the Hahn School has more than 50 years of experience preparing nurse leaders, educators, and advanced practitioners who elevate the profession and improve health outcomes.
Each of the University of San Diego’s academic programs is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges). Regional accreditation is widely regarded as the standard that assures a rigorous education and eligibility to apply for federal financial aid.
The Hahn School’s master’s programs are also nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
