Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Online Program
Curriculum
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A Curriculum Built for Working Nurses
You already know how to take care of patients. The curriculum for the RN to BSN program focuses on what comes next: leading teams, thinking critically about healthcare systems, grounding your practice in evidence, and building the professional identity that opens doors to Magnet facilities, graduate study, and leadership roles.
Coursework is fully online and asynchronous, so you can study around your shifts, not the other way around. Two clinical practicums (144 total hours) focused on leadership and population health round out the program, and the academic directors work with you to coordinate placements in your area. All placement costs are included in tuition.
The program is designed to be completed in 20 months (five semesters) of part-time study. It is currently authorized in the following states, with the same tuition rate regardless of where you live:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Texas
- Virginia
20
Average number of months it takes to graduate from the program
15–20
Average number of hours of coursework to expect each week
What You’ll Learn
In this program, you will develop the knowledge and competencies to:
- Apply foundational knowledge from nursing, the sciences, and the liberal arts to deliver safe, effective, and equitable care
- Provide person-centered care grounded in empathy, respect, and shared decision-making
- Promote population health through community assessment, health promotion, and advocacy
- Engage in scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice to improve nursing outcomes
- Use informatics and health information technology to support care delivery and communication
- Demonstrate professionalism, ethical practice, and leadership in all aspects of nursing
The curriculum is informed by the AACN Essentials and USD’s Core Curriculum, with coursework that translates to your day-to-day nursing practice.
Curriculum Highlights
- 15 courses | 43–52 units | 5 semesters
- Fall, spring, and summer start dates available
- Two in-person clinical practicums (144 hours)
- Asynchronous, online coursework
- Estimated 15 to 20 hours of study per week
- Up to 60–69 transferable units from prior coursework
- 12 units of transfer credit with successful completion of the NCLEX (must be completed prior to the first day of class)
- Educational materials and technologies provided through Canvas, Google Suite, Zoom, and Panopto
Leadership and Professional Development
Whether you’re seeking a BSN for Magnet facility requirements, looking to move into a leadership role, or plan to continue to an MSN, these courses build the foundation you need. Expect coursework in evidence-based practice, nursing leadership, health information technology, and population health advocacy.
A Holistic, Liberal Arts Foundation
The first two semesters include six core courses that pair the liberal arts with nursing. You will study ethical reasoning, philosophical foundations, data visualization, and communication. These are the courses that help you think beyond the bedside.
Real-World Clinical Experience
Two in-person clinical practicums in leadership and population health give you guided, hands-on experience with a preceptor matched to your career goals.
Clinical Practicums Designed Around You
Clinical hours don’t start until the fourth semester, giving you time to settle into the program before stepping into a practicum. When you do, you won’t be searching for a site on your own.
The program includes two clinical practicums totaling 144 hours: one in nursing leadership and one in population health and advocacy. The program’s clinical placement team collaborates with you to coordinate a preceptor and clinical site that align with where you want to take your career. If you already have a site or preceptor in mind, the team will work with you to explore the opportunity and ensure it fits your learning goals and program expectations.
Your preceptor is vetted and matched to your professional interests. Together with the lead faculty, they form a support team around your practicum experience. You will set time-sensitive SMART goals and engage in guided learning that connects what you study in your courses to what you practice in the field.
An Optional Pathway to USD’s MSN-NL
If you’re considering graduate school, this program is designed to support that path. In the final two semesters, nine units of coursework count toward both the BSN and USD’s MSN in Nursing Leadership.
Students who finish the BSN are eligible to apply for the MSN-NL program and can carry that shared coursework forward. Pursuing a master’s elsewhere after earning a BSN typically takes longer. At USD, both degrees can be completed in as few as three years.
The final semesters focus on professionalism and leadership, healthcare systems, and population health, all of which help lay the groundwork for graduate-level study.
Curriculum Designed for Impact
Here is how the coursework translates to your nursing career:
| CourSe Theme | Real-World Value |
|---|---|
| Writing and Communication | Strengthen professional writing and communication for clinical and leadership contexts |
| Ethical and Philosophical Foundations | Examine the moral and philosophical principles that guide nursing practice and decision-making |
| Evidence-Based Practice | Apply research and clinical evidence to improve patient care and outcomes |
| Health Information Technology | Use informatics and communication technologies to enhance care delivery |
| Leadership and Professionalism | Develop professional identity, leadership skills, and advocacy competencies |
| Population Health and Advocacy | Assess community health needs and promote social justice through nursing practice |
| Healthcare Systems and Quality | Analyze healthcare systems to promote quality, safety, and innovation |
| Data Visualization | Interpret and create data visualizations to support clinical and policy decisions |
| Liberal Arts and Humanities | Explore literature, theology, and cultural perspectives to deepen empathy and critical thinking |
Learn more about the curriculum:
Note: A few course unit values may vary slightly for students pursuing a specialty track in Nursing Education or Informatics. The total number of units for students choosing a specialty track will be 45 units.
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
|
This orientation course introduces student to the University of San Diego and provides important information about the program. Throughout t… |
|
|
This course supports the development of the nurse’s effective, respectful, and constructive verbal and written communication skills in the… |
3 |
|
This course surveys a form of artistic expression combined with an examination of the experience of being a health care patient. Depictions … |
3 |
|
This course examines the historical and scientific evolution of nursing as both a discipline and a field of study. Students will explore fou… |
3 |
|
This course explores population health management, highlighting the crucial role of nurses in promoting health equity and social justice in … |
4 |
|
In collaboration with community partners, this practicum focuses on principles of population health and addresses the health needs of divers… |
2 |
|
This course examines the profession of nursing as depicted in literature which may include fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, biography, f… |
3 |
|
This course explores the ethical foundations of nursing practice, providing students with the knowledge and skills to navigate complex moral… |
3 |
|
This course explores the philosophical foundations of nursing, examining key questions about the nature of care, personhood, health, and res… |
3 |
|
This course focuses on the information and communication technologies(ICT) used in healthcare delivery to improve patient outcomes, ensure s… |
3 |
|
This course supports the nurse’s ability to a) reliably interpret the data visualizations routinely encountered in their role, and b) crea… |
3 |
|
This course equips nursing professionals to navigate complex healthcare systems by exploring organizational structures, healthcare delivery … |
3 |
|
This course focuses on the nursing profession as both a science and a discipline, exploring its historical evolution, professional roles, an… |
3 |
|
In collaboration with community partners, this practicum offers hands-on experience applying theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practi… |
1 |
|
This course is an introduction to the academic study of Catholic theology, a discipline within the Humanities. Students will learn about, an… |
3 |
|
This course is an exploration of the implications of religious ideas and practices for the ways people view and value the natural world, wit… |
3 |
Technology Requirement
Students are required to have a laptop or desktop computer with reliable internet access. All courses are delivered through Canvas, USD’s learning management system, with additional tools including Google Suite, Zoom, and Panopto. A webcam and microphone are recommended for optional live sessions and office hours.
Program Development
The RN to BSN Program is offered through USD’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, founded in 1973. The curriculum was designed by the program’s co-directors and nursing faculty in partnership with USD’s Learning Design Center, with every course built specifically for working nurses in an online format.
Students are supported throughout the program by a team that includes the academic directors, program coordinator, faculty, and student success staff. That support takes the form of mentorship and coaching, open office hours, and proactive check-ins from enrollment through graduation.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, RN to BSN graduates will be able to:
- Use foundational knowledge from nursing, sciences, and the liberal arts to support safe, effective, and equitable nursing care.
- Provide person-centered care that reflects empathy, respect, and shared decision-making to promote health and well-being.
- Support population health through community assessment, health promotion, and advocacy for social justice.
- Engage in scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice to improve nursing care and outcomes.
- Deliver safe, high-quality care using quality and safety principles to minimize harm and improve outcomes.
- Collaborate effectively with the interprofessional team to deliver coordinated, high-quality care.
- Use knowledge of healthcare systems to coordinate resources and provide equitable, efficient care.
- Use informatics and communication technologies to manage information and support safe, effective care.
- Demonstrate professional identity, ethical practice, and self-awareness in all aspects of nursing care.
- Engage in continuous personal, professional, and leadership development through reflection and self-care.