RN to BSN Curriculum
The RN to BSN courses are designed to fit the busy schedules of working RNs.
Our newly revised RN to BSN program is expected to begin enrolling students in Fall 2026.
Complete the form below to stay informed of application deadlines.
For a full description of these courses, view the academic catalog.
| Course* | Credit Hours | Semester Offered |
|---|---|---|
| NURS 320: Pathophysiology for the Practicing Nurse | 3* | Fall |
| NURS 326: Pharmacology for the Practicing Nurse | 3* | Spring |
| NURS 352: Client Assessment for the Practicing Nurse | 3* | Fall |
| NURS 441: Nursing Research in an Evidence-Based Practice Setting | 3 | Spring. Summer |
| NURS 443: Developing the Baccalaureate Nurse Role (This is a compressed 8-week course, regardless of semester.) | 3 | Summer, Fall |
| NURS 444: Using Technology to Enhance Client Safety (This is a compressed 8-week course, regardless of semester.) | 3 | Spring, Summer |
| NURS 446: Population Based Health Care for the Practicing Nurse | 3 | Fall |
| NURS 447: Nursing Practice within Clinical Healthcare Micro-System | 3 | Fall |
| NURS 448: Scholarly Inquiry for Quality Improvement | 3 | Summer, Fall |
| NURS 449: Nursing Practice Within the Healthcare Organization | 3 | Spring |
| NURS 451: Navigating Influences of Healthcare Macro Environment | 3 | Spring |
| NURS 492: Clinical Leadership Practicum for the Practicing Nurse (Must be taken in final semester) | 2-3 | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Total BSN Nursing Course Credits: 30-35 |
* With the exception of NURS 492, these courses may be taken in any sequence desired.
** These courses are eligible for credit by portfolio or transfer from approved associate degree programs. A minimum of 30 credit hours of courses must be completed at KU in order to earn a KU BSN.
Graduates of the RN to BSN will have completed a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, comprised of 60 credits of core curriculum prerequisites and 60 credits of nursing major-specific credits. The nursing major consists of the 30-35 credits of KU BSN courses and 25-34 credits awarded through a portfolio review of your ACEN-accredited associate's degree or diploma nursing program.
Portfolio is the method used to award university level credit (300-400 level courses) for academic knowledge acquired through your community college nursing program. All students graduating from ACEN-accredited nursing programs are automatically awarded 25 credit hours via the portfolio process and may be eligible for up to six additional credit hours with eligible pharmacology or assessment coursework. Students are billed just $15.00 per portfolio course, which equates to a total of $135.00-$165.00. This fee is assessed during the first semester of the program.
- Objective 1: Effectively communicate with all members of the health care team, including patients and their support system.
- Objective 2: Use clinical judgment to design quality, safe, evidence-based patient care.
- Objective 3: Deliver safe, compassionate, culturally competent, patient-centered nursing care across the lifespan.
- Objective 4: Use healthcare resources to effectively deliver high quality, cost-effective patient care.
- Objective 5: Demonstrate leadership in the evaluation of outcomes, improvement of care, and advancement of nursing practice.
- Objective 6: Provide health promotion, disease prevention, end-of-life care, and/or palliative care to individuals and populations in a variety of settings.
- Objective 7: Examine the micro- and macro-systems that influence health care delivery to achieve quality patient care within economic boundaries.
- Objective 8: Contribute the unique nursing perspective with the interdisciplinary health care team to achieve optimal health care outcomes.
- Objective 9: Demonstrate professionalism in attitudes and behaviors.