College of Nursing

BSN Completion Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

What is the difference between the Pre-Licensure BSN degree program and the BSN Completion degree program?

The Pre-Licensure BSN degree program is for students who do not already have an associates degree (ADN) or a diploma in nursing, and do not already have an RN license. The BSN Completion Program is for students who do have an associates degree (ADN) or a diploma in nursing, already have an RN license, and would like to complete their BSN degree. The BSN Completion program is also known as RN to BSN, or FLEX.

What are the admission criteria for the BSN Completion Program?

The admission criteria for the BSN Completion Program is the sameno matter which option you want to pursue (on campus vs. off campus vs. online). The minimum admission criteria may be found on the BSN Completion Admission Criteria page of our website.

Is admission to this program competitive, the way that it is for the Pre-Licensure BSN Options?

Admission to the BSN Completion Program is not competitive, the way that it is for our Pre-Licensure BSN Options. Spaces are awarded to qualified applicants on a first-to-enroll basis. We will not rank you against the other applicants and only admit the applicants with the highest GPA, the way that we do with our Pre-Licensure BSN Options. As long as you meet our minimum admission criteria, you may enroll in our BSN Completion Program, as long as spaces remain.

Will the grades that I earned in my associates or diploma nursing courses count into my GPA, when considering me for admission?

No, we will not include the grades from your nursing coursework into your GPA for admissions purposes. Your GPA will be calculated on all attempts of all transferable general education courses. You must have at least 30 transferable credit hours of non-nursing courses, with at least a 2.5 GPA, to meet the minimum admission criteria.

Can I receive course credit for the classes I took as part of my associates or diploma nursing degree?

Graduates from associates or diploma programs will receive 39 credits for their previous nursing coursework. These credits will be earned after the student completes the first two nursing courses with UMSL's College of Nursing. You will also receive credit for any transferrable general education coursework you did as part of your program.

What are the general education requirements for the BSN Completion Program? Do I have to complete all of these courses before I can enroll in the program?

The majority of the general education course requirements for our BSN Completion Program were probably already completed for your ADN or Diploma in Nursing. Any general education course requirements you are lacking do not have to be completed before you can enroll in the BSN Completion Program. They may be taken simultaneously with your BSN coursework (either at UMSL or at another regionally accredited institution); however, they must be completed before you can graduate from UMSL with your BSN. Always contact your nursing advisor prior to taking any courses at other colleges or universities.

A list of the general education course requirements for our BSN Completion Program can be found here.

Is there a time limit/expiration on any of my general education courses?

There is no time limit/expiration for any of the general education courses (including the major science courses) for applicants to the BSN Completion Program. As a currently licensed nurse, you have the practical work experience to stay updated with the necessary information/technology that you need in the general education subject areas. As long as your courses transfer to UMSL, and you are currently licensed as an RN, then it does not matter how old your classes are.

Do any of the courses have a clinical component?

Not in the usual sense of a clinical. Instead, you will complete a clinical project in your home community. The project includes completing a community assessment and then implementing a project that will meet a need of your community.

How long does it take to complete the BSN?

Just the nursing coursesas outlined in the sample plan of study will take 4 academic semesters and 2 summer terms, for a total of 2 calendar years. Students who still have general education course requirements might take longer to complete the program.

Is there a time limit on completing the degree?

No. However, it is important to consider that many of the courses are only offered one time per year. If you choose to take any time off from the program, you may have to wait a semester or two before the course you need is offered again. It is also important to note that if a student withdraws from the program and decides to return at a later date, he/she will be subject to any programmatic changes which occurred during their absence.

What outreach sites do you offer?

In addition to UMSL's campus and our online option, we also offer our BSN Completion Program at various outreach sites throughout the St. Louis area. You will be taking UMSL courses with UMSL faculty members, but you will actually be attending courses at one of the following locations:

During what semesters do you admit students to the BSN Completion Program?

We only admit students to certain sites/options during certain semesters:

Please note that locations and start dates are subject to change.

May I change sites/options once I begin the program?

Yes, it is possible for a student to transfer to a different site/option after they have started their course of study, as long as spaces are still available at the desired site. Students should be aware, though, that switching from one site to another may delay their progress in the program (resulting in a longer course of study). It is also important to remember that costs for various sites/options do vary.

I am interested in the online option. Will I ever be required to visit campus?

Yes. You will be required to visit campus just one time, for an orientation at the start of the program.

Are the internet classes self-paced?

There are course-related assignments that have deadlines and specific expectations determined by the faculty of record. However, you may complete the coursework at any time of the day or week, at your own convenience.

What is the cost?

The tuition/fees for each option (on campus vs. off campus vs. online) varies; therefore, the total cost for each option is different. You may find an estimation of the various options fees on the BSN Completion page of our website (look under Cost).

How do I apply?

Prospective students should follow the steps to apply listed here.

What if I don't want to send some of my previous college transcripts, because I didn't do very well in those courses?

For our admissions purposes, we calculate applicants' GPAs based on all attempts of all transferable general education (non-nursing) courses. Applicants do not have the option to pick and choose which transcripts they would like to submit; they must submit transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate institutions. It is the policy of both the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the College of Nursing to wait until all transcripts have been received until an admission decision can be made. Students who do not list a complete academic history on their university application, and do not have official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate institutions sent to UMSL's Office of Admissions, can have their admission to both the University and the College of Nursing revoked.

I have college coursework from a country outside of the United States. Do I have to submit these transcripts as well?

Yes, all undergraduate coursework, including foreign coursework, will be taken into consideration for admissions purposes. Since we calculate applicants' GPAs based on all attempts of all transferable courses, we must also evaluate international coursework. We understand that it can be difficult to obtain international transcripts, course descriptions, etc.; however, we are mandated by the MO State Board of Nursing to treat all of our applicants the same, with regards to our admissions process. Therefore, foreign coursework must also be taken into consideration. Please note that the international admission process can be quite time-consuming. It is recommended that applicants with international coursework should start the process at least one semester before their planned enrollment term. Please click here, and follow the instructions for submitting the required documents. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact an Academic Advisor in the College of Nursing.

What is the deadline to apply?

There is no deadline to apply for the BSN Completion Program. However, students should be aware that we do have a cap on the number of students we can admit to each option. Spaces are awarded to qualified applicants on a first-to-enroll basis. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants submit all application materials at least 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the term for which they are seeking admission.