RN to BS Program

Highlights

  • Affordable part time program
  • Classes held on York College campus and via telecom at hospitals in Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Carlisle, and Chambersburg
  • Credit granted for basic nursing knowledge acquired in AD and diploma programs
  • No challenge exams required
  • Up to 75 transfer credits accepted from AD programs
  • Unlimited credits accepted from baccalaureate programs
  • Up to 60 credits may be earned through CLEP examinations
  • Telecom courses and academic advising available at many convenient locations
  • Telecom courses are offered every semester and during the summer
  • Accelerated RN to MSN track available

A Letter from the Program Coordinator

Marian Condon, DEd, RN
Associate Professor
York College of Pennsylvania
717-815-1355
Office MK 217
mcondon@ycp.edu

Dear Registered Nurse,

The faculty in the Department of Nursing at York College is committed to providing you with the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with a major in Nursing. Our program was established in 1982 and we have been steadily refining and improving it. In 2002, we initiated the RN to MS track option. Most recently, we have reduced our total program credits form 132 to 124, in keeping with national trends. We continue to work hard to provide a course of study that is affordable, flexible and up-to-date. RN-BS courses designed specifically for you, the Registered Nurse, can help you keep pace with with changes in the continually evolving health care environment. In the course of your baccalaureate education in Nursing at York College, you will build on the knowledge and skills you already possess in order to position yourself to take full advantage of the many professional opportunities open to baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Should you choose our RN to MS program, you will be thoroughly prepared for a challenging and rewarding career as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

Wishing you success and fulfillment,

Marian C. Condon

Program Requirements

A total of 124 credits are required: 50 credits in Nursing, 78 credits in required support courses (Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, etc.), and 46 credits in general studies (humanities, math, speech, etc.). All RN-BS students are granted 33 credits in Nursing for courses taken in their basic program and must take only 17 additional Nursing credits. Most RNs have taken required support courses such as A&P, psych, sociology and microbiology in their basic program and can transfer them into York College. Many RNs have also taken transferable general studies courses. This Academic Worksheet lists all required coursework.

 

Courses Required at HACC and Other A.D. Programs that Will Transfer into York to Meet RN to BS Requirements:

Nursing Courses

33

English Comp.

3

English Comp. 2

3

Speech

3

Anatomy & Physiology I

4

Anatomy & Physiology II

4

Microbiology

4

General Psychology

3

Intro to Sociology

3

TOTAL

60

 

A.D. Program Elective Courses that May be Used to Meet Degree Requirements at York:

Open Elective

3

Basic Chemistry

4

Human Biology

3

Elementary Statistics

3

Physical Education

1

TOTAL

14


Additional Courses that may be Transferred in, CLEPPED, or Taken at York College to Complete Degree Requirements:

Note: In order to earn a degree from York College, you must complete a minimum of 30 credits of course work at York College.

 
General Education Courses:  
IFL101 Information Literacy 2
MAT111 Critical Thinking/Pr. Solving in Math 3
Any 2 in Fine Arts/Humanity 6
Any 2 in Am./West. Civilization or American Govt. 6
Any 2 in International Study/Foreign Language 6
Any 3 Electives 9
Physical Education 1
TOTAL 33
       

Required Upper Division Nursing Courses:

NUR 320 Health Assessment for the RN

 3
NUR 321 Transitional Concepts for the RN 2
NUR 322 Research and Professional Nursing 3
NUR 331 Alternative/Complementary Therapies 3
NUR 421 Leadership in Professional Nursing 3
NUR 456 Community Health Concepts and Issues 3
TOTAL  17

FAQ

How long will it take to complete the program?

Students may work at their own pace in this program, and may finish relatively rapidly or slowly, depending on employment and family responsibilities. RNs who can take more than one course at a time and/or study for a CLEP exam while simultaneously taking a course can finish in 3 semesters (including summers). RNs who take one course at a time during the fall and spring semesters and during summer sessions, generally complete the program within 2.5-3 years, depending on how many credits they transfer in and their success on CLEP examinations. Telecom courses are offered every semester and during the summer. Earning CLEP credits in addition to taking courses can expedite the process.

What if I already have a degree?

Students who already hold a BA or BS degree in another discipline are exempt from all general studies courses and need take only required nursing courses and required support courses.

How many credits may I transfer to York College?

A maximum of 75 credits (includes the 33 credits in Nursing) may be transferred in from AD programs and an unlimited number from four year schools. RN to BS Program students are exempt from the Residency Requirement rule that says the last 30 credits must be taken at YCP.

Can I earn credits via challenge exams?

RNs who did not take Anatomy and Physiology or Microbiology in their basic programs may take an Excelsior (Regents) exam in those subjects rather than taking them at York College or taking them elsewhere and transferring them in. Excelsior exams are given at Sylvan Learning Centers.
York College accepts a number of College Level Examination Program CLEP exams in lieu of required general studies courses. Students may earn an unlimited number of credits via the CLEP, but must take a minimum of 30 credits at York College in order to earn a degree from York College.

Where are classes held?

All nursing courses, two foreign culture courses, one physical education course, and the required courses in information literacy, math, chemistry, biology and statistics are offered on campus and at distance sites via telecom. Courses meet once a week for approximately 3 hours, beginning at 4 or 5 pm. The Information Literacy course is offered online and requires one on-campus orientation. The RN to BS Program course schedule for each upcoming semester is printed in the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program Newsletter and in the Adult Learner Undergraduate and Graduate Schedule of Classes publications which are mailed to students enrolled in the program.

I want to learn more about your program and I might want to apply for admission. What do I do?

Your first step is to schedule an appointment with an RN to BS Program advisor. To be put in touch with the advisor nearest you, contact the Program Coordinator, Dr. Marian Condon, at mcondon@ycp.edu. Please do not apply for admission to the program without having spoken with an advisor.

If you decide to apply for admission to the college, you can do that online at http://www.ycp.edu/, or, you can call 717-815-1600 and ask that an Application for Admission be sent to you. Be sure you are applying to the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program for Registered Nurses, also known as the RN to BS Program, rather than our basic nursing program. If you will be taking courses on the York College Campus, use the program code NRN1. If you plan to take your courses at a hospital-based distance site, use the code NTL5. When you have transcripts or CLEP scores sent from other colleges you have attended, have them sent directly to Dr. Marian C. Condon, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17405-7199. They will be copied for the Dept. of Nursing and the originals sent to Admissions.

How do I register for a course?

Be sure you register only for the upcoming course or courses your advisor recommended. Registration for fall courses begins in mid-March and registration for spring courses begins in mid-November. You can download and print a course registration form from the electronic version of the Adult Learner Undergraduate and Graduate Schedule of Courses. Print the Course Registration Form and the Payment Schedule Form, on which you can write your credit card number. You must submit a $100 registration fee along with the registration form. If you plan to take your course at one of our distance sites, add .99 to the course number on the registration form to indicate that you are a distance student. For example, if you are registering for NUR 321, write the course # as follows: NUR 321.99. If you plan to come to the college to take the course, add .70 to the course number - NUR 321.70. Students who live in the York area can come to the campus Administration Building to register.

If you are paying by check, you may submit the completed forms and your check to the Registrar's Office by mail at the address provided on the forms. If you are paying by credit card, you have the option of faxing the forms to the Registrar's Office using the number 717-849-1652. (Please note that both sides of the form must be submitted). You may register for a course before your application for admission has been fully processed, but be sure to jot "Have applied for admission" across the top of your registration form, as RN to BS students are considered transfer students and transfer students may not take courses unless they have been admitted to the college.

After you have matriculated (been admitted to the college and completed one course), you may register for subsequent courses via the YCP Portal, which is a website that contains links to other college sites useful to students. The RN-BS Student Handbook contains instructions for making optimal use of the Portal, as well as course descriptions and information regarding policies and procedures at YCP. A hard copy will be mailed to you when you enroll in the program.

Resources for Matriculated Students

Pre-Clinical Requirements

Instructions for Pre Clinical Requirements
Please read instructions before completing paperwork!

CLEP Information

General Information, Registration, Advising, Graduation

Links

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