RN-BS Degree Track
The College of Nursing offers registered nurses the opportunity to advance their professional knowledge.The RN-BS degree track offers nursing courses in an online learning environment. The RN-BS-MS, DNP, or PhD option allows a registered nurse who is able to meet face to face at the UMass Dartmouth campus, to earn both the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science nursing degrees in one continuous program. Students who select this option will earn undergraduate credits online, as well as up to 9 graduate credits conducted face to face, as part of their undergraduate study; and then proceed to complete the master of science (MS), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. RN students who do not select the RN-BS-MS option, but meet progression criteria, may take graduate nursing credits as electives to complete the RN-BS degree.
Students may transfer non-nursing course credits from other institutions to meet most program requirements. A total of 31-credits, including 28 online nursing credits, must be taken at UMass Dartmouth. The other 3 non-nursing credits may be satisfied with online, blended or traditional classroom courses offered through UMass Dartmouth University Extension.
RN-BS applicants must show proof of a valid unencumbered United States RN license and possess the functional capabilities to perform the skills and behaviors required of a professional nurse. Students are responsible to fulfill all of the regulatory requirements of the clinical agency that they will be enrolled in the community health clinical course, which may or may not include demonstrating proof of malpractice insurance coverage, providing health record documentation, and undergoing a CORI screen and/or drug panel screen.
Students in this track adhere to the same academic policies as the pre-licensure track option, except as noted above. For additional information, contact the University Extension, 508.999.9202 or visit http://www.umassd.edu/rn-bs or contact the College of Nursing, 508.999.8586
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