Nursing (Upper Division, RN-to-BS, online program available), B.S.

General Education Requirements 33-34 Credits

Up to 14 credits of prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy GE and will count as elective credit.

Major Departmental Requirements 63 Credits

Cognate Requirements 27-28 Credits

• BIO 202 - Introduction to Microbiology (3 cr.) or
• BIO 203 - Microbiology (4 cr.)

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• BIO 326 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4 cr.)
• BIO 327 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 cr.)
• FNI 211 - Human Nutrition (3 cr.)
• LIB 200 - Critical Research Skills (1 cr.)
• MAT 161 - Introductory Statistics (3 cr.)
• PSY 101 - General Psychology (3 cr.)
• PSY 311 - Survey of Human Development (3 cr.)
• SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)

Electives 6 Credits

Certain major/cognate courses may also satisfy GE requirements thus increase elective credits accordingly.

Total Credits minimum 120

Additional Degree Requirements

1. Meet Nursing Department Progression Policy.
2. The undergraduate residency requirement of SUNY Plattsburgh must be met, but the senior residency requirement does not apply.
3. NUR 350  must be taken prior to senior (400-level) nursing courses.
4. The program must be completed within six years of beginning the first nursing course.
5. A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 and a grade of C or better in all required major courses (Major Departmental Requirements).
6. Completion of all college-wide degree requirements (Undergraduate Degree Requirements , General Education Program ).

Program Information and Policies

The RN-to-BS Nursing Program is a degree completion program for students with an associate degree or diploma in nursing. This program option is for students who are eligible for licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and seek to advance their education through earning a BS degree. Students must provide an unencumbered license to practice in their state. The program is available in an online format and through classroom-based courses at the SUNY Plattsburgh Branch Campus at Queensbury and in Plattsburgh. Individuals seeking to complete the BS degree in nursing may apply during the last year of the associate degree or diploma program in nursing, or after licensure. In accordance with the SUNY Transfer Path for nursing, students who are admitted are expected to have completed Composition I, Introduction to Psychology, Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Additional information regarding the RN-to-BS programs can be obtained by contacting the Nursing Department.

Admission

Admission to the RN-to-BS Nursing Program, in addition to meeting the general admission requirements to SUNY Plattsburgh, requires applicants :

1. Be a graduate of a nursing program that is approved by the legal body that registers nursing programs in the state or Canadian province in which the program is located. Students who are within one year of completion of a registered nurse program may be accepted for admission. 
2. Hold an unencumbered New York state license and current registration as a registered nurse. Conditional acceptance for graduate nurses dependent on passing the licensure exam within the first semester enrolled.
3. Have overall grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for courses completed at another college or university.
4. Cases that present exceptions to the admission requirements are considered by the Chairperson in collaboration with the Admissions Office, the RN-to-BS Coordinator, and the Academic Standards Committee.

Transfer Policy

Students transferring from two-year colleges may be granted a maximum of 67 credits; students transferring from four-year colleges may be granted a maximum of 84 credits. A minimum of 30 nursing credits and a maximum of 34 credits will be awarded to graduates of RN programs in recognition of basic nursing preparation, as validated by holding an unencumbered license to practice as a registered professional nurse (RN) in New York State and successful completion of NUR 350. Students in the RN-to-BS program must meet the undergraduate residency requirement of SUNY Plattsburgh, but are exempt from the Senior Residency Requirement. Credit for Anatomy and Physiology courses will be accepted only if parts I and II are taken at the same institution, or course equivalency has been approved by the Department.

Progression Policy

To progress within the nursing major students must:

1. Achieve a grade of C or better (P grades are not acceptable) in all required major courses (nursing and cognate). Students who earn less than a C grade must repeat the course.
2. Earn a grade of C or better, when repeating a course. If a student earns a grade less than a C in the repeated course, regardless of where it is taken, he or she will be dismissed from the major.
3. Repeat no more than two required major courses (nursing and cognate). A student who receives less than a C in a third course will be dismissed from the major.
4. All 300 level nursing and cognate courses must be completed before enrolling in 400 level nursing courses.
5. Demonstrate satisfactory performance in both clinical and theory sections of a course to receive a passing grade (C or better).
6. It is the position of the Nursing Department that the entire period of a student’s participation in the program is a continual professional development experience. Students are expected to behave in a manner consistent with the accepted standards of professional and ethical behavior of the department and the American Nurses Association. Any deviation from these standards will be reviewed by the department for a recommendation of corrective action, including possible dismissal from the program and/or college.
7. Students who withdraw from the college must apply for readmission through the admissions office and the department. Students who withdraw from the major must apply to the department. Readmission is not guaranteed and may be dependent on many factors, including academic history, clinical performance, strength of application, professional comportment, and space in the program.

Applied Learning Experiences

The applied learning experiences in the RN-BS programs offer students opportunities to diversify their experience and gain skills necessary to advance their careers. Course-based experiential learning is a hallmark of a high quality nursing education. The clinical coordinator works with students to find appropriate experiences in their region. The clinical policies that apply to these experiences are in the student handbook and noted with information about the Nursing, B.S. major .