The baccalaureate program is built on a foundation that is aimed towards developing students’ abilities in critical thinking, effective communication, and the use of a systematic process of decision making. Within the BSN program, there are four tracks of study. These tracks recognize the needs of the individual pursing a degree in nursing and promote diversity within the student body.

The Basic Track is sequenced over four academic years with the concentration of the nursing major at the upper division. The first two years, at the lower division level, provide a basic foundation in the behavioral, natural, social and biological sciences as well as the humanities. Objectives are developed for each nursing level. At the completion of each year, students are expected to demonstrate the behaviors that denote successful achievement of the objectives of that level.

The Advanced Placement Track is a 22-month-long program and is designed for students with a previously earned degree in areas other than nursing and/or with a significant number of credits in specific courses. To be considered for admission to this track, applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 and a minimum of 55 credits pertaining to the degree. Studies begin the SUMMER preceding the junior year of the curriculum and continue for two consecutive academic years. In order to progress to the junior level and to be eligible to graduate in a timely manner, students must have prerequisites completed by the end of the summer session preceding the first clinical course and have a 2.5 cumulative GPA.

This track allows the RN with an associate degree or diploma to acquire the BSN on a full time or part time basis, not to exceed five years. Credits for general education and science courses can be obtained through testing (e.g. CLEP, Excelsior) and transfer of credits from other institutions. Science courses taken over 10 years ago must be repeated. Currently under the escrow system, RN students will be awarded forty-one (41) nursing credits after successful completion of Bridge I and Bridge II. NOTE: Students admitted to the RN-BSN Track before 2003 will receive 27 escrow credits.

The current course of study as currently designed requires a minimum of one year of full time study for completion. Nurses educated outside of the United States will be required to have a transcript evaluation before transfer credits can be determined.

This track allows LPNs with a valid license (for practicing in the United States) to receive college credit for their LPN training. Thirteen (13) Credits will be applied toward the BSN degree after satisfactory completion of the pre-requisite courses and the LPN to RN Transition course.

The curriculum consists of a minimum of 124 credit hours that are distributed among the natural sciences, social sciences, and general education requirements. Clinical experiences are obtained in a variety of health centers, hospitals and community health agencies in the Washington metropolitan area.

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