Program Information
Nursing (RN-BSN)
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree program is an upper-level program designed for the practicing nurse who already holds the RN license. Graduates of the RN-BSN program are prepared for advancement in professional nursing as well as graduate study in nursing.
The RN-BSN curriculum focuses on transforming the student’s perspective from passive to active learner, acute care to community focus, medical to nursing model, disease to health promotion orientation, job to career, and individualism to a community of scholarly caring.
Facilities
A comprehensive collection of nursing journals and books as well as audiovisual equipment are housed in the Mortensen Library. There are five computer laboratories on campus, supplied with a variety of personal computers, printers, and software. The Beatrice Fox Auerbach Hall houses the offices for the Nursing programs.
Accreditation and Memberships
The RN-BSN program is accredited by the State of Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education and by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing (CCNE). CCNE maintains program information on tuition, fees, and length of program. Contact CCNE 665 K Street. Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 2001; 202-463-6930
The Nursing program belongs to the following organizations: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), National League for Nursing (NLN), and Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN).
Financial Aid
Prospective students should check with the personnel office of their employer to find out if tuition reimbursement is a benefit to which they are entitled. Many institutions provide full or partial reimbursement for course work that leads to a degree. Nursing students who carry a minimum of 6 credits per semester are eligible to apply for the low-interest Stafford Loan. Forms are available in the Student Financial Assistance office.
Admission
Each RN-BSN applicant must submit the following:
- evidence of RN licensure in the United States
- official transcripts from nursing school and any colleges attended
- evidence of a minimum of a C average in lower-division nursing courses
The University of Hartford participates in the Dual Admission Agreement of the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program.
Nurses who have graduated from foreign schools of nursing must obtain RN licensure in the state of Connecticut. To be eligible to sit for the state licensing exam, a graduate of a foreign nursing program must first pass a two-part exam given by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS, 3600 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651, U.S.A.; telephone: 215.349.8767, fax: 215.662.0425).
Advanced Placement
Registered nurses interested in the RN-BSN program are encouraged to contact the Nursing program and request a preliminary evaluation of their academic work as part of an informational interview. Under the terms of the Connecticut Articulation Agreement (2002), licensed registered nurses who are accepted into the University of Hartford’s RN-BSN program will receive a minimum of 60 credits toward their degree.
Academic Standards
A grade of C or better is required in each nursing course.
Dual Admission Agreement and Transfer Credits
Students who hold an associate degree in nursing (A.D.N.), have a minimum GPA of 2.70, and who show proof of RN licensure will receive (upon review of transcripts by the University of Hartford) a minimum of 60 transfer credits. The Dual Admission Agreement with the Connecticut Community College Nursing Programs assures admission to all A.D.N. graduates from Connecticut Community Colleges who meet the requirements.
In general, these credits will be distributed as follows:
- 12 credits of Natural Sciences
- 6 credits of Humanities and Arts
- 6 credits of Social Sciences
- 36 credits of Pre-professional Nursing and general electives
General Education Requirements (90 credits)
Humanities and Arts (6 credits)
Students may choose courses from these categories: Art, Cinema, Drama, English, History, Languages, Music, Other Cultures, Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, Theatre, Literature, and Communication. (This includes the UH courses labeled: UISA and UISC).
Social Sciences (6 credits)
Students may choose courses from these categories: Anthropology, Economics, Politics and Government, Sociology, and Psychology. (This includes the UH courses labeled: UISS).
Mathematics (3 credits)
M 114 - Everyday Statistics
Natural Sciences (12 credits)
Students may choose courses from these categories: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
RN Courses and Electives (63 credits minimum)
Elective courses (as needed) should be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor and are to be taken before starting the 30 credits of professional nursing courses.