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CU College of Nursing - RN to Nursing BS Program, Denver, Colorado

College of Nursing
 

RN to BS Admissions

Admissions Requirements

Continuing with your education will expand your career in Nursing. The RN-to BS Nursing Program at the University of Colorado College of Nursing is for you, if you are a nurse who has completed an Associates or Diploma nursing program and have your RN license already.  

We want to provide you with the CU quality education, and save you time and money to complete the program as quickly as possible. Most of the prerequisites for the RN to BS in Nursing program you will have already completed in your previous program. 

We encourage you to browse through the website carefully to understand additional requirements and the application process.

  1. Graduation from a NLN accredited associate degree program. Applications from RN’s who graduated from a diploma or out-of-state non-NLN accredited associate degree program will be reviewed individually to determine if lower division nursing courses can be accepted for approximately one (1) year of baccalaureate nursing courses.
    • For schools attended outside of Colorado, proof of NLN or CCNE nursing accreditation for the school where your associate degree in nursing was received. Proof of accreditation must cover the date you graduated.
  2. A total of at least sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter hours of approved transferable non-nursing  prerequisites course work which usually have been completed in your previous coursework.
  3. Completion of prerequisites
  4. The recommended overall GPA is 3.00 or better. ( You may apply with an overall GPA of less than 3.00, if all of the prerequisites/electives are completed before the requested start term).
  5. Two letters of recommendation – one (1) academic and one (1) professional.
  6. Copy of current and unencumbered RN license.
  7. If an applicant applies more than 3 years after receiving the associate degree in nursing, a minimum of 1000 hours of nursing work experience is required within the last three (3) years OR completion of a CCNE approved RN refresher course.
  8. All entering students are required to possess (lease or own) a personal computer that meets the minimum specifications for the duration of their degree program.

  9. If your primary spoken language is not English you will to need to submit TOEFL score as part of the application process. The College of Nursing TOEFL Exam Code is 3377. Please be sure to use this code when registering for the exam to ensure that we receive the results.

Prerequisites Courses

Anatomy
Physiology
Microbiology
Statistics
General Chemistry
Science
College Algebra
General Sociology
General Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Cultural Anthropology or Multicultural Studies
English Composition II
Creative Arts
Nutrition
Foreign Language, History, Microeconomics, Philosophy or Political Science

 Applicants without a bachelor degree:

  • All 16 prerequisites listed above are required.

 Completion of Prerequisites: It is recommended that all sixty (60) prerequisite/elective credits be completed before the requested start date. You may also be admitted with two (2) prerequisite/elective courses that are planned for completion concurrently within the first year of the RN-BS program if your overall GPA is 3.00 or better. However, these two (2) courses cannot be from:

  • anatomy
  • physiology
  • microbiology
  • general chemistry
  • algebra
  • English Composition II

Prerequisites often do not total 60 semester credit hours. The remainder of the required sixty (60) semester credit hours may be selected from many academic disciplines. Some exceptions are commercial or vocational courses, doctrinal courses in religion, performance classes and physical education activity courses.

Applicants with a bachelor degree: 

  • Degrees have no expiration dates but need to be posted on your transcripts the term prior to enrollment  
  • Only prerequisites required of you if you have a previous bachelor degree
    •  anatomy (or Anatomy & Physiology I) 
    •  physiology (or Anatomy & Physiology II) 
    •  microbiology 
    •  general chemistry 
    •  statistics.

 

Transfer Credit

All of your Prerequisite classes will be considered transfer credit. This college level credit may be accepted by the University of Colorado if:

  • It has been earned at a regionally accredited college or university.
  • A grade of C (not C-) or better has been attained. 
  • It is not vocational-technical course work. 
  • It is not remedial course work. 

Pass/Fail Credit

Prerequisite courses taken for pass/fail credit will not be accepted. No more than 6 semester credit hours of Pass credit will be considered for the elective course work required to complete the 60 semester credit hours. The grade of P will be accepted provided it is equivalent to C (not C-) or better and is so indicated on the transcript.

Correspondence and Extension

A maximum of 30 semester hours of correspondence and extension credit may count toward the degree. Correspondence and extension credit must meet the guidelines for transfer of college level credit and are subject to review. Please call 303-724-1812 to speak with an admission specialist for more details.

Study Abroad Course Work

Transcripts for study abroad course work from a non-US institution are required.  A course-by-course evaluation is also required.

Additional types of Credit

Some courses are accepted from advanced placement, CLEP and International Baccalaureate program. Email your admissions specialist with specific questions regarding these types of credits.

 

Colorado MAPS Requirements

COLLEGE OF NURSING MINIMUM ACADEMIC PREPARATION (MAPS) FOR BS PROGRAM APPLICANTS

What are Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS)? The MAPS specify the courses a student should take in high school in order to earn a CU degree. Completing MAPS makes your application for admission stronger and increases your chances of admission. If you are admitted and have not completed all of the MAPS, you will still have to complete them before you can graduate from the university. Completing MAPS will provide you with strong preparation for success in college.

Since the College of Nursing has a recommended but not a required prerequisite in Foreign Language, if a student self-reports a deficiency in the MAPS Foreign Language requirement, then submission of a high school transcript to the college’s admission office will be required. CON admissions specialists will then review the self-reported MAPS foreign language requirement. In the rare instance that an applicant has completed all prerequisites but has not fulfilled the MAPS foreign language requirement at either the high school or college prerequisite level then the applicant will be advised to complete a foreign language course prior to admission to the College of Nursing. Should questions arise regarding MAPS requirements, please contact your College of Nursing admissions specialist.

 
The following students are exempt from submitting high school transcripts.
 
College of Nursing MAPS Requirement for applicants not exempt (above).
 

Additional Requirements for International Students

If you are an International applicant, you are encouraged to begin the application process one year prior to their requested admission term. In addition to the above admission requirements, you will need to submit:

  1. Financial statement for international applicants. Call 303-315-2230 for more information.
  2. TOEFL Score. The College of Nursing TOEFL Exam Code is 3377. Please be sure to use this code when registering for the exam to ensure that we receive the results.
  3. A copy of the your passport.
  4. Permanent Residents of the United States are not considered international students. A copy of the your permanent resident card is required.