Note: The University is no longer accepting applications to this program.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing: RN to BS Degree Completion Option

Designed for licensed RNs, this bachelor of science program enables busy professionals to build upon their current nursing credentials with a combination of online, on-campus and blended courses.

Get Information:

Please see our Privacy Policy.
Please see our Privacy Policy.
young adult girl studying at home

Advance Your Nursing Career

Today's nurses must be able to care for patients in a variety of health care settings, attend to the needs of the growing number of older Americans, and work with diverse populations. As a top-ranked research university, UMass Lowell offers one of the most affordable and respected nursing programs available — one that is trusted by employers throughout Massachusetts and beyond.

15 month calendar

Complete in 15 Months

Your school to UMass Lowell

Transfer Up to 75% of Your Degree

dollar sign and diploma

Variety of Financial Aid and Scholarships Available

rn license equals 39 credits

Receive 39 Credits for Your Current Massachusetts RN License

This part-time RN to BS program is suitable for licensed nurses who are looking to complete their bachelor's degree while working. The blended format offers the flexibility of online learning, along with the opportunity to connect face-to-face with instructors and classmates at convenient times for working adults. When you apply to the RN to BS program at UMass Lowell, 39 credits are automatically awarded for your current Massachusetts RN license.

"Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of reasons, including an increased emphasis on preventive care; growing rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand for healthcare services from the baby-boom population, as they live longer and more active lives."
— U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2019

Success Story

"I liked the blended format because I'm a hands-on type of person. I feel like I learn better that way, and it makes it easier for me being with my professors and classmates. This program increased my skills as a nurse, and having a bachelor's degree is definitely going to be a plus for my career."

Sovanna S., RN to BS student
Sovanna S.

Sovanna S.

State-Of-The-Art Facilities. Real-World Experience.

This program is offered through UMass Lowell's Solomont School of Nursing, which offers state-of-the-art laboratory and simulation experiences that prepare you for the real world. Courses are taught by full-time faculty who are leaders in the field and by part-time faculty who bring a wealth of real-world experience to their teaching.

The Solomont School of Nursing is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN).

award badge for CCNE accreditation
UMass Lowell's RN to BS program has been awarded a full, 10-year reaccreditation through 2026 by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

With a bachelor's degree in nursing from UMass Lowell, you will increase your career opportunities and deepen your professional knowledge by:

  • refining critical thinking skills
  • learning new techniques to deliver a holistic approach to patient care
  • exploring the professional norms and ethical standards that are essential for values-based management and leadership
  • examining theory and research related to professional nursing practice
  • gaining in-depth knowledge of the U.S. health care delivery system, with an emphasis on the role of government and current health care reform efforts
  • cultivating a strong awareness of research ethics and the impact research has on health care practice and policy

One Success Leads to Another

Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:

degree grad icon
Master of Science in Nursing
orange arrow pointing right orange arrow pointing down
degree grad icon
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Click to play

UMass Lowell's Solomont School of Nursing is consistently independently ranked as a top nursing school.

Universities.com Award
Ranked #7 Best Nursing College in MA by Universities.com
College Choice Award
Ranked #8 Most Affordable Nursing School in MA by College Choice
College Factual Award
Ranked #10 Best Nursing School in New England by College Factual

Curriculum Outline

- Number of Courses Required: 40 (120 credits)
- View Course Descriptions »

Credit for RN Licensure (39cr)

Thirty-nine credits are awarded to nurses with a current RN license, providing their license has not been revoked, suspended, or made probationary as a result of disciplinary action.

Prerequisite Foundation Courses (33cr)

Many RNs will have completed some of the following courses as part of their Associate's degree work and can transfer them into UMass Lowell, providing they meet the University's guidelines for transfer credit. Note: Completion of these prerequisite courses is required before you can enroll in the Required Nursing Courses.

  • HSCI.1010 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (3cr)
  • HSCI.1030 Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab I (1cr)
  • HSCI.1020 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (3cr)
  • HSCI.1040 Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab II (1cr)
  • ENGL.1010 College Writing I (3cr)
  • ENGL.1020 College Writing II (3cr)
  • PSYC.1010 General Psychology (SS) (3cr)
  • SOCI.1010 Intro to Sociology (SS) (3cr)
  • MATH.2830 Intro to Statistics (3cr)
  • PSYC.2600 Child & Adolescent Development (SS) (3cr)
  • HSCI.2110 Basic Microbiology (3cr)
  • HSCI.2130 Basic Microbiology Lab (1cr)
  • HSCI.3060 Intro to Gerontology (3cr) - may also be completed by a course equivalency exam administered by Excelsior College

Required Nursing Courses (27cr)

Once students begin the nursing courses, they proceed through the program as part of a cohort.

The following courses must be completed at UMass Lowell

Take the following four courses first:

  • NURS.1030 Academic Strategies: Portfolio & Seminar (1cr)
  • NURS.3010 Research in Nursing and Health Care (3cr)
  • NURS.3060 Health Assessment (3cr)
  • NURS.3070 Concepts for Baccalaureate Nursing (3cr)

Once you have completed the four nursing courses above, continue with the following selection of nursing courses:

  • NURS.3080 Health Promotion in Nursing (2cr)
  • NURS.3090 Health Promotion Practicum (3cr/3 contact hours)
  • NURS.3200 Community-Focused Health and Policy (3cr)
  • NURS.3240 Community-Focused Project Implementation (2cr)
  • NURS.3250 Community-Focused Project Dissemination (1cr)
  • NURS.4200 Leadership in Nursing (3cr)
  • NURS.4210 Selected Topics in Nursing (3cr)

Electives (21cr)

The following electives can be taken through UMass Lowell's Graduate, Online & Professional Studies program as online or on campus courses.

While most of the upper-level nursing courses are offered in a blended format, non-nursing free elective courses (and any additional general education courses that the student may need to complete) can be taken in an entirely online or face-to-face format, offering increased convenience for busy RNs.

Some Approved Sociology/Psychology Electives

Any of the following courses may be used to fulfill the Approved Sociology/ Psychology Elective. Other courses may qualify - please check with your advisor for additional Sociology/Psychology Electives.

  • PSYC.2720 Abnormal Psychology
  • PSYC.3350 Psychology and Women
  • PSYC.3550 Sports and Exercise Psychology
  • PSYC.3600 Adult Development & Aging
  • PSYC.3630 Introduction to Disability Studies
  • SOCI.1020 Social Anthropology
  • SOCI.2120 Cultures of the World
  • SOCI.3510 The Sociology of Health and Healthcare

Some Approved Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences Electives

Any of the following may be used to fulfill the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences (ZCHS) Elective. Other courses may qualify - please check with your advisor for additional ZCHS Electives.

  • HSCI.3200 Legal Issues in Nursing
  • PUBH.2010 Community Health & Environment
  • NUTR.2060 Human Nutrition
  • CHEM.1210 and CHEM.1230L Chemistry I and Lab (for students considering Master's level education)

Course Descriptions

NURS.1030 Academic Strategies Portfolio Seminar (1cr)

Nursing students with a diploma in nursing, associate degree in nursing, or second baccalaureate degree will submit a portfolio to demonstrate how they have met the course objectives. The portfolio will show evidence of goal setting and time management, UML library orientation for literature searches, understanding of academic integrity and writing and referencing using APA style. Students will participate in seminar(s) on communication, cultural sensitivity , and conflict resolution.

NURS.3010 Research in Nursing and Health Care (3cr)

This course provides an overview of the research process. Health care research interests and the methodology of various disciplines are examined. Through a review of research studies, students examine the basic steps in the process of research. Ethical problems in the world of research are explored and students learn how research influences health care practice and policy. Meets Core Curriculum Essential Learning Outcome for Information Literacy (IL).

Requirements:

Nursing majors only

NURS.3060 Health Assessment (3cr)

This combined didactic and laboratory course builds on the students' professional nursing education and experiences through the inclusion of health assessment information as applied to the professional nursing role in the community setting. Emphasis is on systematic data collection including thorough history taking, physical examination, screening and risk-factor recognition.

Requirements:

RN Program Only

NURS.3070 Concepts for Baccalaureate Nursing (3cr)

This course is designated as a transition course for registered nurse students pursuing a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing. This course aims to refine critical thinking skills and analyze nursing's unique contribution to health care. Consideration is given to the interrelationships of theory, research, and practice. Special emphasis is placed on the concepts of health promotion and risk reduction as they relate to individuals and families who are at risk for or experiencing health problems. This course includes a practicum component that focuses on the development of interventions to promote the health of individuals and families at risk.

Requirements:

RN Program Only

NURS.3080 Health Promotion in Nursing (2cr)

This course is designed as a transition course for registered nurse students pursuing a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing. It introduces the theory and research related to the concepts of health/ promotion and risk reduction. These concepts are presented as essential components of professional nursing practice. This course includes a clinical practicum which focuses on the development of interventions to promote the health of individuals and families. This course aims to refine critical thinking skills and analyze nursing's unique contribution to health care. Consideration is given to the interrelationships of theory, research and practice.

Requirements:

NURS.3090 Co- & RN Prog.Only

NURS.3090 Health Promotion in Nursing Practice Practicum (3cr)

This course is a clinical practicum which focuses on the development of interventions to promote the health of individuals and families. This course aims to refine critical thinking skills and analyze nursing's unique contribution to health care. Consideration is given to the interrelationships of theory, research and practice.

Notes:

Tuition for this course is calculated at a rate based on 9 contact hours due to the highly individualized, self-paced clinical nature of the course.

Requirements:

NURS 1030,301,306,307pre,&308

NURS.3200 Community-Focused Health and Policy (3cr)

This course provides a foundation to community health nursing with the community, family and individual as Client. This course presents an overview of the US health care delivery system with an emphasis on the role of government in healthcare, Medicaid, and current efforts at healthcare reform.

NURS.3240 Community-Focused Project Implementation (2cr)

This course focuses on improving the health of one aspect of the community. Students analyze health problems in identified communities. Interventions for community as client are developed and implemented and the effectiveness of applied interventions in evaluated.

Requirements:

Nursing (BS): RN's only Pre-re

NURS.3250 Community-Focused Project Dissemination (1cr)

This one credit course focuses on the dissemination of the results of a community based program. Students develop presentations which describe methods used to identify, intervene and evaluate the health problems of a community. Students are required to present their findings at a formal dissemination venue identified by faculty.

Requirements:

Nursing (BS): RN's only Pre-re

NURS.4200 Leadership in Nursing (3cr)

This course focuses on leadership roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for the professional nurse. Course content includes professional issues, trends, and leadership and managerial principles pertinent to healthcare and nursing practice. Students explore professional perspectives, norms, and ethical standards essential in values-driven management and leadership.

Requirements:

Nursing (BS): RN's only Pre-re

NURS.4210 Selected Topics in Nursing (3cr)

Selected Topics in Nursing is a course for advanced undergraduates in the RN-BS option. The content will vary from semester to semester depending on the research interest of the faculty member(s) teaching the course.

Requirements:

NURS 3070/308 & Nursing (BS) P

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to earn a minimum 2.000 cumulative grade point average (GPA), to present a minimum of 120 semester hours, to fulfill the residency requirements, to conform to the general regulations and requirements of the University, to satisfy the regulations and academic standards of the colleges which exercise jurisdiction over the degrees for which they are matriculating, to satisfy the curriculum requirements established by the departments or programs in their major, and to complete the University's Core Curriculum requirements, which are listed within the program's curriculum outline. For additional information regarding the University's general policies and procedures, transfer credit information and residency requirements; please refer to our Academic Policies & Procedures.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.

Fall 2024 Tuition

 Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Undergraduate
Online and On Campus $385 $1,155
*Tuition is priced on the listed credit hour unless the contact hour is different. Tuition is then based upon the listed contact hour.

Additional Costs

 Cost
Term Registration Fee $30
Returned Check Fee $30
Undergraduate Degree Application $60

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

hand and coin

Looking for Financial Assistance?

UMass Lowell offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship options.

Apply

Applying into an Undergraduate Degree Program

Complete the Online Undergraduate Degree Application Form (preferred), or print, complete and submit the Undergraduate Degree Application .pdf form. Please note: Your application will be processed once we have received your $60 application fee. Return your completed application along with your application fee to:

University of Massachusetts Lowell
Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies
GPS Admissions
839 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01854

Questions? See our helpful Step-by-Step Guide to the Application Process.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for acceptance into a bachelor's degree program offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies, students must hold a high school diploma or have passed either the GED® or HiSET®. Graduate, Online & Professional Studies operates on a rolling admissions basis and each application is reviewed when the student's file is complete. Students must be admitted to a degree or certificate program in order to be eligible for most financial aid.

Nursing Requirements

Admission to this degree completion option is open to Massachusetts licensed RNs, providing their license has not been revoked, suspended, or made probationary as result of a disciplinary action. Registered nurses transferring their prior college-level nursing courses must have received a minimum 2.700 GPA in prior nursing courses, science courses and for their cumulative grade point average.

Note: A total of 39 credits are awarded for having a current MA nursing license. At least 30 credits towards this program must be completed at UMass Lowell.

Apply Now

Questions Regarding Your Undergraduate Application?

Email OCE_Admissions@uml.edu or call 978-934-2474.

For General Assistance:

Call the Advising Center at 978-934-2474 or 800-480-3190. Our academic advisors are here to help!

Already Applied?

Check the Status of Your Application
Out-of-State

Information for Out-of-State Students

International

Information for International Students

Take Your Career to New Levels with a Public, Nonprofit University and a Trusted Leader in Online Education

Apply Now Request Info
Get Info
Courses
Apply