Please note: Applicants must be California residents and have graduated from an Accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program (or equivalent accredited Associate Degree program); have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN); and hold a currently active, unencumbered, unrestricted, and unlimited California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees provide Registered Nurses (RN) with the education needed to improve patient and organizational outcomes, apply evidence into practice, and take on additional responsibilities including supervising others, making emergency decisions without a doctor’s presence, and working in specialized departments. A BSN also allows nurses to meet standards set by the National Association of School Nurses and the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing Initiative and will allow RNs to pursue advanced degrees in Nursing. According to a report in Nurse Journal, the demand for a BSN degree continues to increase along with a nursing shortage in California and other states, while PayScale reports that the salary for nurses with BSN degrees ranks significantly higher than for those with only associate degrees. This demand is further fueled by the increasing number of hospitals seeking the Magnet designation, which identifies BSN preparation as foundational, and relies on nurses' professional development as one of its essential elements.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Online RN to BSN program at CSULB provides a competitive degree for working nurses in California who already have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) with 70 lower-division units completed. This undergraduate degree can be completed either part-time in approximately 18 months or full-time within one year. The program provides clinical reasoning and leadership skills to thrive and advance in healthcare careers. The curriculum is designed to explore cultural, political, and socioeconomic issues that affect patient care delivery, including physical assessment skills, knowledge of pathophysiology, applying evidence-based research, and a foundation for improving the quality of healthcare systems and processes.
The program’s expert faculty include professional clinicians and instructors from CSULB’s School of Nursing, which is currently ranked the #1 Best Bachelor Degree in Nursing Program in California as well as the #5 Best Bachelor Degree in Nursing Program in the U.S. (RNCareers.org). Online classes offer maximum flexibility for working nurses, enabling them upon graduation to pursue further education and/or professional opportunities in nursing administration, management, and education in a variety of settings.
Please Note:
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for some forms of financial aid, with the exception of the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Vet College Fee Waiver.
GI Bill benefits can be used for this program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, rates, and other details.
California Registered Nurses with an ADN degree.
Nurses who have completed an associate degree and want to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Nurses who want to expand their professional nursing knowledge.
Online learning environment that allow maximum flexibility for working nurses.
Cohorts of approximately 30 students provide camaraderie and social support.
Degree can be completed either part-time in approximately 18 months or full-time within one year.
The program’s Advisory Board includes members of local community healthcare agencies such as Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s Hospital, Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Long Beach VA Medical Center.
New skillsets that open pathways to specialized careers.
Human responses to stress and illness that affect nursing practices.
Skills in leadership, management, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning.
How to integrate perspectives from different members of healthcare teams into successful patient care outcomes.
Finance policies developed by governmental and insurance agencies.
Approaches to community health nursing and caring for groups, families, and populations.
Application of evidence-based research and quality improvement for healthcare processes.
Pathophysiology for nurses
Healthcare assessment and delivery systems
Holistic therapies
Patient care technology
Safety and quality assurance
Emergency management
Completion of 29 program-specific units.
Satisfaction of all university graduation requirements including the 120 minimum credit hour requirements within specified general education categories (your academic advisor will assist you in determining which courses are required).
Program Outline
Effective Fall 2025, CSULB Requires BSN Students to complete 120 units for a degree, with up to 90 units eligible for transfer. There are two categories of required components of study:
Required nursing courses: There are seven required nursing courses (26 credits) that all students must complete at CSULB. Students can waive NRSG 460 if they have completed a Research course at another University. One course (Population Health) requires a preceptor experience with 90 hours at a site chosen/facilitated by the student and approved by the School of Nursing.
General education courses: CSULB and other universities require all bachelor’s degree students to obtain a total of 120 credits within specific general education categories. Any additional courses needed in this category will be identified during your academic advising appointment.
NRSG 309 - Introduction to Professional Practice (3 Units) *
NRSG 314 - Health Assessment for Registered Nurses (3 Units)
NRSG 406 - Population Health for Registered Nurses (5 Units) **
NRSG 460 - Research & Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (3 Units)
NRSG 462 - Healthcare Systems Management and Nursing (3 Units)
NRSG 464 - Current Issues in Nursing (3 Units)
NRSG 468 - Bridging Nursing Education and Practice (3 Units)
* This is the first course in the sequence.
** This is a clinical course and should be taken towards the end of the program.
All others can be taken in any order that works in your schedule and when available.
Information Sessions
Potential students interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to attend a free information session. The information sessions include short presentations by a program representative, designed to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program's benefits.
Upcoming online Information Sessions are listed below when they are available. Choose a date and click the link to register for that Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting.
If no sessions are listed below, then none are currently available. Please check this page at a later date to view updated sessions.
Admission Requirements
Registered Nurse (RN) applicants are required to apply for admission to the University and fulfill the following:
Be a California resident who holds an active, unencumbered, unrestricted current RN license, or be eligible for licensure in the state of California by the time classes begin;
Already graduated from an accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, or evaluation of diploma program for equivalency by an Accredited Associate Degree program (an Associate Degree in a non-nursing major will not meet this requirement);
Have 56 to 70 transferable units including Critical Thinking, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Statistics and Chemistry;
Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all community college courses required for the Associate Degree in Nursing;
Meet these major-specific degree requirements:
BIOL 207: Human Physiology Lecture & Lab
BIOL 208: Human Anatomy Lecture & Lab
BIOL 201: Microbiology Lecture & Lab (General Microbiology for Health Professionals)
CHEM: General, Inorganic, Organic or Integrated (with associated lab if required at the institution where the course was taken)
Complete one of the following:
STAT 108: Statistics for Everyday Life
HDEV 190: Elementary Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences
PSY 110: Introductory Statistics
SOC 170: Elementary Statistics
STAT 118: Introductory Business Statistics
6. Maintain malpractice and health insurance throughout clinical coursework and submit to a criminal background check; 7. Fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) either prior to admission or within the first semester in the program.
How to Apply
Admission to the RN to BSN degree program requires approval by the University and the program's Undergraduate Applicant Review Committee. Please follow all directions closely.
Admission Criteria, Documentation, and Information
To be admitted to the program, you must apply for admission using the California State University admissions portal called Cal State Apply. By applying online, you can start, stop, and save your application information throughout the process. You will need the name of previous college(s), dates attended, units completed, major, and GPA.
In total, you will need to fill out three admission forms for your application to be complete:
Cal State Apply
CSULB Supplemental Application
RN-BSN Online Program Application
Note the following steps to begin the application process:
Select a term to apply for (Spring or Fall)
Sign in or create a Cal State Apply account
Scroll down to the section entitled “Long Beach Extension.” Please do not use the search bar
Select the program "Nursing - Online RN to BSN" (it will show a green check mark to indicate that you have chosen the correct program)
Use the dashboard to continue with your application for admission to the program
You will be asked to provide the following:
Personal Information
Academic History
Supporting Information
Program Materials
When you are ready to apply, please follow the following steps:
Note: CSULB uses email as the official means of communication, so applicants are required to maintain a current email address on file with the university and check their email regularly. You may update your email address or check the status of your admission application by visiting the Applicant Self-Service webpage.
Application Periods The RN to BSN program is currently admitting students for the Spring semester. Applications are open from August 1, 2024 to November 15, 2024 for the Spring 2025 semester; and from October 1, 2024 to March 15, 2025 for the Fall 2025 semester (early start in Summer is available).
Frequently Asked Questions
$600 per unit and $1,800 per 3-unit course for a total of $17,400 (29 units).
If additional credits are needed to meet the university’s requirement of 120 credits, then additional costs may be applicable.
Every step in the process for applying to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Online RN-BSN program is detailed on our How To Apply page.
Prospective students (with or without a bachelor's degree) who hold an associate degree in nursing are eligible to apply for the program.
Nurses with a BSN can pursue opportunities in nursing administration, school nurses, legal nurse consultants, and informatics nurse specialists. In addition to these alternative nursing careers, many BSN nurses pursue work in hospitals, physician's offices, and clinics. The BSN degree allows students to seek graduate education to become nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialist and/or nurse anesthetists.
CSULB’s School of Nursing is currently ranked the #1 Best Bachelor Degree in Nursing Program in California as well as the #5 Best Bachelor Degree in Nursing Program in the U.S. (RNCareers.org). Classes are offered in consecutive terms that enable part-time students to complete their degree within approximately 18 months or full-time students to finish in one year. The RN to BSN program will enable students to obtain a public health nursing certificate, advance in their career ladder, and pursue graduate education in Nursing.
The program has been designed with the working individual in mind, allowing maximum flexibility. Most of the courses are online and asynchronous, with the exception of the clinical courses. Additionally, the program has the option to be completed on either a full-time or part-time schedule.
Students taking six credits per 8-week block should expect a minimum workload of 20 hours per week.
This one-year course (five 8-week terms) has the didactic content offered online, with a mix of asynchronous and synchronous content. All clinical hour requirements will be done in person at designated clinical sites at times conducive to the site's needs.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone as well as reliable internet connection.
In addition to the required nursing courses within your program of study, a BSN-prepared nurse must also have a breadth of knowledge that includes areas of study including the arts, humanities, social sciences, writing, mathematics, diversity, and others. Students must meet the 120 minimum credit-hour requirements within specified general education categories. After admission to CSULB, your academic advisor will assist you in determining which courses are required to ensure your degree completion.
NRSG 309 - Introduction to Professional Practice (3 Units) *
NRSG 314 - Health Assessment for Registered Nurses (3 Units)
NRSG 406 - Population Health for Registered Nurses (5 Units) **
NRSG 460 - Research & Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing (3 Units)
NRSG 462 - Healthcare Systems Management and Nursing (3 Units)
NRSG 464 - Current Issues in Nursing (3 Units)
NRSG 468 - Bridging Nursing Education and Practice (3 Units)
* This is the first course in the sequence.
** This is a clinical course and should be taken towards the end of the program.
All others can be taken in any order that works in your schedule and when available.
Applications are processed using the online Cal State Apply system. Cal State Apply is California State University's online resource to help you quickly and easily apply for admission. Please make sure that you meet application deadlines and have your previous academic information ready.
The application deadline is November 15, 2023 for the Spring 2024 semester and March 15, 2024 for the Fall 2024 semester. In addition to the application, supplemental materials are due 3 weeks after those deadlines.
You would need to apply to the next RN to BSN cohort in the following semester.
The program requires applicants to be California residents and hold a California RN license. Therefore, it is not available for F-1 international students.
You will need to have a 2.75 in your previous college coursework from an accredited institution.
No. Unfortunately, the GPA requirement must be met. If you do not meet the GPA requirement, but still want to try for admission, you can first take additional undergraduate courses to increase your GPA and reapply at a later date.
If all admission criteria and prerequisites are completed, part-time students can complete the program in approximately18 months, while full-time students can finish in approximately one year. The courses take place in two continuous 8-week terms during each of the Fall and Spring semesters as well as one 12-week term during the Summer semesters. Additional time may be needed to complete the required 120 credits of general education courses.
Yes. However, students can request a leave of absence for one semester if needed and can rejoin a cohort when next available.
Yes, this is an upper-division program designed for working nurses who:
graduated from an Accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program (or evaluation of diploma program for equivalency by an Accredited Associate Degree program);
hold a current California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
The program is planned so you take courses in a prescribed order within a cohort. Most members of the cohort will take the same courses in the same sequence. However, you may choose a part-time path or take a formal leave of absence if needed.
First, you must make sure that you have satisfied all the program requirements as stated above for the program and University (see the University Catalog for details). Secondly, the student should submit a graduation request through MyCSULB Student Center.
The online RN to BSN program accepts applications twice a year for Spring and Fall. Students who are interested in starting the program in Early Fall (summer term) must apply for the Fall application period.
The Early Fall term allows students to start the program during the summer, before the start of the regular Fall semester.
Students who want to start the program in Early Fall (summer term) must submit their applications by the regular Fall application deadline.
Prospective students are advised not to use the search feature on Cal State Apply. Instead, manually scroll down the programs until “Long Beach Extension” is reached. From there, click on the add indicator “+” to select "Nursing RN to BSN – Self Support Online" as the program of choice.
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for some forms of financial aid, with the exception of the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Vet College Fee Waiver.
GI Bill benefits can be used for this program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, rates, and other details.
Step-Up Bridge Program
This online program for students currently enrolled in an Associate Degree in Nursing program offers non-clinical Bachelor of Science in Nursing courses that can be transferred to CSULB'sRN to BSN program.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Online RN to BSN
Application Period:
Fall 2025*
Opens: October 1, 2024
Deadline: April 1, 2025
Application Period:
Spring 2026
Opens: August 1, 2025
Deadline: November 15, 2025
Cost:
$600 per unit / $1,800 per 3-unit course**
Total Program Cost:
$17,400
Location:
Online
*Fall applicants have an option to start the program early. If applying for Fall 2025, please specify if you want to start early in Summer 2025.
**Fees listed are for the 2024-25 academic and are subject to change.
