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 an active unrestricted California Registered Nurse (RN) license.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree prepares Registered Nurses (RN) to improve patient and organizational outcomes, integrate evidence-based practice, and assume expanded responsibilities including supervising staff, making independent emergency decisions, and working in specialized clinical settings. A BSN meets professional standards set by the National Association of School Nurses and the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing Initiative, and it serves as a pathway to advanced nursing degrees. Demand for BSN-prepared nurses continues to rise amid nursing shortages in California and nationwide. Nurses with BSN degrees earn higher salaries than those with associate degrees. This demand is further driven by the growing number of hospitals seeking the Magnet designation, the highest international honor for nursing excellence, which identifies BSN preparation and ongoing professional development as foundational elements.

The RN to BSN program at CSULB is a fully online degree for RNs in California who hold an ADN and have completed a minimum of 70 lower-division units. This program is designed for working nurses and can be completed in 12–18 months. The program equips nurses with advanced clinical reasoning and leadership skills to support career advancement in today’s healthcare environment. The curriculum examines cultural, political, and socioeconomic issues influencing patient care and includes coursework in physical assessment, pathophysiology, evidence-based practice, and strategy for improving healthcare systems and quality outcomes.

The RN to BSN program is led by expert faculty who are professional clinicians and instructors from CSULB’s School of Nursing. This online program offers maximum flexibility for working nurses and prepares graduates to pursue professional roles 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.

Effective Fall 2025, CSULB requires BSN students to complete 120 units for the degree, with up to 70 units eligible for transfer. The curriculum includes two required categories of study:

1. Required Nursing Courses: Students must complete eight required nursing courses (26 credits) at CSULB. Up to two nursing courses may be waived for comparable coursework completed at another four-year university. One course, Population Health, includes a 90-hour clinical experience at a site selected by the student and approved by the School of Nursing.
2. General Education Courses: CSULB requires students to complete a total of 120 units across specific general education categories. Any additional general education coursework needed will be identified during the academic advising appointment.

Core Nursing Course Requirements (26 units): 

• NRSG 306 - Pathophysiology & Pharmacology for Registered Nurses (3 Units)
• 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)

* First course in the sequence. 

** Clinical course (90 clinical hours) taken towards the end of the program. 

Students must be officially admitted to the School of Nursing Online RN to BSN program before enrolling in Nursing (NRSG prefix) courses. The layout of courses are listed below. This program is offered fully online asynchronous. Start dates may vary. Tuition is $600 per unit. Students may be required to take additional courses to meet the general education and the writing intensive requirements of CSULB. These additional classes may or may not be offered online and/or asynchronous.

Course Layout: Spring Start

Spring Semester 1		Summer Semester 1
Course	Units	Course	Units
NRSG 306	3	NRSG 314	3
NRSG 309	3
Total Units	6	Total Units	3

Fall Semester 1		Spring Semester 2
Course	Units	Course	Units
NRSG 460	3	NRSG 462	3
NRSG 464	3	PHIL 403	3
Total Units	6	Total Units	6

Summer Semester 2
Course	Units
NRSG 468	3
NRSG 406	5*
Total Units	8

Course Layout: Fall Start

Fall Semester 1		Spring Semester 1
Course	Units	Course	Units
NRSG 306	3	NRSG 314	3
NRSG 309	3	NRSG 460	3
Total Units	6	Total Units	6

Summer Semester		Fall Semester 2
Course	Units	Course	Units
PHIL 403	3	NRSG 462	3
		NRSG 464	3
Total Units	3	Total Units	6

Spring Semester 2
Course	Units
NRSG 468	3
NRSG 406	5*
Total Units	8

* Students must be officially admitted to the School of Nursing before enrolling in Nursing (NRSG prefix) courses. Once admitted to the School of Nursing, students may choose to attend full or part-time. Students may be required to take additional courses to meet the general education requirements of the university if not previously taken. 

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.

Registered Nurse (RN) applicants are required to apply for admission to CSULB and fulfill the following:

1. Resident of California
2. Maintain an active and unrestricted RN license throughout the duration of the program, or be eligible for licensure in the state of California by the time classes begin;
3. Applicants must have graduated from a regionally and nationally accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program or hold a nursing diploma that has been evaluated and deemed equivalent to an accredited ADN program. An Associate Degree in non-nursing majors do not meet this requirement;
4. Have 70 transferable units including the “Magic Four”: Critical Thinking, Oral Communication, Written Communication, and Math;
5. Have a 2.75 GPA in all required Associate Degree in Nursing coursework, with a minimum grade of “C” in each course;
6. Maintain compliance with the School of Nursing Health Tracker system by ensuring all documentation – including drug screening and criminal background check – remains current throughout the duration of the program. Depending on specific job roles for RNs, additional requirements may include immunization titer tests, physical examination, and proof of health insurance.
7. Meet these major-specific degree requirements:
   • BIOL 207: Human Physiology Lecture with Lab
   • BIOL 208: Human Anatomy Lecture with Lab
   • BIOL 201: Microbiology Lecture with Lab
   • CHEM: Any Chemistry with Lab, except a Pre-Chemistry/Foundations course 
   • Complete one equivalent Statistics course:
     • 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

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 two admission forms for your application to be complete:

1. Cal State Apply must be submitted by April 1, 2026*
2. School of Nursing RN-BSN Supplement Application must be submitted by April 1, 2026*

 *If you are applying as a second bachelor’s degree student, the application deadline is May 19, 2026.

Note the following steps to begin the application process:

1. Sign in or create a Cal State Apply account
2. Complete the application online through Cal State Apply.
3. Select a term to apply for (Spring or Fall)
4. Scroll down to the section entitled “Long Beach Extension.” Please do not use the search bar
5. Select the program "Nursing - Online RN to BSN" (it will show a green check mark to indicate that you have chosen the correct program)
6. Use the dashboard to continue with your application for admission to the program. You will be asked to provide the following information:

• Personal Information
• Academic History
• Supporting Information
• Program Materials

After you complete the Cal State Apply application, please complete the following steps:

1. Once your Cal State Apply application is completed, you will receive a School of Nursing RN-BSN Supplemental Application via email.
2. Submit official transcripts: see #4 under Steps for Newly Admitted Transfers.
3. Receive admission or denial letter from the CSULB and the School of Nursing.
4. Once admitted, follow instructions to sign intent of attendance.
5. Attend Orientation for the School of Nursing.
6. Pass background check, drug screen, and unencumbered license review to be able to enroll in courses.

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. The department reviews applications on a rolling basis and will consider only those that are completed. Admission decisions will begin once applications are received.

Students have until July 15, 2026 to accept their offer of admission.

Application Periods
The RN to BSN program is currently admitting students for the Spring semester. Applications are open from August 1 to September 30, 2026.

Through the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) with Long Beach City College (LBCC), eligible ADN students may begin taking Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) coursework through CSULB while enrolled in the ADN program. Applicants must select the CSULB CEP track when applying to the LBCC ADN program. CSULB coursework begins in the first semester of the ADN program, with students completing one CSULB course per semester, including summer. Upon graduation with your ADN degree, you will have one to two semesters left to complete your BSN.

Please note: International students on an F-1 Visa are not eligible for the Concurrent Enrollment Program.

Learn more at LBCC’s ADN Application Info page.