Who should apply?
The RN to BSN program is designed for nurses holding a current US-based registered nurse (RN) license with a previous associate or diploma school nursing degree.
The Co-enrollment program allows students to earn their BSN in less time by co-enrolling at Mason and a partner community college AAS-Nursing program.
Why choose George Mason?
- Mason’s RN to BSN and Co-enrollment program nursing courses are all online , accommodating both full- and part-time students.
- Only 10 courses (30 credit hours) to complete the BSN after meeting the eligibility guidelines.
- Students benefit from project-based courses that enhance professional development in your clinical area.
- Transfer credits are accepted for many general education and prerequisite courses if completed at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education. Please use the Transfer Credit Matrix to check course equivalency.
- Mason’s School of Nursing complies with the standards set forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.
Transfer credits are accepted for many general education (Mason Core) and nursing prerequisite courses that have been completed at a regionally-accredited institution of higher education. Please use the Transfer Search Engine to check course equivalency.
Requirements: 120 credits total
- 57 credits Mason Core and general elective courses
- 30 credits RN to BSN/Co-enrollment program courses
- 33 credits designated “Credit by Exam”
Candidates for the BSN degree must present a total of at least 120 credits, with a minimum of 30 credits earned at Mason to fulfill requirements for graduation.
All RN to BSN and Co-enrollment program courses are offered online. Online course offerings vary by semester. Not all general education or nursing prerequisite courses are offered online.
For help in planning your course schedules, see the RN to BSN and Co-enrollment program planning form.
Mason Core and General Electives
For some students, the Mason Core requirements (except ENGH 302) may be met by completing an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Arts and Science (AA&S) from an approved Virginia community college. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) does not waive Mason Core requirements. See the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA) regarding the Mason Core Waiver.
Also, students must complete the following prerequisite nursing courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits)
- Microbiology (4 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Biomedical Ethics (3 credits)
For the RN to BSN program, all nursing prerequisites must be complete before beginning the program.
For the Co-enrollment program, all nursing prerequisites must be fulfilled before the completion of the AAS-Nursing program at the partner community college.
RN to BSN and Co-enrollment Program
- ENGH 302 Advanced Composition | 3 credits (A Mason specific course for students with no prior US Bachelor’s degree)
- NURS 336 Concepts in Professional Nursing as a Discipline | 3 credits
- NURS 425 Comprehensive Health Assessment | 3 credits
- NURS 436 Leadership and Management of Health Care | 3 credits
- NURS 440 Community Health and Epidemiology | 3 credits
- NURS 434 Vulnerable Populations | 3 credits
- NURS 453 Research in Nursing | 3 credits
- NURS 457 Introduction to Nursing Informatics | 3 credits
- NURS 465 Examination and Integration of Professional and Health Care Issues | 3 credits
- Elective | 3 credits
Credit by Exam
RNs will be awarded 33 nursing credits upon completion of NURS 336.
Tuition (2021-2022)
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION | COST PER CREDIT HOUR |
| Virginia Resident | $408.15 |
| Non-Virginia Resident | $1,415.00 |
| Mandatory Student fee | $150.25 |
| Total Cost Per Credit for Virginia Residents | $558.40 |
| Total Cost Per Credit for Non-Virginia Residents | $1565.25 |
| Undergraduate New Student fee | $350.00 for new students, $275 for transfer students (non-refundable, one-time fee charged to all students) |
Please Note: In addition to the tuition and fees described above, various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Please refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees.
Financial Aid
For information on how to apply to scholarships, see the Mason Scholarship page.
For information on other loans, scholarships, and other types of financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Career Description
The BSN degree is becoming the entry-to-practice degree and is already required in several clinical settings such as community and public health. The BSN is also required for nurses considering advanced degrees such as the MSN, DNP, or PhD.
There is a need for nurses with a BSN in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home health care services, nursing care facilities, schools, and so much more. Graduates of Mason’s RN to BSN and Co-enrollment program are employed by:
- Inova Health System
- HCA Reston Hospital
- Virginia Hospital Center
- Children’s National Medical Center
- Home care and hospice agencies
- Military healthcare facilities
In fact, 1 in 3 nurses in the Washington Metro area is a Mason nurse. As a Mason student, you may contact University Career Services for more career information and counseling.
Further Studies
If you are interested in returning to school to complete graduate degrees at the MSN or DNP level, please see Mason’s face-to-face RN to MSN or BSN to DNP programs.
Prospective students must submit two applications for this program. First, submit the Undergraduate Mason Admissions Application. Next, submit the BSN Online Application when it becomes available.
Prerequisites
- Apply for university admission and receive a Mason ID number (G number)
- RN to BSN program: Hold a diploma or degree from an associate degree program in nursing
- Co-enrollment program: must be enrolled in a partner community college AAS-Nursing program at a partner Virginia community college
- Complete all nursing prerequisite courses with a grade of C (not C-) or better by:
- RN to BSN program: May 20 for fall admission or by December 20 for spring admission (Elective and Mason Core classes can be completed after admission to this program)
- Co-enrollment program: the completion of the AAS-Nursing program at the partner community college (Elective and Mason Core classes can be completed during the AAS-Nursing program at either Mason or at the partner community college or after graduating from the AAS-Nursing program only at Mason)
- Submit BSN Online Application and all supporting documents by January 15 for Fall admission or October 1 for Spring admission
BSN Online Application Materials
Undergraduate application
- Application fee
- Transcripts of all post-secondary education
- Access the online application here.
- Non-refundable BSN application fee
- Unofficial transcripts (one copy from each institution attended)
- Resume
- Copy of current RN license (must have license prior to the start of class) for the RN to BSN program OR proof of enrollment in a partner community college AAS-Nursing program for the Co-enrollment program
- Transcript evaluations for all international transcripts (if applicable)
- Copy of unofficial AP/CLEP scores (if applicable)
- Copy of currently enrolled course registration (if applicable)
- Copy of active military ID (if applicable)
- Copy of e-mail correspondence with BSN Admissions Office (if applicable)
Mason Online