The RN-BSN program builds on associate degree courses.

Sample courses include:

• Professional Nursing Concepts and Issues
• Assessment and Application of Physiological Concepts
• Nursing Research and Informatics
• Nursing Leadership
• Nursing Management
• Community Health Nursing

View all RN-BSN courses.

For detailed information on prerequisites, course descriptions, admission information, and more, see the College of Nursing RN to BSN program page.

Graduation requirements

See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

In addition to the RN-BSN, the WSU College of Nursing provides graduate nursing education. 

Master of Nursing (MN) — 2 tracks:

• BSN to MN
• RN to MN

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — 2 tracks:

• BSN to DNP
• MN to DNP

PhD in Nursing — 2 tracks:

• Bachelors to PhD
• MN to PhD

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.

For all students at WSU

Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

To get all the financial help WSU can provide, start by doing these two things:

• Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration.
• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need.

More about scholarships and financial aid

For nursing students

In addition to general university scholarships and other financial aid, WSU offers scholarships specifically for nursing students.

Students are invited and encouraged to apply for scholarships from the College of Nursing if currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at the College of Nursing. Students in all stages of the nursing curriculum are eligible to apply for general university scholarships.

As health care continues to shift outside the hospital to more primary and preventive care, the demand for nurses with baccalaureate and graduate degrees continues to expand. BSN-prepared nurses have a professional platform on which to build an expanded career path that includes health care administration, nursing education, and various clinical specialties in nursing.

BSN graduates have many opportunities to serve and work as a Registered Nurse in a variety of health care settings. Here are a few:

• Nursing Instructor
• Cardiology Nurse
• Chemical Dependence Rehabilitation Nurse
• Child Psychiatry Nurse
• Emergency Room Nurse
• Flight Trauma Nurse
• Forensic Nurse
• Geriatric Nurse
• Home Care Nurse
• Infection Control Nurse
• Long-Term Care Nurse
• Military Nurse
• Neonatal Nurse
• Obstetric Nurse
• Occupational Health Nurse
• Operating Room (Perioperative) Nurse
• Palliative Care/Hospice Nurse
• Pediatric Nurse
• Pediatric Palliative Care Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse
• Rehabilitation Nurse
• School Nurse
• Traveling Nurse
• Veteran's Affairs Nurse