Online RN to BSN Program

Virtual RN to BSN Information Sessions are offered via Zoom each month at 7:30 PM EST.   Sessions are hosted by School of Nursing faculty and staff who will give a brief presentation followed by a Q&A period. 

RN to BSN Sessions for 2025 will be held on the second Wednesday of each month.  Please RSVP for the information sessions via the RSVP form. This will allow us to send you a reminder the day of the session and track how many attend these events. The zoom link for the session is also at the top if you forget to RSVP prior to the session. 

2025 Dates: June 11, July 9, August 20, September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10. 

Once you have registered, please log into Zoom and join your session 5-10 minutes before the 7:30pm start time. 

Each session typically runs 45-60 minutes long. While transcript evaluations will not take place during these sessions information will be provided to assist applicants in reviewing their prior coursework. 

Students are admitted twice a year and can begin the program in either January or August. Before applying to the program students must have completed the following:

• Admission to WCU's Distance Learning program (prior to completing the RN to BSN program application)
• A current, unrestricted Registered Nursing License or pass the NCLEX prior to starting the program
• A minimum cummulative 2.5 GPA
• Completion of 60 non-nursing credit hours
• Completion or waiver of WCU's Liberal Studies requirements
• Completion of the prerequisite courses identified in the checklists below (Note: there are 2 paths available)
  
  

Prerequisite Checklists:

1. Prerequisite requirements for students that began their ADN before fall 2015 or completed it through a school outside of North Carolina. 
2. Prerequisite requirements for students that began their ADN during or after fall 2015 and followed the block plan outlined in the UNC/NCCC Articulation Agreement. If the student or college did not follow this articulation plan students should follow the requirement list from item 1 above.

Transfer Credits:

To see what courses will transfer into the University to meet the prerequisite requirements you will need to complete the Distance Learning Application. The application will require all official transcripts and official test scores (AP, CLEP, DANTES, etc.) to be sent to the Undergraduate Admissions Office for processing.

You may also uilize the Credits Earned Elsewhere page to see how courses taken outside of Western Carolina University will transfer into WCU.

Applicants will submit two separate applications, one to the University for general acceptance and then a second to the RN to BSN Program. Below are the deadlines for Spring and Fall starts.

1. Complete the University's Distance Learning Application by August 20th or February 25th (fall) --  Please note, you will need your 920#(student ID number) before step #2. Your reference number is NOT your ID number, and cannot be used for this. 

• Acceptance into the University must occur prior to submiting your RN to BSN program application (step #2)
• Evaluation of transfer coursework will take place once you have been accepted into the University and have submitted all official transcripts (these are not something you upload to your portal, instead they need to be mailed or emailed directly from the schools you previously attended. 
• The University application fee is not refundable. If applicants are determined to have unmet prerequisites they are able to defer their University admission for up to three semesters.

2. Complete the online RN to BSN Program Application. This application is now located within your Catamount Portal once you have applied to the University.  Applications are due by September 15th (spring) and March 15th (fall).  Please read the application carefully, incomplete applications will not be reviewed!

• Applicants should note that admission review and decisions will take place after the deadline, and decisions usually go in about a month following the deadline. 

If you want to confirm that we have received your program application, please contact distance@wcu.edu. 

Students will complete the following on a part-time basis in only 4 semesters:

• 24 hours of online core WCU RN to BSN courses
• 6 hours of upper-division online WCU electives

Total: 30 hours

RN to BSN Curriculum

The estimated cost of attendance for the program for in-state residents is only $2,800.

Cost breakdown for in-state residents.

For tuition purposes, please use this link to determine if you are considered a North Carolina Resident: residency.wcu.edu

Interim Program Director:

Ramona Whichello, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Core Faculty:

Kia Countess, DNP, RN, CNE
Susan Hester, DNP, RN, CPN
Summer Huntley-Dale, PhD, FNP-C
Sheila Price, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE
Tamra Shea, PhD, MSN, RN
Francine Sheppard, PhD, RN, CNE
Megan Woody, DNP, RN