Registered Nurses: Now you can earn a BS degree in Nursing online from the University of Massachusetts Boston!

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences, in conjunction with the Division of Corporate, Continuing and Distance Education, offer an online Bachelor of Science degree program in nursing for Registered Nurses. The online format maximizes accessibility and convenience for highly motivated, independent professionals. Although most course activity is completed online, in the student’s place of employment or in the community, students attend an on-campus orientation prior to beginning the online nursing courses. In addition, four hours of on-campus time is required during the Health Assessment and Promotion course. Students from out of state may contact the program office to discuss arrangements for completing these requirements off-campus.

Online RN-BS Information Sessions assess applicants’ readiness for admission and are held monthly on campus. Prospective students who bring unofficial transcripts to a session are advised about what courses they need to begin the program. Information on the Online RN-BS Information Sessions can be found at Information Sessions.

Once students begin the nursing courses, they proceed through the program in a cohort for five semesters. Nursing courses are taught online in the summer, fall and spring sessions. The non-nursing general education and elective requirements may be completed at any time prior to graduation and may be satisfied by courses offered through the Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education, if available, or (with prior approval) through another accredited college or university.

Newly admitted students first complete courses in Statistics, Pharmacology and Nutrition.  The Pharmacology and Nutrition requirements may be completed by taking a National League for Nursing (NLN) Examination.  An NLN application can be found at NLN Examination Application. 

This program is ideally suited to the needs of practicing nurses because it:

• Offers strong individual support and advising from application through graduation
• Builds upon students’ existing professional nursing knowledge and skills
• Provides close faculty interaction with outstanding UMass Boston faculty
• Reduces commuting time to virtually zero
• Enables students to choose study times that fit their schedules
• Leads to a degree from a highly-respected provider of nursing education: The University of Massachusetts Boston!

This program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 

Questions about the program?  Please contact the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at 617-287-7500.