Salisbury University

Nursing Programs Offered

RN to BSN Program Details

This RN-BS program is for RN students (currently licensed as an RN) pursuing a BS as a nursing major. A total of 120 credits must be completed to earn a BS degree. Upon admission to the nursing major at Salisbury University, students may receive up to sixty (60) academic transfer credits from their Associate Degree Program. They will therefore need to complete additional credits (see checklist below) for the BS degree. At least 30 of the credits must be upper division courses taken at SU. Upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisite and required coursework, Registered Nurses with an active unencumbered Maryland or compact RN license will be awarded 30 additional credits after completion of all required coursework at Salisbury University.

BSN Program Details

Students with an interest in nursing should declare nursing as their major upon application to the University. Enrollment in the nursing major is a two-step process—admission to the University with a separate approval/admission process to begin the nursing program. Admission to the University does not guarantee acceptance to begin upper division nursing courses. Students are eligible to begin required nursing courses upon successful completion of the admission requirements and approval by the Nursing Department Student Policies Committee. Decisions regarding acceptance to the nursing program occur during the spring semester, usually by March 10. Due to course sequencing students must begin the required nursing courses in the fall semester only. The admission requirements and procedures are listed below.

Students should be aware that drug testing and background checks are commonly required by clinical agencies. Students who have been convicted of a felony or have pled nolo contendere to a felony or to a crime involving moral turpitude, may not be eligible for some clinical placements and may be unable to complete program requirements. Likewise they may be ineligible for licensure as a Registered Nurses in some states including Maryland.

MSN Program Details

In an effort to meet the exceptional demands on health care practitioners, Salisbury University's Department of Nursing provides a rigorous, science-based preparation for advanced nursing practice. Students who have an undergraduate nursing degree and who are licensed as a registered nurse can earn the M.S. in nursing as a family nurse practitioner or health care leader from a program that fosters excellence.

Taught by distinguished full-time faculty who practice what they teach, classes are conveniently scheduled for evenings and many in a hybrid format (online & face-to-face), and offer close faculty-student working relationships. Faculty advisors assist each student to design a personalized progression plan and to identify and encourage learning experiences that are responsive to student interests and learning goals.

The time required for students to earn their degree varies depending on the number of courses a student enrolls in during each semester. Graduates of Salisbury University's Master's in Nursing programs are in demand and valued for their expertise and contributions.

The graduate program in the Department of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is proud to have educated many of the nursing leaders of the mid-Atlantic region and to continue professional relationships with many SU graduates.

RN to MSN Program Details

The RN to Master’s program is for RN students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree in nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Educator or Health Care Leadership track. The prerequisite for enrollment in this program is an active unencumbered Maryland or compact RN license. Upon admission to the nursing major at Salisbury University, students may receive up to sixty (60) academic transfer credits from their Associate Degree Program. After completing all undergraduate non-nursing requirements for RN to MS students and 12 of the 18 undergraduate nursing credits required, students having a GPA of 2.75 or greater may apply to the graduate nursing program. If accepted, and after completion of the remaining 6 required undergraduate nursing credits, students will take the 12 credits of graduate core courses (rather than 9-12 credits of SU nursing and non-nursing electives) and then continue with the courses in the specialty track they have selected. Upon completion of their graduate program, students will be awarded 30 additional credits based on their active unencumbered Maryland or compact license and will receive a Master of Science degree in Nursing. The RN to MS program provides the RN wishing to have a graduate nursing degree with a 9-12 credit efficiency over the more traditional route where the BS and MS in nursing are pursued separately.

Accelerated BSN Program Details

The Department of Nursing offers a Second Degree bachelor's program for non-nursing college graduates leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. The curriculum, acknowledging the education, career and life experiences of the individual requires fewer pre-requisites for the nursing courses than the basic baccalaureate nursing program of study. Students may complete the second bachelor's degree in three semesters of full-time study.

Licensure as a registered nurse requires application to the State Board of Nursing to take the National Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), documentation of completion of the nursing program, payment of a fee and a criminal background check.

Students should be aware that drug testing and background checks are commonly required by clinical agencies. Students who have been convicted of a felony or have pled nolo contendere to a felony or to a crime involving moral turpitude, may not be eligible for some clinical placements and may be unable to complete program requirements. Likewise they may be ineligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse in some states including Maryland.

Second Degree program graduates are encouraged to continue their nursing education in the graduate program. The graduate program offers a family nurse practitioner track, a health care leadership track, and a clinical nurse educator track.

To be eligible for admission to the Second Degree program, students must have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Students from all majors (including diploma or associate degree-prepared registered nurses with a baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing major) are eligible to enroll.

Faculty advisors assist prospective students to assess their learning needs and identify independent learning resources available to them through the University. The prerequisite courses are available at Salisbury University; however, it is not mandatory for them to be taken at SU.