Degree Completion Options
Nursing Degree Completion Option
Towson University offers an innovative and flexible degree completion option which builds upon the strong foundation of diploma and associate level nursing programs. Students have two pathways that can be selected based upon where they are within their own nursing education: Registered Nurse-to-Bachelor of Science (RN-to-BS) or Associate-to-Bachelor (ATB).
RN Articulation Model
The Department of Nursing participates in a statewide RN Articulation Model. Qualified students receive up to 90 credits as part of the RN Articulation Model:
- 60 credits of non-nursing articulation credits awarded for the completion of lower-level arts and sciences coursework in the associate degree program;
- 30 upper-level nursing credits awarded for the possession of an active, unencumbered RN license in Maryland or a compact state.
The maximum any student may receive in transfer is 90 credits. The total of articulation credits may be reduced from 60 depending on the total of non-nursing credits earned at the community college. Any TU coursework that is transferred to the community college and counted toward the associate degree in nursing will not be included in a student’s RN articulation credits. Students in the RN-BS option will receive the RN articulation credits at the start of their program; ATB students will receive them upon the completion of their associate degree and activation of their RN license. Students admitted to the degree completion option must complete a minimum of 30 units at TU as part of the bachelor's degree requirements.
Prerequisite Courses
To ensure successful progress through the Nursing major, students must complete certain prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in the degree completion option that may not be included in their associate degree program's prerequisites. The prerequisites include general chemistry with lab (CHEM 121 & CHEM 121L or CHEM 131 & CHEM 131L), nutrition for health professionals (HLTH 331), and microbiology with lab (BIOL 215 or BIOL 318). A basic statistics course (MATH 231, MATH 237, or PSYC 212) must be completed prior to enrolling in the required nursing research course (NURS 435). Prerequisite courses can be completed at Towson University or through equivalent transfer credit.