RN to BSN | Step Ahead

The RN to BSN program is also offered at our Greensburg and Cranberry locations.

RN to BSN Program
This program is designed for registered nurses seeking a BS in Nursing. A current Pennsylvania nursing license is required.

FAST-TRACK PROGRAM (Greensburg & Cranberry)
You became a nurse because you care … about your patients, about your colleagues, about people. You want to make sure your patient gets the best care available, and that begins with your degree. The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) is the preferred degree in nursing practice according to the American Nurses Association. And, it is the base degree which provides a nurse with the best chance for career and educational advancement.

Our program focuses on the six essential areas of contemporary nursing: community-based care, multiculturalism, health promotion, health care policy, nursing research, and nursing theory. Limited clinical hours are included, as the program relies heavily on the experience gained during completion of the registered nurse (RN) licensure.

The accelerated format is designed for the student who has successfully earned RN licensure. Carlow accepts up to 58 transfer credits in core liberal arts and sciences, and awards RN students an additional 30 advanced standing credits in nursing. Classes are held once a week during daylight hours, and students move through the program as part of a cohort group.This fast-track program is designed to be completed in 16 months or less depending on the completion of prerequisite courses.

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The Step Ahead Program

The Step Ahead Program allows academically qualified nursing majors to earn up to 10 master’s credits by the completion of their BSN degree at Carlow University. To qualify, student must have:

• A high school GPA of 3.5, or
• A minimum of 1100 on the SAT, or
• A cumulative GPA of 3.5 at the end of the first semester of the sophomore year at Carlow, and
• Need a maximum of one basic skill course at Carlow when admitted.

Students apply for entry into the Step Ahead Program during the admission process or at the end of the first semester of the sophomore year in the nursing program.  To successfully complete the Step Ahead nursing curriculum (PDF), the student must complete six to nine credits of core requirements outside of the regular semester structure (e.g., in a summer session), and also maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.1 during the junior and senior years.

Step Ahead Curriculum Guide Sheet (PDF)

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