Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours
The RN to BS Nursing Program is committed to offering superior, accessible undergraduate nursing education for registered nurses pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. The courses are taught via distance education to accommodate the schedules of working professionals.
Admission to the Nursing Major
Admission decisions are made once the application process is complete.
Provisional Admission to the Nursing Major
Provisional admission to the major is available to students from community colleges where EIU has a Dual Track Agreement in place. 听Students from these community colleges may apply for provisional admission. Students听provisionally admitted to the Nursing major may enroll in EIU coursework as provided in the dual track agreement.听For information about the Dual Track Agreements and community colleges participating in the agreements, contact the Nursing Program office at EIU, 217-581-7049.
Criteria for Admission to the Major:
Admission to the University
Complete Application for the RN to BS in Nursing Program
Achievement of a cumulative GPA of 2.0听or higher
RN license from state of residence or completion of an Associate Degree in Nursing and license eligible.
Advising after Admission
Courses or their equivalents are recommended with a grade of "C" or better to meet the general education requirements. Other course options may meet requirements. Students will meet with an advisor to determine the individual course of study.
BIO 1004
Practical Microbiology. (3 credits)
or
BIO 2210
Anatomy and Physiology I. (4 credits)
or
BIO 2220
Anatomy and Physiology II. (4 credits)
ENG 1001
College Composition I: Critical Reading & Source-Based Writing. (3 credits)
ENG 1002
College Composition II: Argument & Critical Inquiry. (3 credits)
HSL 1800
Human Development. (3 credits)
PSY 1879
Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)
SOC 1838
Introductory Sociology. (3 credits)
AND one of the following 3 or 4 credit course(s) (or its equivalent):
CHM 1040
The World of Chemistry. (4 credits)
CHM 3025
The Chemistry in Your Life. (3 credits)
CHM 1310
General Chemistry I. (3 credits)
AND CHM 1315G - General Chemistry Laboratory I. Credits: 1
PHY 1051
Physics of the Modern World. (3 credits)
PHY 1052
Adventures in Physics. (3 credits)
AND PHY 1053G - Adventures in Physics Laboratory. Credits: 1
PHY 1151
Principles of Physics I. (3 credits)
AND PHY 1152G - Principles of Physics I Laboratory. Credits: 1
Semester Hours required for the Major: 36听semester hours
The major in Nursing comprises:
MAT 2250
Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)
(or equivalent)
NUR 3103
Theoretical Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice. (3 credits)
NUR 3303
Advanced Nursing Health Assessment. (3 credits)
NUR 3608
Nursing Informatics in Healthcare. (4 credits)
NUR 3703
Research in Professional Nursing. (3 credits)
NUR 4108
Leadership and Management in Nursing. (3 credits)
NUR 4203
Nursing, Health Care, Policies, and Politics. (3 credits)
NUR 4508
Public Health Nursing. (3 credits)
NUR 4604
Issues and Practicum in Professional Nursing. (4 credits)
Organizational Development (ODL and Public Health (PUBH) Interdisciplinary Courses
The major requires two interdisciplinary courses: one from the Department of Organizational Development and one from the Department of Public Health. However, the course selection may vary each semester dependent upon the interdisciplinary courses offered by the ODL and PUBH departments. Therefore, students must select an ODL and a PUBH interdisciplinary course under advisement from the School of Nursing advisor.
Students may be required to complete additional general education courses outside of the nursing program, which could increase the total number of hours for the degree.
Progression Requirements:
Students enrolled in the RN to BS in Nursing Program must earn a 'C' or better in all major requirement courses to progress in the program.
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 throughout their enrollment in the RN to BS in Nursing Program.2
A nursing course in which a student withdrew or failed to earn a grade of 'C' or better may be repeated by the student only one time. Failure to receive a grade of 'C' or better for a second time of any nursing course will result in dismissal from the program.
Students who have been dismissed from the program may submit an appeal. If reinstated, students must develop a plan with the advisor for future course schedule.
Students admitted without an active nursing license must successfully pass the national licensure exam and submit proof of license for permission to register in 4000 level courses.
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Footnotes:
1 This major does not require the completion of a foreign language through high school or college work as a graduation requirement. Of the 120 semester hours required to complete the degree, at least 25 semester hours earned at EIU must be included.
2 Major GPA based on all nursing courses taken at EIU.
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Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.
