Sonoma State University Department of Nursing

Post-Licensure BSN Program Track
(ADN-BSN)

(Previously known as the “RN-BSN Program”)

  • For the California licensed Registered Nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing(Traditional or “TPOST” student) and
  • For current ADN Students enrolled at SRJC, NVC, COM, MC, or SCC interested in beginning Post-Licensure BSN Coursework (CNECM or “CPOST” student)

The Post-Licensure BSN program track builds on the strong foundation of ADN education and utilizes the maximum community college transfer credits from the ADN program to meet the BSN degree requirements. Thecurriculumenhances existing nursing knowledge and skills with study of complex professional perspectives, multifaceted health assessment, community/public health theory and clinical, research and evidence-based-practice, leadership and management, and sociopolitical perspectives in the health care environment.
Nursing courses are delivered in a hybrid format (in classroom and online) or entirely online with minimal requirements for on campus meetings (usually at beginning and/or end of semester). No clinical or theory courses that were completed for the ADN are repeated and the only required clinical is the community/public health practicum (one full day per week over one 15-week semester). Community/public health clinical placements are only available in the SSU service area.
Completion of BSN requirements is possible in two semesters of full-time enrollment at SSU for the ADN graduate who has completed all lower divisionSSU General Education requirementsbefore beginning the BSN program. Complete details of the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track curriculum plan are included in the ADN-BSN Roadmapsfor each of the five SSU service area community colleges.All TPOST and CPOST students enroll in their respectivefull-timeAcademic Program Plan. There is limited availability for part-time study.
Current California Licensed RNswho are graduates of an Associate Degree Program in NursesANDcurrent ADN studentswho will have graduated and have RN licensure by August 15thof their admission year may apply for admission to the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track to begin in Fall term ONLY. This is the Traditional Post-Licensure BSN (“TPOST”)academic pathway for an ADN educated nurse.

Current first semester-first yearADN Students enrolled at CNECM institutionsmay apply for admission to the SSU Department of Nursing for the CNECM while currently in good standing in their respective ADN programs (the application period is January 15 – March 15 of your first year in ADN program). Upon departmental admission, students begin Upper Division Nursing coursework in the summer between their first and second year of their ADN program.Current first semester-first year ADN students enrolled at SRJC, COM, NVC, SCC, or MC and interested in this option should review application and admission information specific to the CNECM Program. This is the CNECM Post-Licensure BSN (“CPOST”)academic pathway for ADN students. Students enrolled in the second, third or fourth semester of their ADN program in Fall 2013 are not eligible for the CNECM (“CPOST”) option and should follow directions for “TPOST” application for Fall 2014 or after.

Current CNECM students who completed Nurs 312 in Summer 2013 must apply following application to the university information below. Failure to meet the university application deadline (November 30, 2013) will result in not being able to continue the Upper Division Nursing coursework at SSU although you may still enroll in Nurs 313 in the Summer after completion of your ADN.You DO NOT need to re-apply to the Nursing Department.

Application and Admission

Interested RNs and current ADN students who will graduate from an ADN program and hold RN licensure prior to August 15th next year, should attend the scheduled Information and Academic Advising Sessionat SSU to thoroughly review requirements, clarify personal academic history in relation to BSN degree requirements and have questions answered.

The Faculty Academic Advisors for the Post-Licensure BSN Program are not available for individual prospective student appointments. Prospective students are expected to utilize the array of online resources on this website specifically prepared to support self-evaluation of degree requirements and to attend the Information and Academic Advising Session. Subsequent questions and special circumstances may be directed to ith the subject line “Post-Licensure BSN Program Track Question.”

TPOST (Traditional Post-Licensure BSN Program Track)

Two separate applications are required for admission to the SSU POST-LICENSURE BSN Program:the regular SSU Application and theNursing Supplemental Applicationfor the POST-LICENSURE BSN Program. Both applications are available AFTER mid-October.

  • TheUniversity (SSU) Application(via CSU Mentor) must be submitted by November 30, 2013 for Fall 2014 admission. Mark the major category as Nursing with RN if you are, or plan to be, licensed by Fall 2014. This application is submitted electronically. If you have a previous baccalaureate degree, please see special instructions below (you will not be permitted to electronically submit an application to SSU).
  • TheNursing Supplemental Applicationmust be submitted by January 31, 2014. Admitted students will begin the Post-Licensure BSN program in Fall 2014. This is a paper application the applicant prints from the Nursing website and submits in hard copy.

To be considered for admission to the SSU PostLicensure BSN Program all applicants must meet BOTH SSU Transfer Admission Criteria and SSU Department of Nursing Admission Criteria.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing (ADN graduates and current ADN students) cannot apply for admission to the University because, except for nurses with prior baccalaureate degrees, the university does not admit “second baccalaureate” students. In order to apply and be considered for Fall 2014 admission to the Post-Licensure BSN program track, you must submit the Nursing Supplemental Application by January 31, 2014. If you are admitted by the Nursing Department, you will receive further direction in email no later than March 15, 2014, on how to complete the university application process.

CPOST (CNECM Post-Licensure BSN Program Track)

CNECM (“CPOST”) students who will have completed Nurs 313 by the end of summer 2014 must apply to the university and be admitted for Fall 2014in order to continue in the program. You DO NOT need to re-submit a Nursing Supplemental Application but you must notify the Nursing Office by January 31, 2014, that you have applied for admission to the university for Fall 2014 by sending email notification ith subject line "CPOST Fall 2014 Admission.”

Current first semester ADN students (Fall 2013) enrolled at a CNECM partner schoolsubmit ONLY the Nursing Supplemental CNECM Applicationfrom January 15 – March 15, 2014. DO NOT apply to the university at this time. Also, if you also have a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing, submit ONLY the nursing application.

University (SSU) Transfer Admission Criteria specific to BSN

  • Minimum of 60 semester units of college-transferable credit with at least a 3.0 overall GPA (2.5-3.0 GPA requires special petition to the Nursing department, however, due to increased enrollments in the program, space may not be available); maximum of 70 units from community college level coursework is allowed.
  • 30 units should meet Sonoma State University General Education (GE) requirements for transfer includingthe following also required as CSU Systemwide Nursing Program Admission Prerequisites (CSU Executive Order 1084, Attachment A)
  • ALL of GE Area A (Speech/Oral Communication, English Composition/Written Communication, and Critical Thinking)
  • ALL of GE Area B (Physical Science, Biological Science, and Quantitative Reasoning/Math).
    The CSU quantitative reasoning/math requirement, Area B4, is satisfied by a course beyond Intermediate Algebra which is required for the ADN. Statistics is required for the BSN and meets the CSU B4 requirement.
    The CSU General Education Requirements for Area B (except Area B4 Math/Statistics) are usually met by the prerequisite science courses required for the Associate Degree in Nursing (chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology).
    Note that the prerequisite requirement for chemistry is a general, inorganic, organic or integrated chemistry (with associated lab if required at the institution where the course was taken).
  • 30 units must be credit for lower-division nursing course work (nursing coursework at California community college programs meets and exceeds this requirement).

Department of Nursing Admission Criteria

The SSU BSN Program is on official CSU Impacted Status for the 2014-2015 Academic Year Admission cycle and, in addition to university admission criteria, the following admission criteria for the Post-Licensure BSN Program Track (TPOST and CPOST) apply. Current ADN students interested applying to the CNECM must also meet all of the following requirements with specific modifications to #1 and #2 that are reviewed on the CNECMsection.

  1. Minimum of 60 semester units of college-transferable credit with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA; a maximum of 70 units from community college level coursework is allowed.
  2. Current California licensure as a Registered Nurse (or anticipated graduation from a California ADN program no later than Spring 2014 with RN licensure by August 15, 2014).
  3. Minimum of 3 semester units of college-transferable credit in chemistry with a grade C or better (any chemistry taken as prerequisite to the ADN program is acceptable for the BSN, however, if not taken at college level, it would not meet the SSU GE Area B1 Physical Science requirement and the student would need to complete a B1 qualified chemistry course prior to admission).
  4. Human anatomy and physiology within the past 10 years or documented direct patient care nursing experience within the past two years.
  5. Preference for admission will be given to applicants with the fewest number of lower division SSU GE requirements outstanding. CSU GE Certification or IGETC certification is highly recommended (Community College Education Counselors are authorized to assist you with these certifications).
  6. Preference for admission to the Post-Licensure BSN program will be given to qualified applicants residing in SSU service area counties (Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Marin, Lake, and Mendocino).
  7. Admission to SSU.

Post-Licensure BSN Program Track applicants (TPOST and CPOST) should review all available information on this site and linked pages prior to contacting the nursing department with questions or special circumstances. After so doing, if there are remaining questions or clarification needed, please address to with subject line ““Post-Licensure BSN Question.”

Post-Licensure BSN Program Track (ADN-BSN) 2013-2014