Arizona State University (Downtown Phoenix campus)

Through a curriculum focused on evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning, innovation, interprofessional communication and information technology, the BSN program in nursing readies students to deliver top-notch professional nursing care. Achieving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is possible through various distinctive pathways.

Traditional prelicensure BSN nursing program
The traditional prelicensure clinical nursing program is a full-time, upper-division nursing program for students who wish to become a registered nurse by completing a BSN. The program has three start dates per year: spring, summer and fall. It may be completed in a 16-month year-round schedule or a 24-month academic year schedule. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination to obtain licensure as a registered nurse.

Students advance into the program in one of two ways: direct admission or the competitive advancement process. Direct admission is offered to incoming first-time freshmen who meet specific admission criteria. Students admitted directly must meet continuing eligibility criteria while attending ASU to advance into the upper-division nursing program. Directly admitted nursing students who do not meet continuing eligibility criteria, transfer students or ASU students who are changing majors may apply for advancement to the upper-division nursing program by competing for any remaining spaces.

Accelerated BSN clinical nursing program
The accelerated BSN clinical nursing program is a full-time, 12-month upper-division clinical nursing program for students who wish to become a registered nurse by completing a BSN. Selection is competitive. Students pursuing advancement to the accelerated BSN clinical nursing program complete prerequisite coursework and apply for advancement to the program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination to gain licensure as a registered nurse.

Online RN to BSN program
The online RN to BSN program is available to students who have earned an associate degree in nursing and have a current RN license in good standing with the state board of nursing. RN to BSN program courses are offered online in 7.5-week sessions and can be completed in 14 to 24 months. There are five starts per year: two in the fall, two in the spring and one in the summer. Assignments may include readings, discussions, papers, presentations and clinical practice experiences completed in a hospital or community setting in the location where the student resides.

Transfer pathway agreements are in place with all community college nursing programs in Arizona, which provide additional benefits to students. The RN to BSN program is not available to students residing in Tennessee, Rhode Island or Washington.

Concurrent Enrollment Program
The concurrent enrollment program pathway is available to students enrolling in or already enrolled in any regionally accredited associate degree program in nursing that leads to NCLEX-RN licensure. This program is for qualified nursing students who are interested in earning their BSN while simultaneously pursuing their associate degree in nursing. Selected students enroll in the community college program and ASU CEP courses at the same time (concurrently). CEP courses taken at ASU are delivered in an online format and are offered in 15-week sessions. ASU CEP is not available to students residing in Tennessee, Rhode Island or Washington.

Eastern Arizona College Partnership
This program offers a concurrent enrollment program pathway for qualified students pursuing an AAS in nursing from any of the three EAC campuses while simultaneously earning a BSN from ASU. Courses in this program are delivered in a hybrid format on the Thatcher campus.

Concurrent program options

Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Accelerated program options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

• Nursing, MS

Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. 

Additional requirements:

The admission standards for majors in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation are higher than minimum university standards. Effective fall 2022, first-year admission requirements are:

• top 10% of high school graduating class, OR
• an overall high school cumulative GPA of 3.80 in ASU competency courses (scale is 4.00 = "A"), OR
• an overall high school cumulative GPA of 3.50 in ASU competency courses AND either a 25 ACT or 1230 SAT combined evidence-based reading and writing plus math score

Priority application date: November 1

First-year applicants should select an additional major when applying for admission.

English language proficiency requirements for applicants whose native language is not English:

• minimum TOEFL iBT score of 76 (internet-based test, taken in a testing center), OR
• minimum IELTS score of 6.5, OR
• minimum Duolingo English test score of 100, OR
• minimum Cambridge English exam score of 176

First-year admission applications to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that are received after the November 1 application priority date are considered on a space-available basis. Students not offered admission directly to the nursing program are placed in the BS program in community health.