RN Options - Frequently Asked Questions

Why study nursing at UA's Capstone College of Nursing? 

The Capstone College of Nursing isn't the only place for RN students to earn advanced degrees, but it's one of Alabama's best -- both for the quality of the program and the personal interest our faculty and administrators show students. Faculty take the time to be helpful and administrative staff are supportive. You'll also have your own faculty advisor to assist you as you progress through the curriculum. 

The University of Alabama is a great place to study! And the College of Nursing provides students with the advantages of broad clinical experiences, high-tech facilities, and a nationally recognized faculty. 

What is meant by lower division and upper division course work? 

Lower Division
All students declaring nursing as their major must complete the general education requirements or core curriculum. This study provides the basis for the broad education you need to meet the challenges of professional nursing.

Upper Division
Promotion to the upper division is required for entry into the nursing courses and progression in the nursing program. The upper division is the professional phase of the curriculum.

Who is eligible to apply for the RN Mobility Tracks?
Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for promotion into the RN Mobility Tracks:

• Hold an unencumbered RN license;
• Have completed the core curriculum;
• Have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all core curriculum classes; and
• Have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.0 in lab sciences.

What degrees do you offer online?
Students who meet the eligibility requirements listed above may pursue the BSN online.

Students who meet the above eligibility requirements and who demonstrate significant academic promise by earning a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 hours of transferable coursework may apply to complete the BSN and MSN jointly. This online program of study provides an MSN with a concentration in case management or clinical nurse leadership.

Are your courses available online?
Yes. All required Nursing classes are available online. All core curriculum classes, except for lab science courses, are available online. “Lab sciences” include:

• Anatomy and Physiology I
• Anatomy and Physiology II
• Microbiology
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry
• Introduction to Organic Chemistry

These courses may be completed at another institution (such as a community college) and transferred into The University of Alabama.

May I enroll in Nursing classes before I finish the core curriculum?
No. As a rule, students are required to complete the entire core curriculum before beginning Nursing coursework.

Occasional exceptions to this rule may be made. Students working on an approved part-time plan of study may take up to four core curriculum classes with their first year of Nursing coursework. However, students must have completed all lab sciences before beginning any Nursing coursework.

Students interested in combining core and Nursing courses into a part-time plan of study should contact the RN Mentoring and Recruitment Coordinator to discuss their plans.

Am I required to come to campus for any reason?
No. RN Mobility students are never required to visit campus. However, you are always welcome to arrange a visit.

Is it possible to complete a degree through the RN Mobility Tracks if I do not live close to Tuscaloosa?
Yes. We have had a number of students who not only live outside of Tuscaloosa, but reside outside the state of Alabama. Students are not required to visit campus.

If I am not required to come to campus, how are clinicals handled?
Only two Nursing classes include a clinical component. These two classes are:

• NUR 449, Community Health Nursing
• NUR 455, Leadership and Management

In these two courses, you will work with your instructor to select a clinical site project and preceptor that are convenient for you.

When can I begin enrollment in the RN Mobility Tracks?
The sequence of Nursing classes begins only in the Fall semester. You may begin work on core curriculum courses during any semester.

Am I able to transfer the core curriculum into The University of Alabama from a community college?
Yes. RN Mobility students often transfer the core curriculum into The University.

I have been out of school for many years. Will my credits still be recognized?
Yes. Course credits do not “expire” with The University of Alabama. Your course work will be evaluated in the same way that it would have been evaluated at the time that you took it.

Please note that this does not guarantee that your courses will fill course requirements, only that they will be evaluated now the same way that they were at the time that you took them. Thus, for example, a course that filled The University requirement for literature when you took it will still fill that requirement. Similarly, a chemistry class that did not fill a University requirement when you took it (such as CHM 100) will not fill a requirement now.

Students with questions about course transferability should contact the RN Mentoring and Recruitment Coordinator.

Will I receive any academic credit for my experience as an RN?
Yes. RN Mobility students receive 38 hours of Nursing credit in recognition of their RN licensure.

How long does it take to finish my BSN online?
RNs who have completed the entire core curriculum may complete their BSN in one year of online study.

How long does it take to finish my BSN/MSN online?
RNs who have completed the entire core curriculum and three BSN-level Nursing courses may complete the BSN/MSN in two years. The three BSN-level courses that are completed in addition to the core curriculum requirements are:

• NUR 309, Nursing Informatics
• NUR 314, Human Pathology for Registered Nurses
• NUR 323, Pharmacology for Registered Nurses

How much does it cost?
Tuition for online baccalaureate coursework in the 2006-2007 academic year is $245 per credit hour. Thus, a typical three credit class would cost $735. Students should budget for additional expenses such as textbooks (roughly $100 per class) and fees.

For online classes, there is NO additional charge for out-of-state tuition.

Tuition rates change regularly. For the most updated tuition schedule for online coursework, visit http://academicoutreach.ua.edu

What kinds of scholarships and financial aid are available to me?
A limited number of merit scholarships are available to highly qualified students. In order to be considered for merit awards, students must be admitted to The University of Alabama by December 1 of the year before they plan to enroll at UA. Thus, a student wishing to begin online BSN study in the Fall 2007 semester should be admitted to The University no later than December 1, 2006.

Some merit awards, such as those offered by the College of Continuing Studies, also require an additional application.

Students applying at any time during the academic year are welcome to apply for need-based assistance by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Need-based assistance packages may include any or all of the following elements: grants, scholarships, work-study awards, subsidized loans, and unsubsidized loans. The FAFSA is available online at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Interested students should contact the RN Mobility Mentoring and Recruitment Coordinator before applying for financial assistance from The University.

When do I apply?
Application to the RN Mobility Tracks is a two-step process. Students must first be accepted into The University of Alabama. Students must then apply to the Capstone College of Nursing for promotion into the upper-division of the Nursing curriculum.

Applications for admission to The University of Alabama are available at: http://apply.ua.edu

Students should apply for admission before December 1 of they year before they wish to enroll in order to be considered for merit scholarships. Other applicants may apply for admission throughout the academic year. It is strongly recommended that students be admitted to The University of Alabama by June 1. Thus, students should begin the application process in late April.

Applications for promotion into the upper division of the Nursing curriculum are available from the RN Mobility Mentoring and Recruitment Coordinator. These applications are due by June 15.

Interested students should contact the RN Mobility Mentoring and Recruitment Coordinator before applying for admission or promotion.

Do you offer any programs that lead to the nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist credential?
Not at this time. Our RN to BSN graduates make competitive applicants to MSN programs in these (and other) areas of advanced study.