Program Overview		Tuition Costs & Scholarships
	Coursework in the RN to BS Program		College Transfer Credits
	Admission Requirements		Meet the RN to BS Faculty & Staff
	Admissions Process		To Comment or Request Information
	Benefits and Features		RN to BS Sample Curriculum Sequence (PDF)

The Seattle Pacific University RN to BS program is an upper-division nursing major designed for registered nurses who wish to obtain a bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing. A wide selection of courses and independent-study opportunities enable the student to build a study program that meets personal interests while fulfilling degree requirements.

Seattle Pacific University has partnerships with Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and Valley Medical Center. Group Health classes are held at multiple Group Health locations, including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and Port Orchard.  VA classes are held at VA Seattle and American Lake in Tacoma. Valley Medical Center has one location in Renton. These partnerships help employees of those hospitals and others in the area.

Participants in the RN to BS program do not have to be employed by any of the partnerships.  Any registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing or a hospital diploma is welcome to participate in the RN to BS program to earn a bachelor of science degree from SPU. 

The following information describes the RN to BS program at Seattle Pacific University including coursework for nursing and general education requirements. The University reserves the right to make changes of any nature in the program. The RN-to-BS-program student is responsible to follow the SPU Undergraduate Catalog in effect at the time of his or her admission. 

To receive an information/application packet, please call 206-281-2027 or 800-329-1141 or email us at rnbinfo@spu.edu.

Accreditation

The RN to BS program is fully approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 

The Bachelor of Science, With a major in Nursing

At Seattle Pacific University, the bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing requires a total of 180 credits, consisting of 77 nursing credits and 103 Foundations and General Education credits. For students in the RN to BS program, these credits are earned in several ways:

College transfer credits from other institutions.  

Advanced-placement credits granted for prior National Boards NCLEX exam (45 credits).

Credits from courses taken off-campus through the SPU RN to BS program (35–37 credits) and also from General Education and University Foundation courses taken at SPU.
  

Professional Nursing Concepts: RN

Family and Community Nursing: RN

Course descriptions.

In addition, Biomedical Statistics (5 credits) is required prior to taking Nursing Research, but it is not a prerequisite to enter the program. Statistics may be taken at SPU or at another college or university. 

(If a Statistics course taken at another college is a lower-division course or with a prefix other than Nursing or Health Science (e.g., such as math, business or psychology), three additional credits in nursing are required.  These credits are usually taken as Independent Study.)

Required Foundation and General Education Courses (100 credits).

Students who enter SPU at freshman or sophomore standing are required to take a third Foundation course. Select courses can be taken online through Taylor University to fulfill this requirement.

General Education program distribution requirements are listed in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog. The requirements may be satisfied through transfer of selected credits from previously attended colleges and universities and/or through Seattle Pacific University coursework.

Admission to the program is based on the applicant's total profile. Applications to the program are accepted anytime of the year. 

The following items need to be included:

• An earned hospital diploma or associate degree in nursing from a state-approved or nationally accredited nursing program. (Note: Transcripts from international schools are evaluated by an international transcript evaluator.)
• Unencumbered Washington state RN license.
• Completion of the Seattle Pacific University RN to BS program application.
• Admission 2.5 GPA to the University, 2.75 GPA to the School of Health Sciences for the natural and social sciences and nursing courses

Depending on your academic history, you may be required to take Math and English Proficiency Exams. Please contact the RN to BS office at 206-281-2027 or 800-329-1141 or rnbinfo@spu.edu for more information.

Admission Process

Step One:  Contact the RN to BS office to request information/application packet.

Step Three:  An academic-planning meeting with the director of the RN to BS program. Call or email the RN to BS office to schedule this meeting.

• Seattle Pacific University RN to BS program application
• $45 application fee 
• Official sealed transcripts of all schools attended since high school
• Professional Recommendation form
• Personal Recommendation form
• Personal essays

All application materials should be sent to:

Seattle Pacific University

RN to BS Program

3307 Third Ave. W., Suite 106

Seattle, WA  98119-1922

Seattle Pacific University and the School of Health Sciences will send you separate official letters of acceptance or denial.

NOTE: Students in the RN to BS program must have their own method of transportation to off-campus locations.

Students are expected to have access to a computer and basic computer literacy including Microsoft Word and Outlook; plus Internet access for email and the ability to participate in computer-assisted instruction (Blackboard) and online literature searches. 

Seattle Pacific University is a private, Free Methodist University and as such does not receive tax subsidization. At SPU, the student must pay the actual cost of education. Scholarship monies and financial aid are available and students are urged to investigate these possibilities through the Student Financial Aid on the first floor of Demaray Hall, or by calling 206-281-2061.

For more information on financing your education, visit Student Financial Services, or refer to these additional scholarship resources (PDF). 

"This is a wonderful program, which offers you every opportunity to succeed. The faculty are very supportive and go above and beyond in making this program a success."

Charanjit Buttar, BS, RN

"The RN to BS program was challenging. Classes renewed my interest and pride in nursing, stimulated exploration in other areas, and opened new avenues to possible career paths. The program is structured for the working adult and flexible to life's previous commitments."

Susan Komac, BS, RN

Meet the RN to BS Faculty & Staff

Sandra Affeldt Cotton, EdD, MS, RN

RN to BS Program Director, Faculty

206-281-2607

800-329-1141

206-281-2767 Fax

Email: affesl@spu.edu

Shelley Bartels
RN to BS Program Assistant
206-281-2829

800-329-1141

206-281-2767 Fax
Email: bartes@spu.edu

Barbara Cheyney, MS, BS, RN

RN to BS Program Adjunct Faculty

206-281-2615

800-329-1141

Email: cheynb@spu.edu

Telephone: 206-281-2027 or 800-329-1141

Fax:  206-281-2767
Email: rnbinfo@spu.edu

Seattle Pacific University
School of Health Sciences

RN to BS Program
3307 Third Avenue West, Suite 106
Seattle, WA 98119-1922