RN TO BSN: A Comparison by: Jennifer Scott Faile, RN James Madison University Professional Role Transition – NSG 463

Course Requirements James Madison University Virginia Commonwealth University NURS 301 Nursing Informatics 3 NURS 307 Foundations of Professional Nursing I 3 NURS 308 Foundation of Professional Nursing II 3 NURS 309 Population Health 3 NURS 403 Evidence-based Practice in Health Care 3 NURS 406 Interprofessional Collaborative Practice 2 NURS 408 Ethics, Law and Public Policy: Application to Nursing Practice 3 NURS 409 Population Health: Application to Nursing Practice 2 NURS 462 Advanced Pathophysiological Concepts: Application to Patient Care 3 NURS 477 Leadership and Management in Health Care 4 NURS 488 Clinical and Management Decision-making (University Core Capstone) 3 James Madison University NSG 324 Strategies for Success 1 NSG 333 Health Assessment 3 NSG 462 Issues in Contemporary Nursing 3 NSG 325 Concepts in Aging 3 NSG 463 Professional Role Transition 3 NSG 461 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 3 NSG 464 Introduction to Nursing Research 3 NSG 460 Informatics 3 NSG 471 Leadership and Management in Healthcare 3 NSG 466 Community Health Practicum 1 NSG 469 Caring for the Public’s Health: Community Health Nursing 4

RN to BSN Prerequisite and General Education Requirements for JMU English 111 (English Composition I) English 112 (English Composition II) Biology 141 (Anatomy and Physiology I) Biology 142 (Anatomy and Physiology II) Psychology 230, 231, AND 232 (Developmental Psychology) Philosophy 225, 226 or 227 Sociology 200, 201, or 215 Laboratory Science (4 credit Microbiology or Chemistry) Nursing 108 (or equivalent) Nursing 109 (or equivalent) General Education Courses Required Prior to Graduation Cluster 2 Requirements: (3 classes needed to fulfill requirement; 9 credits total) Human Questions: (Choose 1 class from the following) HIS 111, HIS 112, HUM 201, HUM 202, HUM 215, HUM 259, PHI 100, PHI 101, PHI 102, PHI 200, PHI 211, PHI 212, REL 230 or REL 231 Fine Arts: (Choose 1 class from the following) ART 100, ART 101, ART 105, ART 111, ART 112, ART 201, MUS 121, MUS 122, CST 130, CST 141 Literature: (Choose 1 class from the following) ENG 230, ENG 233, ENG 236, ENG 237, ENG 241, ENG 242, ENG 243, ENG 244, ENG 245, ENG 246, ENG 249, ENG 250, ENG 251, ENG 252, ENG 253, ENG 254, ENG 255, ENG 256, ENG 257, ENG 258, ENG 260, ENG 267, ENG 268, ENG 270, ENG 271, ENG 272, ENG 273, ENG 274, ENG 276, ENG 278, HUM 111, HUM 112 Cluster 4 Requirements: (4 credits total) The American Experience: HIS 121 AND HIS 122 (Both classes needed to fulfill Cluster 4 requirements) -or- Political Science: (Choose 1 class from the following) PLS 130, PLS 135, or PLS 211 Permission to Transfer Courses Form: Once admitted to JMU, students wishing to take general education courses at schools other than JMU must complete the PERMISSION TO TRANSFER COURSES form prior to taking classes. Forms are found at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar/students/forms.shtml

RN to BSN Prerequisite and General Education Requirements for VCU The following courses (17 credit hours) must be completed prior to enrollment:  Statistics (3)  Physiology (4)  Anatomy (4)  English composition (6) A minimum of 24 credit hours from the following 36 credits must be completed prior to matriculation. All general education courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the final nursing course:  Introductory psychology (3)  Developmental psychology (3)  General sociology (3)  Laboratory science (8)  Microbiology (4)  Nutrition (3)  Philosophy (3)  Humanities (9)

Cost per semester comparison James Madison University Undergraduate tuition & fees In-State $ 5,439 Out-of-State $ 13,639 On-Campus Room Rent $ 2,499 14+ Meal Plan $ 2,354 Internet Connection Fee $ 96 Orientation Fee (one time) $ 180 Graduate tuition & fees (per credit hour) In-State $ 473 Out-of-State $ 1,231 Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate tuition & fees In-State $ 5,670 Out-of-State $ 15,356 On-Campus Room Rent $ 5,753 Book and Supply Fee $ 1,464 Personal and miscellaneous $ 1,338 Fees $ 1,140 Loan Fee $ 70 Transportation $ 1,783

FORBE’S RATINGS JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY #125 Top Colleges #75 America's Best Value Colleges #29 in Public Colleges #25 in the South VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY #430 Top Colleges #176 in Research Universities #141 in Public Colleges #95 in the region #79 America's Best Employers

JMU VS. VCU VCU is a Much Larger School: (30,918 vs. 21,227 Total Students) JMU is Slightly More Difficult to Get In: (72.6% vs. 79% Acceptance Rate) JMU Offers Slightly Cheaper In-State Tuition: ($10,018 USD vs. $12,772 USD) JMU Offers Considerably Cheaper Out-of-State Tuition: ($25,152 USD vs. $31,464 USD) VCU Provides Much Better Freshmen Financial Aid: (79% vs. 63% of Eligible Freshmen Receive Aid) JMU Students Graduate More in 6 Years: (81% vs. 57% Graduation Rate) JMU Students Earn Considerably More Salary Post-Graduation: ($52,600 USD vs. $41,400 USD Median Salary) JMU Has Slightly Smaller Class Sizes: (16:1 vs. 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio) VCU Has Hotter Summer Weather: (77 degrees Fahrenheit vs. 72 degrees Fahrenheit) JMU Has Colder Winter Weather: (32 degrees Fahrenheit vs. 40 degrees Fahrenheit)

REFERENCES: Forbes. (2017). James Madison University. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/colleges/james-madison-university/ Forbes. (2017). Virginia Commonwealth University. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university/ JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY. (n.d.). University Business Office. Retrieved from http://www.jmu.edu/ubo/ James Madison University vs Virginia Commonwealth University - Colleges Comparis... (2017, January 22). Retrieved from http://colleges.startclass.com/compare/4382-4436/James-Madison- University-vs-Virginia-Commonwealth-University VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY. Retrieved from https://finaid.vcu.edu/apply/cost/