Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Broward College is part of the Florida College System. It was first founded in 1959 as a way to widen Florida’s two-year college. It wasn’t until 2008 that the school adopted its current name and began to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees. The Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute named Broward College one of the top 10 percent of community colleges in the U.S. in 2012. Serving more than 67,000 students per year, Broward College is home to three campuses, which are connected to additional branches, or partnership centers, throughout Broward County: The Judson A. Samuels South Campus, the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus and the North Campus. International students may also take face-to-face classes from Broward College via one of the school’s four International Centers located in:
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Lima, Peru
Guayaquil and Quito, Ecuador
The school also offers study abroad programs in Vietnam, India, England, Italy, Germany and Spain, allowing students to complete coursework for college credit at universities worldwide, gaining both academic achievements and valuable cultural experiences. Notable Broward College alumni include novelist and Emmy-nominated screenwriter Rita Mae Brown, former Ft. Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle, rock musician Marilyn Manson and Major League Baseball players TOm Magrann, Mike Fiers and Mat Latos.
Broward College Accreditation Details
Broward College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s and associate degrees.
Broward College Application Requirements
Students wishing to pursue an online degree from Broward College must complete a BSN Supplemental Application, submit the application to the RN-BSN Program Office and pay the required fee. Prospective students must also submit an official high school transcript as well as official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended. Applicants must submit a Florida Residency Affidavit providing proof of Florida residency as well as a clear registered nurse license valid in the state of Florida. A minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point is required, and applicants must have previously earned an Associate of Science or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution recognized by Broward College. Once accepted, students must complete the required background check, medical history, drug screening and physical as part of the application process.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The online RN-BSN at Broward College costs $91.79 per credit hour for in-state students and $476.51 per credit hour for out-of-state students. In addition, Broward College is one of the most affordable community colleges in the country, and online students may be eligible for financial aid to help cover the cost of tuition. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships, and Broward College offers benefits for veterans, active service members and their families.
In addition to general scholarships, Broward College offers specific RN-BSN Program scholarships reserved only for RN-BSN students. These include the Lessie Pryor RN-BSN Scholarship, the Dr. Susan B. Hassmiller Nursing Scholarship and the VITAS Healthcare Scholarship.
Online RN to BSN Degree Available
Professional nurses can complete the online RN to BSN degree from Broward College within 12 to 18 months or three semesters. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Students receive combined on-campus instruction with online learning, reducing the time they spend in the classroom. The degree is also complemented by clinical and lab work.
The online RN to BSN degree is designed for RNs who wish to obtain a bachelor’s degree, and students must have a license to practice nursing in the state of Florida. In order to apply for the program, prospective students must also show evidence of a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average. Graduates holding a registered Florida license must also obtain an associate of science degree prior to applying to the online RN-BSN program.
The 123-credit-hour program incorporates the AS and AA lower division coursework as the foundation of the bachelor’s degree. Topics and subjects studied include advanced labs for health assessments, nursing leadership development, research for nurses, nursing theory and pathophysiology/pharmacology. Part-time students may complete the degree in 18 months, while full-time students will earn the degree in approximately four semesters or 14 months.
Students pursuing an online RN to BSN degree from Broward College will take general education courses in wellness, biology, physical science, humanities, social and behavioral science, mathematics and communications. In addition, core requirement courses include principles in nursing leadership and management, community health nursing practicum, community health nursing and nursing perspectives and global trends. Students will also develop their knowledge of nursing research and nursing as a scholar as well as advanced health assessments and laboratories, patho-pharmacology and nursing roles, dimensions and perspectives.
Students have the option of choosing combined face-to-face classes one day a week or fully online classes that are offered in an asynchronous and synchronous format. Practicum or clinical experiences are offered separately. Since the RN-BSN program was designed for the working RN, many students have family responsibilities, and most continue to work in their current positions while pursuing their degrees. Broward College offers a part-time and fully online track for students unable to attend the face-to-face program, but both degrees offer the same high-quality learning and education, regardless of the format.
The RN-BSN program also has a Community Health Practicum, an Advanced Health Assessment lab, a senior nurse Capstone Practicum, and an End-of-Life lab and clinical observational experience. These courses are designed to enhance students’ interdisciplinary and interviewing skills as students will need them to obtain and communicate culturally appropriate and systematic health examinations in selected community-based clinical activities. The Capstone is designed to enhance students’ expertise and knowledge in specific areas of nursing education, management, research and practice.
Students considering pursuing an online BSN from Broward College will benefit from an opportunity for advancement into administrative and/or leadership positions. With a higher degree comes increased earning potential, and graduates will develop additional critical thinking skills, among others, to take with them on a global scale. Those with an online RN-BSN degree will also have an understanding of emerging global trends in the field as well as an expanded knowledge base for serving diverse communities. Finally, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Broward College will learn about and be able to apply advanced techniques for assessing patients health.
Related resource:
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