English Composition 2
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →District of ColumbiaNursing
RN to BSN in District of Columbia: the general education credits you can finish online
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
RN-to-BSN programmes in the District build on an RN licence and add general education and upper-level nursing courses. Writing, statistics, psychology and sociology are where outside credit is most often considered. Ask your programme in writing which courses it would take, from which college transcript, before you enrol.
What an RN-to-BSN adds
An RN-to-BSN programme takes a licensed nurse with an associate degree or diploma and adds the courses a bachelor's degree needs. That usually means general education, upper-level nursing courses and sometimes a community health practicum.
The DC Board of Nursing approves RN-to-BSN programmes under 17 DCMR Chapter 56, but each programme sets its own general education list and transfer rules.
Programmes differ in how much of the degree is general education. Some count your associate degree as a block of credit, others review each course. Ask for a written transfer evaluation early, so you know exactly which general education courses remain before you choose where to take them.
General education nurses often still need
Many associate degree nurses finish with fewer general education credits than a bachelor's needs. The common gaps are in writing, statistics and the social sciences.
| Area | Often asked for | UPI Study course |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | A second composition course | English Composition 2 |
| Statistics | An introductory statistics course | Principles of Statistics |
| Social science | Psychology or sociology | Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology |
| Ethics | An ethics course | Ethics in the Social Sciences |
How outside credit reaches a transcript
UPI Study courses are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended. ACE and NCCRS recommend credit; they do not run transcripts. A college that considers recommended credit reviews the course and decides whether to post it.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Your RN-to-BSN programme then decides whether to take that college's transcript, so ask it in writing first.
Questions to ask your RN-to-BSN programme
Ask before you enrol in any course, and keep the replies.
If the programme gives a general answer, such as 'we take transfer credit', ask a follow-up naming the exact course and college. A general policy and a yes for your course are not the same thing.
- Which general education courses do I still need?
- Would you take this course from this college's transcript?
- Is there a cap on transfer credit or on credit from outside sources?
- What grade do you need in transferred courses?
Cost and time
On UPI Study PRO at $99 a month, two general education courses a month means about $198 for four courses over two months, plus any college fee for posting the credit. At UDC Community College, DC residents pay $117 per credit hour plus $430 in fees per term on the schedule labelled Summer 2025.
Compare on total cost and time, including the transcript step, not only the course price.
Working while you study
Most RN-to-BSN students work shifts. Self-paced general education lets you study between shifts and take one course at a time when work is heavy. Finish general education early so the upper-level nursing courses, which are usually run on a set schedule, are not delayed.
Keep a simple record for each course: the name, the provider, the college transcript it will appear on, the finish date and the programme's written answer. Update your degree plan only when the credit shows on a transcript. That way nothing is counted twice and nothing is missed at graduation.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your District of Columbia nursing programme in writing, course by course, whether it would take each UPI Study course via a college transcript, including any online science or lab, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Can I do the general education for an RN to BSN online?
Often, but the programme decides. Many RN-to-BSN programmes take writing, statistics and social science from another college's transcript. Ask your programme in writing which courses it would take and from which transcript before you enrol.
Does the DC Board of Nursing set RN to BSN requirements?
The Board approves RN-to-BSN programmes under 17 DCMR Chapter 56. Each programme sets its own general education list, transfer rules and grades, so the programme's own catalog and advisor are the place to confirm.
Is statistics required for an RN to BSN?
Many programmes ask for an introductory statistics course because nursing research courses build on it. Check your programme's list, and ask in writing whether a statistics course on a partner college's transcript would count.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Principles of Statistics
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Get your programme's written answer first, then start with Statistics and English.
Sources
- 17 DCMR Chapter 54, Registered Nursing (DC Health, 2 September 2022) (official)5402.1: applicant must complete a nursing education program leading to RN licensure approved by the Board under Chapter 56 (or an equivalent US or Canadian board); 5404.1: pass the NCLEX-RN. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.