Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) Program
Associate in Applied Science Degree
to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree
at Western Carolina University
The RIBN curriculum comprises four years in nursing studies. Students graduate with both an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing from Blue Ridge Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Western Carolina University (WCU). Students are dually admitted to both WCU and Blue Ridge Community College for the first three years of the program and at WCU for the final year*.
Students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) after three years at BRCC and completing the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Prior to beginning the RIBN program, students will successfully complete the non-credit University Experience (UE101) course through WCU. Throughout the RIBN program, students must comply with all applicable Academic Regulations as listed in The Record, the WCU Undergraduate Catalog.
This curriculum complies with the standard approved by the State Board of Community Colleges.
There are special admission procedures for the RIBN program. Contact Student Services for additional information.
Fall Semester (14 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACA 122 College Transfer Success | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
CHM 131 Intro to Chemistry or CHM 151 General Chemistry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
CHM 131A Intro to Chemistry lab | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
PSY 150 General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Spring Semester (14 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
ENG 112 Writing/Research in the Discip | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
MAT 152 Statistical Methods I or MAT 171 Pre-Calculus Algebra | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
ART 111 Art Appreciation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
SOC 210 Intro to Soc | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Fall Semester (18 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUR 111 Intro to Health Concepts | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
HEA 110 Personal Health/Wellness | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
BIO 275 Microbiology | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
** Take 3 credits from the Arts/Humanities List below
Spring Semester (16 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY 241 Developmental Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
NUR 112 Health Illness Concepts | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
NUR 211 Health Care Concepts | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
** Take 3 credits from the Arts/Humanities List below
Summer Term (05 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUR 114 Holistic Health Concepts | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
Fall Semester (13 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUR 113 Family Health Concepts | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
NUR 212 Health System Concepts | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
COM 231 Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Spring Semester – Year 3 (10 Credits)
course | class | lab | Clinic | work Exp. | credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUR 213 Complex Health Concepts | 4 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 10 |
*Remainder of credit hours will be completed at Western Carolina University (Online and at Biltmore Park campus) to fulfill University degree requirements and major requirements.
** Arts/Humanities Electives
The following listings for Arts/Humanities Electives apply to Associate in Applied Science degree-seeking students. These electives should be carefully selected with the faculty advisor to ensure proper credit. Some programs of study have specific courses that meet the humanities elective requirement. ASL, foreign language, and public speaking courses cannot count as the sole humanities course in an associate in applied science program.
ART 111 Art Appreciation
ART 114 Art History Survey I
ART 115 Art History Survey II
DRA 111 Theatre Appreciation
DRA 112 Literature of the Theatre
DRA 211 Theatre History I
ENG 231 American Literature I
ENG 232 American Literature II
ENG 241 British Literature I
ENG 242 British Literature II
ENG 262 World Literature II
HUM 123 Appalachian Culture
HUM 160 Introduction to film
MUS 110 Music Appreciation
PHI 210 History of Philosophy
PHI 240 Introduction to Ethics
REL 110 World Religions
REL 211 Intro to Old Testament
REL 212 Intro to New Testament
REL 221 Religion in America
Total Semester Credit Hours in Program: 90