History

In 2008, Frostburg State University received approval to begin an RN to BSN program.  This program is taught in consecutive semesters delivered in a part-time (6 credits per semester) or full-time (12 credits or more per semester) online format and can be completed in as little as 18 months.  It is a total of 32 hours of core and elective nursing coursework.

Initially, the program had 8 students when it began in fall of 2009.  Enrollment gradually increased, but the largest growth in the program was just after receiving Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation in spring of 2011.  Currently, we have over 400 students enrolled in the program.  In spring 2014 our M.S. in Nursing proposal was approved by the University System of Maryland, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and Maryland Board of Nursing approval.  We began accepting students fall 2014. As of October of 2016, CCNE has officially accredited Frostburg State University's M.S. in Nursing Science Program.

The RN-BSN program was recognized and ranked fifth in the nation as a "Best Buy" in online nursing bachelors programs by GetEducated.com.  All courses in the RN-BSN program have been certified by Quality Matters™, and the MSN courses are in the process of certification.

The department has been awarded over $3.5 million in grant funding to grow and expand the programs and support the faculty.  The most recent funding for FY2016 was granted to support the planning of a nurse practitioner program, develop Associates to Bachelors options (ATB) with community colleges across Maryland, and to develop a Collaborative BSN model with Allegany College of Maryland.

We strive to provide accessible, affordable, quality online education to decrease the barriers that often keep nurses from coming back to school or from pursuing an online degree by way of a comprehensive online assessment, test courses, tutorials, and resources.