The mission of the Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is to develop professional nursing leaders in all areas of practice who can apply new and/or past nursing knowledge and build upon existing competencies. The B.S. in Nursing is designed to prepare nurse to function both independently and interdependently with other professionals in a wide variety of settings, and to meet present and future health care needs of society. The program is designed to articulate with community college programs and provide a baccalaureate completion program for licensed registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing or its equivalent. The RN to BSN option is designed to articulate with community college programs and provide a baccalaureate completion program for licensed RNs with an associate degree in nursing or its equivalent. The BSN framework emphasizes the practice of professional nursing, including the design of nursing systems to provide assistance to individuals, families, groups, communities and populations that are unable to meet either self-care or dependent-care needs without nursing intervention. Students are individuals already licensed by the state to practice as RNs who are seeking to advance their nursing knowledge and education. Baccalaureate education in nursing prepares for the practice of professional nursing in multiple sites and with a variety of clientele. The curriculum provides students an opportunity to broaden their base of liberal education through upper division General Education and elective courses. In addition, nursing courses will enhance knowledge of human development, assessment skills, theories of nursing, ethics and current issues in the practice of professional nursing, community health, leadership and research.