Registered Nursing Program (ATB) Option, Associate of Science

The ATB Option is a selective, dual degree enrollment option that requires application to the CCBC Associate of Science Nursing Program and a separate application to an ATB university partner.  The ATB Option provides an opportunity to begin coursework for the B.S. degree at one of four participating universities while enrolled in the CCBC A.S. Degree Nursing Program. This reduces time for completion of the B.S. degree to approximately two to three additional terms following completion of the A.S. degree. 

The ATB Option is offered in collaboration with the following universities:

  • Frostburg State University – an online option 
  • Notre Dame of Maryland University – a primarily face to face option 
  • Stevenson University – a blended option 
  • Towson University – a primarily face to face option 

Click here for information sheets on each university partnership.

Prospective ATB students are advised to review each university's program of study and apply to the university(ies) that is(are) the best fit for their personal, educational, and professional goals.

The ATB Option is available to qualified students participating in the following CCBC RN program options:

  • Traditional day option – offered on the Catonsville and Essex campuses (starts fall & spring)
  • Evening-weekend option – offered on the Essex campus (fall start only)
  • Online-blended option - offered on the Catonsville campus (fall start only)

(The online-blended option contains didactic content online. Labs and seminars are provided in a face-to-face format.)

All options require clinical rotations.

  • NOTE:  The ATB Option is only available to students who have completed all the ATB Prerequisites and General Education prior to starting the Nursing Program Requirements. Students must earn a C or better in all classes.

ATB students will travel to the partner university to participate in university courses (the exception is the Frostburg ATB partner; all Frostburg courses are offered online).

Program objectives

Students in the ATB Option will meet the End of Program Student Learning Outcomes and Program Competencies for the Associate Degree Nursing - Registered Nursing Program.

Total Credits Required at CCBC for ATB Option: 81*

Semester Sequence

The ATB Option provides an opportunity to begin coursework for the B.S. degree at one of four participating universities while enrolled in the CCBC A.S. Degree Nursing Program. Each university has slightly different requirements, so the semester sequence will vary depending on the university. Students should consult with a nursing academic advisor to determine their appropriate semester sequence.

Students with no previous college coursework should take ACDV 101 during their first semester at CCBC.*

Important Information

Short Description

The ATB Option is a selective, dual degree enrollment option that requires application to the CCBC Associate of Science Nursing Program and a separate application to an ATB university partner.  The ATB Option provides an opportunity to begin coursework for the B.S. degree at one of four participating universities while enrolled in the CCBC A.S. Degree Nursing Program. This reduces time for completion of the B.S. degree to approximately two to three additional terms following completion of the A.S. degree.

Type of Credential

Associate to Bachelor's (ATB) Option

Program Code

S 200

Contacts and Additional Information

Program Directors:

Nursing Program Administrator/Dean
CCBC Essex, Dr. Shawn P. McNamara
443-840-1360 or smcnamara2@ccbcmd.edu

Program Director - Catonsville
Elizabeth Webster
443-840-4447 or ewebster@ccbcmd.edu

Program Director - Essex
Dr. Mary Kay DeMarco
443-840-1433 or mdemarco@ccbcmd.edu

Program Director - Dundalk
Cheryl J. McNamara
443-840-3360 or cmcnamara@ccbcmd.edu

Additional Information:

  • Registered Nursing offered at Catonsville and Essex. Practical Nursing certificate offered only at Dundalk. Paramedic to RN transition course offered only at Catonsville. LPN to RN transition course offered only at Dundalk; successful students then transfer to either Catonsville or Essex.
  • Health Workforce Shortage Program
  • Selective Admission Program
  • Opportunities for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) - Several General Education classes offer PLA. See Portfolio, Departmental Exam, CLEP, DSST, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate. General education classes are required for associate degrees but not for certificates.
  • Articulation and Transfer Agreements

Courses Needed for This Program*

Prerequisites - 26 Credits

The ATB Option requires additional prerequisite and university requirements that result in the award of both an Associate of Science and a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion. Prerequisite Biology and Chemistry classes satisfy the General Education Biological and Physical Sciences requirements. Prerequisites and General Education Requirements must be completed prior to the start of the Nursing Program Requirements. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

General Education Requirements and Electives - 19 Credits

The ATB Option requires additional prerequisite and university requirements that result in the award of both an Associate of Science and a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion. Prerequisite Biology and Chemistry classes satisfy the General Education Biological and Physical Sciences requirements. Prerequisites and General Education Requirements must be completed pror to the start of the Nursing Program Requirements. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

General Education Requirements:
General Education Electives:

Choose a course in this category from the list of approved General Education Courses. 

  • Gen. Ed. Elective - Arts and Humanities (PHIL 240 recommended) 3 Credits.***

Program Requirements and Electives - 36 Credits

Program Requirements:

Exact nursing course requirements will vary based on the ATB University Partner School selected. For example, some ATB Nursing Students will take a higher credit university Nursing Health Assessment course to substitute for CCBC's 2-credit Nursing Health Assessment course. Please see each partner university's specific ATB program of study. 

All courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Notes

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development: Transitioning to College. This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

**BIOL 110 is a General Education course and is a pre-requisite for BIOL 220 and BIOL 230. The option to challenge or receive a waiver for BIOL 110 can be requested through the Biology Department. (Different programs within the School of Health Professions have different Biology requirements; these are noted in each specific program of study.)

  Transfer students who have completed BIOL 220 and/or BIOL 230 should consult with a nursing academic advisor.

***Student should consult university partner Information Sheets or meet with a nursing advisor when selecting electives to best meet specific university requirements.

ATB students completing the Nursing Courses at CCBC will earn the Associate of Science Degree and will have earned a portion of the credits required for the Bachelor's Degree.  They must sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and successfully pass in order to complete the requirements for the Bachelor's Degree.

The exact number of CCBC credits will vary based on the ATB university partner selected.

Additional Credits Required at University for B.S. Degree: 30-33 Credits

To graduate with the B.S. degree there is a minimum of 30-33 credits that must be taken at the selected partner university. Some of these will have been completed during the Associate Degree portion of the program; numbers will vary depending on university partner selected. ATB students may have the option to take other university requirements for the bachelor's degree at CCBC.  Please refer to partner university Information Sheets for exact number of credits required.  

School of Health Professions Policies

Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code; exhibit professional behavior; communicate effectively in English; provide proof of health insurance, immunizations, and a tuberculosis (TB) test; and submit to a criminal background check and drug testing. Students are expected to pay the costs associated with these requirements.

Admission

Applications for all School of Health Professions programs, except Dental Hygiene and Physician Assistant, are processed in a Central Application Service called CCBC CAS. The link to the CAS and the application instructions are located in the program admissions packet at the School of Health Professions website. You will need a CCBC student ID number and a CCBC student account password to complete the application. If you have questions about the CCBC CAS process, contact the School of Health Professions Admissions Office at (443) 840-1989 or read the FAQ selections at the bottom of each page inside the CAS application.

Admissions Process for Nursing Program - ATB Option

Admission to the ATB Option requires two applications:  an application to the CCBC Registered Nursing Program and a separate application to the ATB University partner(s) of choice. Admission to an ATB  university partner is contingent upon acceptance to the CCBC Registered Nursing Program.                   

Please refer to Admissions Process for Associate Degree Nursing - Registered Nursing Program.  Please refer to each partner university's Information Sheet link for the admission process to that university.

Application Deadlines - ATB Option

Admission into the ATB Option is competitive and takes place in the fall and spring each year.  Students must meet deadlines for both the Registered Nursing Program and the University partner(s) of choice. NOTE:  Application for the Evening/weekend Program and the Online Program occurs only once a year for fall admission.

Deadline for the TEAS Test for the Registered Nursing Program:

For Fall Nursing Program Start:

For Spring Nursing Program Start:
  • January 15th 
  • August 15th

Deadline for the application for the CCBC Registered Nursing Program:

For Fall Nursing Program Start:

For Spring Nursing Program Start:
  • January 31st for nursing application
  • August 31st for nursing application

Deadline for the University partner application for the ATB Option:

For Fall Start:

For Spring Start:
  • January 31st
  • August 31st

Admissions Criteria - ATB Option

Admission to the ATB Option is competitive and requires that students meet criteria for both the CCBC Registered Nursing Program and the ATB University partner(s) of choice. Please refer to Admissions Criteria for Associate Degree Nursing - Registered Nursing Program. 

ATB Option Admission Criteria

  1. Admission to the CCBC Registered Nursing Program
  2. Completion of all the ATB General Education and Additional Program Requirements prior to starting the Nursing Course Requirements
  3. GPA of 3.0 or higher in the ATB General Education and Additional Program Requirements