Associate Degree Nursing Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nursing (RIBN)

Thank you for your interest in the WNC RIBN Nursing pathway at A-B Tech. Students applying to WNC RIBN must meet admission criteria for A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program as well as specific criteria for WCU.

All students must meet the following minimum requirements to be eligible to apply:

• Acceptance into A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program
• General acceptance into Western Carolina University
• Specific WNC RIBN Nursing pathway criteria set forth by WCU:
  • Minimum ACT score of 19 (no test score substitutions accepted).
  • Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If a student has less than 20 credit hours of college coursework, then this requirement will default to the high school unweighted GPA.
  • Minimum ATI TEAS Score of 70.

Students interested in the WNC RIBN Nursing pathway should email amyjparker@abtech.edu

1. I already have a degree (associate's or bachelor's). Is RIBN a good fit for me? Any students interested in A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program should first consult our Student Advising Team for assistance. All students begin in our Pre-Nursing program, at which point a Student Advisor can help you decide if the specific RIBN Nursing pathway criteria is right for you. A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program allows all students the opportunity to pursue general education courses toward a baccalaureate nursing education.
2. What scholarship monies are available for WNC RIBN students? All A-B Tech Nursing students can apply for the "Forgivable Education Loans for Service". Information for that program can be found on the College Foundation of North Carolina website. Also, students can apply for foundation scholarships at A-B Tech. The application period is typically early in the year for the following fall. Students also need to check with their employers to see if there are any tuition reimbursement options, particularly in the healthcare field.
3. If I have taken the ACT before, do I have to re-take it to apply? If you have taken the ACT before and the score meets entry requirements to WCU, you do not have to retake it (there is no expiration on the ACT score). A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program does not require ACT scores to apply.
4. What if my GPA is not over a 3.0? If your unweighted GPA from high school is under a 3.0, you will then complete 20 hours of college-level work. Your college GPA will then be used as part of your WNC RIBN Nursing pathway application. If your cumulative college GPA is under a 3.0, you can consider these three options: retake the class (at the same institution) for a better grade, take enough credits at the "A" level to get a GPA over a 3.0, or look into an academic forgiveness policy. When you email the RIBN advisor, the best option for GPA repair will be explored. A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program does not have a minimum GPA requirement to apply.
5. Can I apply to A-B Tech's Nursing program as well as RIBN? Yes! Because the RIBN Nursing pathway is only one option to apply for A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program, we highly encourage students to consider both RIBN as well as the traditional RN to BSN pathway. We work with each student to determine which pathway will be the best option for applicants to A-B Tech's Nursing program. Both RIBN and the RN-BSN pathway prepare graduates of A-B Tech's Associate Degree Nursing program to take their NCLEX exam and continue on with a baccalaureate education.
6. How do I get started? The next step would be to email amyjparker@abtech.edu.

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

• Six hours from Communication
• Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
• Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
• Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

• Six hours in English Composition
• Six to nine hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
• Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
• Three to eight hours in Mathematics
• Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
• 11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

• Six hours in English Composition
• Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
• Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
• 12 hours in Mathematics
• 12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

• Six hours in English Composition
• Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
• Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
• Three to four hours in Mathematics
• Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

• Students will demonstrate information literacy.
• Students will critique works of human expression.
• Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

• Students will identify processes.
• Students will analyze problems.
• Students will interpret the results.
• Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

• Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
• Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
• Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.

• A-B Tech Policy 203: Assignment of Course Level and Credit
• A-B Tech Procedure 203: Assignment of Course Level and Credit