Academics

Bachelor of Science Program

Admission

Prospective Freshmen

High school students interested in a career in nursing should pursue a well-rounded and rigorous program with emphasis in mathematics, science, social studies, humanities, foreign languages, and communication skills (oral and written). Chemistry, biology, and advanced biology are strongly recommended. Admission to the university is competitive and selective. There are minimum course requirements for application; however, most students admitted have completed a significantly larger number of courses in all areas. Freshman are admitted with the pre-nursing (PRN) classification.

Prospective Transfers

A prospective transfer student who is not yet eligible to apply to the nursing major, but who has at least 24 college credits, may be admitted as a Pre-Nursing (PRN) student. Students wishing to enter UW-Madison with the PRN classification must apply to the University by February 1 for summer and fall sessions and October 1 for spring admission. This classification does not guarantee acceptance to the nursing program.

Prospective transfer students are encouraged to attend a Transfer Academic Information Session. These sessions will cover the prerequisite courses students must complete for School of Nursing admission consideration. Students will also learn about the admission policies and expectations for the nursing program. Visit www.visitbucky.wisc.edu for more information.

If students are considering transferring to UW-Madison, they should make sure that they are taking the equivalent prerequisite coursework in order to apply. If you are attending a UW College or a Wisconsin Technical College System campus, please use the Transfer Information System at www.uwsa.edu/tis to view transfer agreements or determine equivalent courses.

Students attending schools outside of the UW College or Wisconsin Technical College System may request a course equivalency by contacting our office via e-mail at: ugadmit@son.wisc.edu. Applicants attending schools outside of the UW College or Wisconsin Technical College System may be requested to supply a course description and syllabus in order to have courses equated by the School of Nursing. This information will help determine if a student is admissible.

Applying to the School of Nursing

Admission to the nursing major is available only in the fall semester. Applicants must meet minimum eligibility requirements; however, obtaining or exceeding minimum criteria does not guarantee admission. In recent years, the number of qualified program applicants has exceeded the number who can be admitted to the program. The deadline for applying to the School of Nursing is February 1.

Individuals may be considered pre-nursing students in the fall, spring, and summer sessions providing they enter as beginning freshman or as transfer students with more than 24 college credits. Pre-nursing classification is not a guarantee of later admission to the nursing major.

Currently Enrolled UW-Madison Students:

All students currently enrolled on the UW-Madison campus regardless of their academic program can apply to the nursing major.

Transfer, Special Students, and Second Degree Applicants:

Applicants not currently enrolled at UW–Madison must complete two applications in order to be considered for admission to the nursing major.

1. University of Wisconsin Application
   Applicants must apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Applications to UW–Madison are handled by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Apply online at: http://www.apply.wisconsin.edu. On the University application, applicants should select nursing as their intended major. The deadline date to apply to the University for fall or summer is February 1st and October 1st for the spring session.
2. School of Nursing Program Application
   The application to the School of Nursing can only be accessed after the Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives the applicant's University application. Access to the nursing program application requires a UW-Madison NetID. A NetID is issued 48 hours after the Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives the application to University.

Application to the Nursing Major

Admission to the School of Nursing is determined by a holistic review of each applicant's qualifications. Prior to completing the School of Nursing application, applicants must first confirm that they meet the academic requirements and prepare a personal statement. Information regarding these requirements is listed below.

Academic Requirements:

• Completion of a minimum of 54 semester degree credits of previous college work by the end of spring semester with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75. Students must also have a 2.75 cumulative GPA at the time of application.
• Completion of the following prerequisites with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 at time of application and by the end of spring semester. At least four of the seven prerequisites must be completed by the end of fall semester 2011 and all seven prerequisites must be completed by the end of spring semester 2012 . UW-Madison equivalents are noted in parentheses:
  
  
  1. Chemistry (Chemistry 108 or 103)
  2. Microbiology (Microbiology 101)
  3. Human Anatomy (Anatomy 328)
  4. Human Physiology (Physiology 335)
  5. Introductory Psychology (Psychology 202)
  6. Introductory Sociology (Any introductory sociology class)
  7. Human Growth and Development (Ed Psych 320 or 321) or (HDFS 362 or 363)

Personal Statement:

The personal statement gives students the opportunity to share what makes them uniquely qualified to be admitted to the School of Nursing. The personal statement is divided into four questions and must be submitted at the same time you complete the online application. For more information, download the 2012 admissions cycle : UW-Madison School of Nursing Personal Statement.

School of Nursing Program Application:

Click here to view screen prints of the fall 2012 nursing application prior to applying.

The fall 2012 application is closed. The fall 2013 application is available beginning December 1, 2012 through 4:30 p.m. CST on February 1, 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For more information about the 2012 admissions process, download: Frequently Asked Questions.