Nursing FAQs

The traditional undergraduate Nursing program is a 6-semester program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Most students begin the traditional BSN program as sophomores. A competitive secondary application process is required for admission into the traditional BSN program.

Approximately 64 students are admitted each semester.

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The College of Nursing may find it necessary to deny admission to a qualified applicant because of enrollment limits in the professional program. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, meeting minimum criteria for admission, including grade point averages, may not be sufficient to be accepted into the nursing major. The College of Nursing does not keep a rolling waiting list from semester to semester. A new application is required for each application deadline date.

We do not keep a waiting list. Students who are not admitted to the Nursing program may reapply at the next admission cycle.

Clinical courses begin in the 2nd semester of the professional nursing program, typically during the 2nd semester of the sophomore year.

The UW-Eau Claire Nursing program uses a wide variety of acute care and community-based clinical sites. The regional hospitals in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Marshfield are highly used for clinical. Smaller out-lying hospitals are also used, as well as public health departments, extended care facilities, residential facilities, schools, and numerous additional community agencies and organizations. Several diverse clinical opportunities are also available at various points in the curriculum. Faculty regularly take students to Rosebud, South Dakota. Clinical experiences begin in a spacious, well-equipped, and technologically advanced skills lab/ clinic/ and clinical simulation area. Students have many computer-assisted supports available to them through-out their curriculum and are encouraged to use the skills lab on an ongoing basis to continue developing the technical skills for practice.

Study abroad opportunities are available to Nursing students through summer and winterim programs to Costa Rica and Puebla, Mexico, as well as several other destinations. A senior semester is available in Harlaxton, England. In addition, Nursing students may apply for any of the traditional study abroad programs, though this may extend the student's program by an additional semester.

In order to be considered for admission to the nursing program, applicants must have:

• Been accepted as a pre-nursing student to the University and are in good standing
• Completed at least 30-semester credits, not including courses for nursing assistant certification, with a total cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00
• Completed at least three required natural science courses, two of which are laboratory science courses, with a grade point average of at least 2.50
• Earned a grade of "C" or better in all courses required for nursing
• Completed all application materials 

Applications to the BSN nursing program are due December 1st and May 1st. Students are encouraged to apply during the semester in which 30 credits will be completed.

Some or all of the pre-nursing courses can be taken at other institutions. Students must complete at least 30-semester credits for the pre-nursing phase of the nursing program and these credits can be transferred in from another institution but must be equivalent to our required courses as determined by UW-Eau Claire's Admissions Office.

If you know you will be taking courses at another institution, contact the College of Nursing (Marcia St. Germaine at 715-836-5515 or stgermml@uwec.edu) before beginning your coursework to plan for integration and equivalency of the courses required at UW-Eau Claire.

• 4 or 5 credit with lab - CHEM 103 General Chemistry or CHEM 105 and CHEM 106
• 3 credit - CHEM 150 Survey of Biochemistry
• 4 credit with lab - BIOL 214 Anatomy & Physiology 1
• 4 credit with lab - BIOL 314 Anatomy & Physiology 2
• 3 credit - BIOL 250 Microbiology
• 3 or 4 credit - MATH 246 Statistics or PSYC 265 Research Methods
• 3 credit - PSYC 230 Developmental Psychology (across the lifespan)

*In order to be eligible to apply to the program, applicants must have completed at least three required natural science courses, two of which are laboratory science courses, with a grade point average of at least 2.50

Please refer to the Transfer Credit Information page and use the Credit Transfer Wizard to determine which courses may transfer to UWEC by entering the course number. If you have further questions about transfer credits, please contact the Admissions Office at 715-836-5415 for General Education courses and contact Marcia St. Germaine at 715-836-5515 or stgermml@uwec.edu for questions about prerequisite Nursing courses.

The application for general admission to the UW-Eau Claire campus is completed online but the application to the College of Nursing is separate and cannot be completed online. Applications for the BSN program are e-mailed to interested students who qualify, as part of an application information session. A student must be accepted into UW-Eau Claire before applying to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.  Please contact Ms. Marcia St. Germaine, Student Services Coordinator, for further information.

CPR certification is not required at the time of application into the nursing program. However, it is required before students can register for their nursing courses after they are admitted. Therefore, it is required soon after they apply and are admitted into the nursing program. CPR certification needs to be kept current the entire duration of the nursing program.

CNA certification is not required at the time of application into the nursing program. However, it is required before students can register for their nursing courses after they are admitted. Therefore, it is required soon after they apply and are admitted into the nursing program. CNA certification does not need to be kept current and can lapse.

The BSN completion program is for nurses with an associate degree or diploma in nursing who want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) to advance professionally and prepare for leadership positions and graduate education. The BSN completion program provides flexibility so that students may pursue their education and continue their employment at the same time.

General education classes may be taken at any college or university whose credits are accepted for transfer to UW-Eau Claire. The majority of nursing courses are taught online in collaboration with UW campuses through the BSN@Home program. There are two required nursing courses taught by UW-Eau Claire faculty. These are hybrid courses, meeting on campus approximately four times per semester.

Students apply to UW-Eau Claire and select the university as their "home" institution. UW-Eau Claire provides all student-related services (e.g., advising, financial aid, registration) as well as the unique practicum and capstone course that gives students an integrative educational experience.

UW-Eau Claire faculty teach the two required UWEC courses while nursing courses in the shared BSN@Home curriculum are taught by faculty from all six UW institutions. Core nursing courses and elective nursing courses are offered each semester and summer session to ensure that students have multiple options for course and program completion.

You will receive your BSN degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, your home institution. The BSN degree is fully approved and accredited by the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.