Professional Nursing Major

• Collaboration
• Creativity
• Integrity
• Human Dignity
• Diversity
• Accountability
• Social Justice
• Excellence

Nursing Student Association (NSA)
Faculty Advisor: Julie Snethen

Student Nurses Association at Parkside (SNAP)
Faculty Advisor: Rochelle Nelson

Pinky Swear PACK Program (formally Love Your Melon)
Advisor: Susan Wolff

UW-Milwaukee & UWM at Waukesha Resources

Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership and Research

Explore volunteer, leadership opportunities and service opportunities on campus and in the community.

Located in the Union room WG28 or visit their website.
UW-Parkside Resources

• Handshake
• Volunteer Center of Racine
• Kenosha County Volunteer Opportunities

How do I meet with my academic advisor?
Call the Student Affairs Office at 414-229-5047 or come to Cunningham Hall 135 to schedule an appointment or ask about walk-in hours.

How long are my science credits good for?
All credit for required courses must have been earned in the 10 years preceding beginning the nursing major. Consult with your advisor to discuss your options if your classes are outside of this time frame.

Do I need to take a foreign language?
If you have successfully completed two years of the same foreign language in high school, then you have completed the UWM College of Nursing foreign language requirement. If you did not complete these two years or if English is your second language, see your advisor to discuss options for completing the UWM foreign language requirement. If you hold a prior degree or started your college coursework prior to Fall 1999, you are exempt from this requirement.

How many general education requirement courses do I need?
Art: 3 credits
Humanities: 6 credits
History: 3 credits
Electives: 4 credits
You can find a listing of the courses that fulfill the GER requirements offered each semester in the Schedule of Classes under “Courses Approved for GER Distribution.” Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field do not need to comply with GER requirements.

Can I take pre-nursing courses at another campus and transfer them in?
Yes. Many prerequisite courses have equivalents at another school. Be sure to contact your academic advisor to ensure that you’re taking appropriate courses. Call the Student Affairs office at 414-229-5047 to schedule an appointment or e-mail your assigned advisor.

Can I repeat a course if I am not happy with my grade?
Prior to the start of the professional major, courses may be repeated only once and with no more than two total repeats. Grades of “C-” or lower MUST be replaced by grades of “C” or higher, however, repeats of courses that have been passed with a grade of “C” or higher do not count against the repeat rules. The higher grade is then calculated in your nursing GPA if done by the clinical application deadline.

Is the nursing program competitive?
Yes. We do not have enough clinical spots for every student, so you must apply to continue into the professional major. This usually occurs during the sophomore year, but you can apply any semester as long as the prerequisite courses will be completed by the beginning of the major coursework. We accept 72 students in the Fall semester and 112 students in the Spring semester with an average of 160 applications each semester. Applications are reviewed based on pre-nursing and science GPA, leadership/work/volunteer experience, a series of short interviews and an on-site essay.

What happens if I’m not accepted into the major?
You can meet with your assigned professional nursing advisor to get feedback on your application. Based on the strengths and weaknesses of your application, your advisor will discuss options for retaking courses, gaining more volunteer experience, or improving writing skills. Most students will decide to apply again the following semester, but some will decide to switch majors or transfer elsewhere.

Do I have to be CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certified?
A CNA license is not required for acceptance into the program. It can be a useful experience for exploring the health care field and gaining familiarity with the profession. If interested, you have the opportunity to sit for CNA licensure after your junior year in the program.

What is the difference between Pre-Nursing and the Professional Major?
Students start off in the pre-nursing program completing two to three years of prerequisite work before being eligible for the professional major. Our two-year professional major is a competitive program, which means students must apply to the major and admission is not guaranteed.

What is needed for admission to the Nursing Professional Major?
In the Fall term, we admit students to UWM at Waukesha. For admission to the professional major, a committee reviews your academics, work, volunteer and leadership experiences. There are no required number of hours for volunteer work, however, it is required and considered when reviewing students for admission. After the initial review, eligible students are invited for an essay and a series of short interviews.

What are my first steps if I’m ready to get started?

1. Meet with an academic advisor to complete a transcript evaluation and develop a course plan outlining what classes you need and a projected timeline to graduation.
2. Start getting experience through work, volunteering, etc. All experiences count, but health care experiences are strongly recommended. We do not require the CNA for admission.

Who can I contact for more information?
New or Future Students: UWM at Washington County Advising wsh-adv@uwm.edu or 262-335-5201

UWM at Waukesha Solution Center wauk-nursing@uwm.edu

Current UWM Students: Log in to Navigate to schedule an advising appointment.