Professional Nursing Major
Are you ready to apply to the professional nursing major at UW-Milwaukee or UW-Parkside?
These resources are available to guide pre-nursing students during and before the planning and application process. Still, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your advisor for specific questions.
Steps to Becoming a Registered Nurse
How to Apply to the Professional Nursing Major
Students who are close to completing their prerequisites may apply to the Professional Nursing Major.
Items Considered in the Professional Nursing Application
- Academics
- Work/volunteer/leadership experience (No minimum hour expectation. The committee looks for consistency and a pattern of balancing volunteering with school and work. Health care experiences recommended.)
- On-campus essay and series of short virtual interviews
- CNA not required but recommended
- No TEAS or HESI exam as a part of our holistic admission criteria
Rubric
Bachelor of Science Holistic Review for Admission Composite Rubric (PDF)
Application Guidelines
Students should review the below requirements prior to applying to the professional major. Consider meeting with your advisor to discuss questions and concerns.
Details
- Math and English preparatory coursework based on placement test scores
- Math competency (Placement score of 30+ or Math 102/105 or equivalent with “C” or higher)
- Must have an minimum Nursing GPA of 2.75 and at least 2.75 in the required sciences at the time of application and prior to starting the professional major. GPAs are calculated on prerequisites only and not cumulative.
- Must have at least a “C” (2.0) in each pre-nursing prerequisite courses (see below)
- Repeat Policy:
- Courses with a “C-” or lower are considered a failure and need to be repeated.
- A course may only be repeated one time.
- No more than two required courses can be repeated.
- No credit counts as a failure.
- Required pre-nursing courses may be taken after an application is submitted, but courses must be completed with a “C” or higher, maintain the minimum required GPAs, and be in the intended semester by the start of the professional major if admitted
Nursing Prerequisite Coursework
| Course | UWM Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Diversity in Healthcare | NURS 101 | 3 |
| Growth and Development* | NURS 203 | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology I | BIO SCI 202 | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology II | BIO SCI 203 | 4 |
| Microbiology* | BIO SCI 101 | 4 |
| Chemical Science* | CHEM 101 | 5 |
| Survey of Biochemistry* | CHEM 103 | 5 |
| Clinical Nutrition* | BMS 332 | 2 |
| College Writing and Research | ENG 102 | 3 |
| Intro to Psychology | PSYCH 101 | 3 |
| Any Sociology | SOCIOL | 3 |
| Medical Terminology/Language of Medicine | CHPS 222 | 3 |
The timeline for applying to the professional major includes the following items:
Fall Professional Nursing Major Start
(UWM and UW-Parkside)
- November: Professional Major Application available online
- January 2 at 5:00 p.m. CST:
Fall Professional Major Application deadline - February: On-campus interviews and essay
- March: Admission decisions rendered for Fall Application
Spring Professional Nursing Major Start (UWM)
- April: Professional Major Application available online
- July 24 at 5:00 p.m. CST:
Spring Professional Major Application deadline - Early September: Interviews (Virtual)
- Early September (Saturday morning): In-person at UWM Cunningham Hall
- October: Admission decisions rendered for Spring applicants
Resources are available for students applying to the professional major. This includes information sessions, application rubrics and volunteer opportunities.
Information Sessions
Information sessions are held each semester to give students an opportunity to speak with advisors and ask questions. A recorded information session is available below for students to view at any time.
Additional Resources
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Integrity
- Human Dignity
- Civility
- Accountability
- Social Justice
- Excellence
Nursing Student Association (NSA)
Faculty Advisor: Julie Snethen
Student Nurses Association at Parkside (SNAP)
Faculty Advisor: Rochelle Nelson
UW-Milwaukee Resources
UWM Center for Student Experience and Talent
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
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 School 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
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.
