Students considering transferring or changing their major into the College of Nursing should contact an Academic Advisor as early as possible. Early planning is key to ensure eligibility that your courses will not only transfer into our curriculum but will also help toward the sequencing of classes and when to apply to the professional nursing major.
Our traditional nursing program is divided into two parts: pre-nursing and the professional major. Students start in the pre-nursing program and typically complete 2-3 years of prerequisite work as a pre-nursing student before they are eligible to apply to the professional major. The professional major, if admitted, is two years.
To declare pre-nursing, you must have a 2.5 GPA or higher, a grade of “B” or higher in any transferable science and at least 15 total credits completed or in-progress. Email uwmnurse@uwm.edu to meet with an advisor about declaring pre-nursing. 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. Required pre-nursing courses may be taken after the application is submitted, but courses must be completed with a “C” or higher, maintain the minimum required GPAs, and in the intended semester by the start of the professional major if admitted. Pre-nursing Prerequisite Courses *Course must include lab component Our professional major is a competitive program, which means students must apply to the major, and admission is not guaranteed. At UWM we admit students to the professional major twice a year. In fall we admit a maximum of 72 students and in spring we admit a maximum of 112 students. For admission to the professional major, a committee completes a holistic review of your academics, work, volunteer, and leadership experiences. There is no required number of hours for volunteer work, however, it is required and considered when reviewing students for admission. Following the initial academic review, eligible students are invited to complete a series of short interviews and write an essay. The committee reviews applications based on the holistic admission rubric. Meet with an advisor to determine when you should apply to the professional nursing major. Students should watch this information session on the Spring 2021 Professional Nursing Major Application before applying. Apply to professional nursing major here. If you make an appointment to meet with the transfer advisor you will need to submit unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended for unofficial evaluation. Utilize the Transfer Equivalency Database (TED) to see transfer equivalencies that have been set-up for specific schools or visit the Transfer Information System (TIS) for more info. Students looking to transfer or change their major will first meet with our transfer advisor, Katie Nack. Once admitted to UWM and declared a pre-nursing student, you will be assigned an Academic Advisor based on the first letter of your last name. Call (414) 229-5047 or email uwmnurse@uwm.edu to make an appointment. Once your transfer credit is posted to PAWS, schedule an academic advising appointment to learn what courses in which you will need to enroll. Do you require the TEAS, Accuplacer, or an entrance exam? No, we do not require the TEAS, Accuplacer, or an entrance exam. When should I transfer to the College of Nursing? Many courses have specific sequencing; early transfer ensures you will stay on track with your graduation timeline. Complete the Admitted Students Checklist and attend the Transfer & Adult New Student Orientation (TASO). UWM is a large campus and learning how to best navigate your resources ahead of time is ideal. We also recommend you begin finding ways to get connected to the UWM community to enhance your educational experience and make social connections with students in your program:
Submit an official transcript to the Registrar’s Office from each university you have attended. Once your credits are evaluated, they will appear on your UWM transcript in PAWS.
Does UWM require the C.N.A?
No, we do not require applicants to have their C.N.A, however, healthcare experiences are recommended and can help create a more competitive application. Healthcare experiences can be paid or unpaid.
After Applying
For More Information
Katie Nack
Clinical Major, all students A-L, Transfer, and Honors Program
Advisor
414-251-6747
knack@uwm.edu