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.

• Preparatory coursework based on placement test scores. Math Competency (Placement score of 30+ or Math 105 or equivalent with “C” or higher).
• Must have a minimum nursing GPA of 2.75 and at least a 2.75 in the required sciences at the time of application and prior to starting the professional major. Only calculated based on the prerequisites listed below.
• Must have at least a “C” (2.0) in each pre-nursing prerequisite course

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

• NURS 101: Cultural Diversity in Healthcare
• NURS 102: Perspectives in Healthcare
• NURS 203: Growth and Development
• PSYC 101: Into to Psychology
• SOCIOL 101: Sociology
• ENG 102: Advanced Composition
• Social Science Elective
• NURS 251: Genetics and Genomics
• BIOSCI 202: Anatomy and Physiology I*
• BIO SCI 203: Anatomy and Physiology II*
• BIO SCI 101 Microbiology*
• CHEM 101: Chemical Science*
• CHEM 103: Survey of Biochemistry*
• BMS 332: Clinical Nutrition

*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.

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.

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.

• For specific questions regarding the transferability of courses not listed on these sites, contact the Registrar’s Office using their online form.
• Meet with your Academic Advisor to understand how your transfer credits will be utilized within the required curriculum of your program. Your advisor may in turn consult with the appropriate faculty to determine the use of transfer credits within your track of study.

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.

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.

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.