The School of Nursing, established in 1924, is the leading nursing research institution in Wisconsin and a crucial part of the state’s health care system.

The school offers a full array of degree programs; the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), the doctor of nursing practice (DNP), and the doctor of philosophy in nursing (PhD), along with several graduate-level certificate programs.

Undergraduate (BSN) programs include:

• Traditional BSN: a four year program
• Accelerated BSN: a 12-month program for second-degree candidates
• RN to BSN: for registered nurses who hold an associate's degree in nursing and wish to earn the baccalaureate degree. 

Additionally, options exist for honors study in the major, as well as joint programs whereby students can earn the master of public health along with the BSN or transition directly to the PhD program via the Early Entry PhD Option.

Student life pairs the educational and social resources of a large, world-class university with a supportive environment at the school. Students receive comprehensive support services related to advising, program planning, clinical placements, career services, financial aid, and post-graduation credentialing.

World-renowned facilities for clinical practice and research are available in and around Madison. These include University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, American Family Children's Hospital, UW Carbone Cancer Center, and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital; hospitals and clinics in urban and rural settings; long-term care facilities; schools; and public health agencies. The university’s location in Wisconsin's capital offers additional opportunities in state government and policy making.

On campus, Signe Skott Cooper Hall, the home of the School of Nursing's, has state-of-the-art classrooms, simulation labs, meeting and research facilities, and social gathering spaces in an environment dedicated to the health and wellness of students, faculty, staff, and the communities and populations we serve.

The school's mission is to develop nurses leaders, innovators, and advocates for the profession and society through research, education, practice, policy, and outreach.

Degrees/Majors/Certificates

Entering the School

Admission to UW–Madison

All prospective UW–Madison nursing students must apply through the central Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Pre-Nursing Freshmen

Students who indicate interest in the nursing major on their UW–Madison application will be admitted to the School of Nursing as pre-nursing (PRN) students. In addition, students may indicate interest in the nursing major when registering for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). The School of Nursing is the academic home for pre-nursing students, providing orientation, academic advising, academic support. Students complete nursing prerequisite courses and general education requirements in preparation to apply to the nursing major. Most pre-nursing students apply to the nursing major midway through their second year to enter the two-year Traditional BSN program at the start of their third year.

Pre-Nursing Transfers

Students may transfer to UW–Madison as pre-nursing students. As with pre-nursing freshmen, transfer students have an academic home in the School of Nursing as they work to complete prerequisites and general education requirements in preparation to apply to the two-year Traditional BSN program.

Second-degree Candidates

Students seeking to earn a second degree in nursing can apply directly to either the Traditional BSN program or the Accelerated BSN program upon completing necessary admission requirements. Second-degree candidates must be admitted directly into the nursing program; they cannot enter UW–Madison as pre-nursing students.

Admission to the Nursing Program

Traditional BSN

As students complete the requirements to be eligible to apply to the nursing program, they apply to the two-year Traditional BSN program. To be eligible to apply, students must complete the necessary prerequisite courses and have the minimum 2.75 cumulative and prerequisite GPAs; complete details on the Traditional BSN admission requirements and application process can be found at Traditional BSN How to Get In.

Accelerated BSN for Second-Degree Candidates

Second-degree candidates can apply for the Accelerated BSN program. This is a 12-month intensive baccalaureate program that offers the quickest route to licensure as a registered nurse (RN) for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree or graduate degree in a non-nursing discipline. Students must complete nursing prerequisite courses and the university General Education Requirements, and have the minimum GPAs, to be eligible to apply. Complete details on the accelerated BSN admission requirements and application process can be found at Accelerated BSN How to Get In.

RN to BSN (Collaborative, BSN@Home)

Registered nurses who have an associate's degree in nursing, equivalent degree, or diploma in nursing from an accredited nursing program can apply to enter the BSN@Home program to earn their bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Complete details on the BSN@Home admission requirements and application process can be found at Collaborative BSN (BSN@Home) How to Get In. 

Current UW–Madison Students

First semester students without a GPA and other students with at least a 2.75 cumulative and nursing prerequisite GPA may transfer into the School of Nursing as pre-nursing students. Students wishing to declare (change classification) must meet with a pre-nursing academic advisor before the 12th week of the semester in order to be applied to that semester. Requests made after the 12th week will take effect at the start of the following semester.

Students who are not in the School of Nursing may also apply for the Traditional BSN program without being pre-nursing students first. However, students declared as pre-nursing are assigned to pre-nursing advisors and have priority enrollment into select prerequisite courses.

For more information and to request declaration to pre-nursing, students should contact the nursing Office of Academic Affairs at 608-263-5202 or academic.affairs@nursing.wisc.edu.

Policies and Regulations

The students, faculty, administration, and staff of the School of Nursing are part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's academic community, and as such, are subject to the policies, rules, and regulations of the university. In addition, the school and its respective programs may, as deemed necessary, develop their own policies and procedures to augment those of the university. Following are the specific School of Nursing policies and regulations that expand upon or differ from the policies of the university as a whole.

Academic Status

Academic Actions (Warning, Probation, Drop)

Every student (pre-nursing and nursing) is expected to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in each term. Students who maintain this average are considered in good academic standing. Failure to earn this minimum GPA will result in the academic action of warning, probation, or dropped (academically dismissed). Students must be in good academic standing in order to be eligible for graduation.

If not on warning and:

1. Earns a GPA in a semester of 1.75–2.49 = warning
2. Earns a GPA in a semester session of less than 1.75 = probation

If on warning and:

1. Earns a GPA in a semester of 1.75–2.49 = probation
2. Earns a GPA in a semester of less than 1.75 = dropped from the program

If on probation and:

1. Earns a GPA in a semester of 2.5 or above but cumulative GPA remains under 2.5 = continued probation
2. Earns a GPA in a semester of less than 2.5 or a nursing cumulative GPA below 2.5 = dropped from the program

In addition to the academic actions detailed above, nursing students (Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN, and Collaborative BSN) are placed on probation if they:

1. Earn a grade of D, F or NC in any NURSING course, and/or
2. Earn a nursing cumulative GPA below 2.5

Good Academic Standing

To be in good academic standing, students must maintain:

• a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, and
• a nursing cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, and
• a GPA of 2.5 or above in the semester just completed

Dean's Honor List

The purpose of the Dean's Honor List is to recognize superior academic achievement of undergraduate students. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.75 on a semester load of not fewer than 12 credits in order to be placed on the Dean's Honor List. A notation of Dean's Honor List will appear on the student’s grade report and transcript. Students who earn a semester GPA of 3.25–3.74 on 12 or more credits will receive a congratulatory statement on their end-of-semester grade report form.

Graduating with Distinction

Graduation with Distinction will be noted on the transcript of students who earned 60 or more credits at UW–Madison and a GPA that places them in the top 20 percent of those graduating from the School of Nursing that term.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

The Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for all Nursing programs is designed to promote academic excellence and ensure student support and success, while maintaining the highest standards of nursing education. 

Course Repeat: Students who fail to meet the minimum grade required for a course will be required to retake the course during the next term it is offered. Students will work with the Academic Affairs to determine when the course can be taken next and develop a modified progression plan.

Single Course Repeat:  A student may repeat a single nursing course only once in their program.

Dismissal: If a student earns a grade of D, F, or NC (no credit) twice in the same nursing course or earns a grade of D, F, or NC in two different nursing courses during their academic program, they will be dismissed from the program.

Appeals Process: If a student believes that extenuating circumstances have contributed to their dismissal from the program, they may follow the established appeals process.

Progression Requirements

At the School of Nursing, we understand that certain circumstances or individual needs may require students to deviate from the standard academic program. This is referred to as "modified progression." Modified progression aims to accommodate specific student needs, exceptions, or unique situations. Our aim is to support students in achieving their educational goals while ensuring their unique needs are accommodated through the modified progression process. Students are encouraged to communicate openly and proactively with academic advisors.

Request for Modified Progression: Students who need a modification to their program's progression may initiate the process by discussing their requirements with their academic advisor, Director of Advising, or the Assistant Dean. 

Assessment and Approval: Modified progression plans are carefully assessed, considering the unique needs of the student. The decision to approve or deny the request is based on individual circumstances. 

Course Plan Development: If the modified progression is approved, the student will collaborate with the Director of Advising or the Assistant Dean to create a customized course plan. This plan will consider the student's needs, course prerequisites, and available course offerings. 

Medical Conditions:  In cases where a modified progression plan is necessitated by a medical condition, the plan must consider the student's abilities, as outlined in the School of Nursing's Essential Functional Abilities Standards. 

Professional Standards

All School of Nursing faculty, staff, and students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional behaviors and ethics. Honesty, integrity, and ethical conduct are central to the practice of professional nursing. Students should conduct themselves according to the standards expected of members of the professional community to which they aspire. The Professional Standards and Behavior Code for Nursing students applies to students whether on campus, in practicums, or in their personal life, as behaviors can significantly impact the School of Nursing program. Inappropriate behavior may be grounds for failure to progress, dismissal, and/or denial of the degree in nursing. Separate and apart from a violation of the Professional Standards and Behavior Code, students may also face University disciplinary action, as noted above, with regard to the same action.

Petitions, Appeals, and Grievances Procedures

Section One: Petitions

If a student in the School of Nursing wishes to request an exception to a School of Nursing academic policy or regulation they should first consult their academic advisor. Then, the student must formally submit their request using the Petition for Special Consideration form. Exception requests could be related to academics (i.e. dropping a course or withdrawing after the deadline etc), clinicals/compliance (i.e. waiver for specific compliance requirement), or admission to one of the School of Nursing’s academic programs.

Exceptions to established policies, regulations, and/or program requirements should be rare and will be considered on an individual case by case basis.  They will be reviewed by the School of Nursing’s Academic Affairs office. Students will receive communication regarding next step within 10 business days.

Section Two: Appeals

Appeals are limited to requests to continue in the curriculum after being dropped from the program and/or course grade appeals.

Drop Appeals

Any student who feels they should not have been dropped from the program has the right to file an appeal. The appeals procedure is available for students to provide additional information regarding their circumstances which have contributed to their dropped status. The appeal procedure is described below. Throughout the appeal process, the student (hereby referred to as appellant) may be accompanied by a support person. 

Course Grade Appeals

A student who believes a grade received in a Nursing course was an error or not consistent with guidelines outlined in the syllabus or campus standards has the right to appeal the grade.

The student should first speak with the course faculty member in an effort to resolve the issue informally. This must be done within 10 business days of the grade posted to the students record. During this informal process both student and faculty may consult with the Associate or Assistant Deans for Academic Affairs to seek resolution of the issue.

If the student remains dissatisfied with the grade, the student has the option to initiate the formal appeal procedure. To do this, the student (hereby referred to as appellant) must submit the appeal, as outlined below. 

Filing Appeal

1. The student must submit a petition for special consideration form within 10 business days of notification of academic status or grade posting. The appeal must include:
   1. Precise grounds on which the appeal is based.
   2. Circumstances associated with the need to appeal.
   3. Arguments supporting the appeal.
   4. Description of proposed remedial actions to be taken to improve the student's academic performance.
   5. The appellant may also submit letters of support from persons knowledgeable about the appellant's current and/or past academic work and/or other matters related to the appellant's academic performance. Any such letters must be submitted to the Assistant Dean via email by the same deadline.
2. Within 15 business days after receiving the appeal, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs will assemble a committee. The committee will review the appeal and related materials, and may request additional information from the appellant and/or request them to appear before the committee. If requested to attend a committee meeting, the appellant may bring a support person to the appeal meeting and must notify the Assistant Dean for Academic affairs at least three business days prior to the meeting. The appellant's chosen support person is limited to providing advice and support to the appellant.
3. Once all committee meetings are complete, the committee will send a written report of the committee's recommendations to the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs within 15 business days. The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs will take the committee's recommendation and issue a decision on the appeal. The decision will be communicated by email to the student within 10 business days after receipt of the committee's recommendation.
4. If the appeal is granted, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, or designee, will discuss with the appellant any stipulations (binding) and recommendations (non-binding) for continuation in the program. If the appeal is denied, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs or designee will discuss appropriate next steps with the appellant. If the appeal is denied, the student may choose to appeal the decision; the appeal will be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The written document must include specific justifications regarding the grounds of the appeal, which are limited to:
   1. School policies were incorrectly applied,
   2. Decision is contrary to state or federal law,
   3. Proper appeal procedures were not followed, or
   4. Unfounded, arbitrary, or irrelevant assumptions of fact regarding the appellant's performance were made by the appeals committee. Appellant must also identify specific aspects of the decision that they believe meet the criteria cites as the basis for appeal.

The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs will provide the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with a copy of the initial grievance, the committee's recommendation, and the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs’s decision. No new information relevant to the grievance may be introduced to or considered by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shall notify the student and the committee of the decision in writing within 30 business days. The Associate Dean’s decision is final. 

Section Three: Grievances

The following School of Nursing Student Grievance Policy and associated procedures are designed for use in response to individual student grievances regarding faculty or staff in the School of Nursing.

Any individual student who feels they have been treated unfairly by a School of Nursing faculty or staff member has the right to file a grievance and receive a timely response addressing their concerns. Any student may use these grievance procedures, except student employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.  The grievance procedure is available to resolve student concerns regarding inequitable treatment that have not been satisfactorily resolved through the informal resolution process or where the student believes that an informal resolution would not be productive. Throughout the grievance process, the student may be accompanied by a support person. The use of this grievance procedure shall not prevent the student from seeking redress through another administrative or legal process.

For grievances regarding discrimination based on protected bases (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, etc.), contact the Office of Compliance (https://compliance.wisc.edu/eo-complaint/).

For grievances or concerns regarding sexual harassment or sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking and sexual exploitation), contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program within the Office of Compliance.

For grievances that involve the behavior of a student, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Dean of Students Office at https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/.

For grievances about, or directed at, faculty or staff in the School of Nursing, students should follow these steps:

Informal Grievance Resolution

Any student in the School of Nursing who believes they have been treated inequitably is encouraged to resolve the matter informally. The student should first talk with the person or group at whom the grievance is directed in an attempt to resolve the issue informally. The student may contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for assistance in resolving the matter informally. If students are unable to resolve concerns informally, a student may follow the formal grievance procedure. 

Formal Grievance Procedure

1. The student must submit a grievance by email to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within 15 business days of the alleged unfair treatment. To the fullest extent possible, a formal written grievance needs to contain a clear and concise statement of the issue(s) involved as well as the relief sought.
2. Within 30 business days after receiving the grievance, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will arrange for a committee meeting. The committee may request a written response from the person or group at whom the grievance is directed, may ask for additional information from any or all parties involved, may request that the parties involved appear before the committee, and/or may take other steps in attempting to resolve the grievance.
3. Once all committee meetings are complete, the committee will send a written report of the committee's recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. 
4. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will take the committee’s recommendation and issue a decision on the grievance. The decision will be communicated by email to the student within 10 business days after the receipt of the committee’s recommendation. 
5. If a student chooses to appeal the decision, the appeal will be directed to the Dean of the School of Nursing. The student must submit a written appeal, by email, to the Dean within 10 business days upon being sent the decision from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The written document must include specific justifications regarding the grounds of the appeal. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will provide the Dean with a copy of the initial grievance, the committee's recommendation, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs’ decision. No new information relevant to the grievance may be introduced to or considered by the Dean. The Dean shall notify the student and the committee of the decision by email within 30 business days. The Dean’s decision is final.

Clinical/Experiential Learning Courses

All nursing students are required to complete credit hours in the clinical setting under the supervision of a nursing professional. In the School of Nursing, the term experiential learning is used to describe the clinical course experience. These clinical experiences support the mission of the School of Nursing, integrating practice and coursework, to provide a comprehensive nursing education. 

Compliance Requirements

The School of Nursing is committed to ensuring all nursing students are compliant with national and state guidelines for personnel providing nursing care, as well as additional/specific requirements mandated by the school’s clinical affiliates as set forth in the clinical affiliation agreements. Therefore, all nursing students are required to be in full adherence to the school’s compliance program while enrolled in the nursing program. Students will be held accountable for complying with the clinical eligibility requirements prior to entering the program and throughout their program of study. All students are required to keep their compliance documents up to date as an essential part of their professional responsibility for patient safety. Review the Nursing Student Compliance Program for complete details.

Clinical Placements

Students are assigned to clinical placement sites based on the School of Nursing's selection of clinical sites specific to the learning objectives of the course, site characteristics, and availability. Students need to be prepared to travel up to 90 miles from the School of Nursing and have varied schedules including evenings, nights and weekends. Clinical shifts may be up to 12 hours long. The School of Nursing secures clinical placements for all students. Students are not allowed to arrange their own clinical placements.

Clinical Hour Completion Within the Term/Rotation

Experiential learning/clinical work required for School of Nursing courses must be completed during the term of enrollment. These official terms and dates are when the faculty have effort allocated to course instruction and also when our clinical partners have agreed to engage with students in clinical rotations. Per the university’s Academic Calendar, there are three terms each academic year: fall, spring, and summer.  Clinical work and clinical hours must be completed within the term dates.  It is not allowed to start clinical work prior to the first day of instruction or to complete clinical work after the last day. Exceptions may be made in the case of extenuating circumstances or if a student is assigned an Incomplete grade for the course. To request an exception to this policy, students must submit a petition for special consideration. 

Transportation

The School of Nursing recognizes that students need educational experiences beyond those available in hospitals in Madison, Wisconsin. In answer to this educational need, and in order to secure enough clinical sites for all students, the school places its students in a variety of venues in and beyond Madison. This includes ambulatory sites, clinics, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, geriatric facilities, school districts, nursing homes, etc. This gives our students comprehensive exposure to a broad range of patients, illness, and care. Nursing students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from their clinical sites. Locales may be up to 90 miles from Madison. Therefore, nursing students are required to have (1) a valid driver’s license, and (2) individual access to a car. Students are responsible for all transportation costs incurred, including gas and parking fees. Students with extenuating circumstances that have an impact on their clinical transportation options (e.g., driving/medical restrictions) should use the Petition for Special Consideration to request an accommodation or exception to the transportation policy. There is no guarantee the school will be able to honor such requests/conditions, and exceptions are granted in very rare circumstances.

Uniforms

Nursing students are required to purchase the approved School of Nursing uniform. Lab coats embroidered with the school logo are also required and are worn when students are on their clinical units doing clinical preparation and during most community clinical experiences. In addition to the uniform requirements, there are also professional appearance guidelines for students.

Safe Clinical Performance

A student who demonstrates unsafe nursing practice may be dismissed at any time from the clinical area. Unsafe clinical practice is defined as any behavior determined by faculty or a preceptor to be potentially detrimental to the patient or to the healthcare agency. Reports of unsafe clinical performance will be routed through the course professor and/or the course coordinator to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs who will work with the faculty and student to determine the appropriate outcome, which may include immediate removal from the course and subsequent implications for academic progression.

Student Invasive Procedures

Students may not practice invasive procedures on themselves, other students, faculty, preceptors, staff, and/or any other unauthorized individuals. This includes, but is not limited to, any invasive procedures that require needles, syringes, and/or intravenous supplies; nasogastric tube insertion; catheterization; etc. During some non-invasive experiences, such as physical assessment, listening to a heartbeat, or taking a blood pressure, students may be asked to act as practice participants. If a student has any objection to providing this experience, they should notify the instructor immediately so that an alternate experience can be provided.

Courses and Enrollment

Enrollment

The Office of the Registrar publishes university deadlines for adding and dropping individual courses, withdrawing (from all courses), and selection options such as pass/fail and audit.  Changing enrollment can have consequences for academic standing, tuition, progress toward degree, etc.  Students are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor or the Director of Advising in the School of Nursing prior to initial enrollment and before making any changes to enrollment.  Exceptions to or extensions of the university deadlines may only be requested via the Petition for Special Consideration.

Attendance

Students admitted to the School of Nursing are entering a professional program. Commitment to full participation in the learning environment is an essential component of what will become a style of life-long learning. Attendance in nursing courses is a student obligation and students are responsible for attending all classes. Students will not be excused from required coursework for personal/family events, non-emergent medical situations, work obligations, or because of non-compliance. In extraordinary circumstances, an absence may be granted at the discretion of Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing. 

Didactic Course Attendance

In most didactic courses, attendance and/or participation are factored into the grading process. Absences may place students in jeopardy of not meeting course learning outcomes and thus successfully completing the course. Students should review each course syllabus for specific policies related to absences. 

Experiential Learning Attendance

It is the expectation that students attend all experiential learning activities as clinical learning is essential to the completion of the nursing program. If a student must miss an experiential learning session due to an extraordinary circumstance, a make up experience may be provided/required (see guidelines below). Students should review each course syllabus for specific policies related to absences. 

Credit/No Credit Grades

Some courses are graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. The transcript for the course will indicate either CR (meaning the student earned credits for the course) or N (meaning the the student did not earn any credit for the class). Students may not take such courses on any other basis.

Concurrent Registration and Enrollment

Students may enroll to earn degree credit concurrently at UW–Madison and any other accredited postsecondary school, including the UW–Extension. 

Independent Study

Students interested in an independent study are responsible for identifying their area of interest or question, establishing objectives for their learning experience, and developing a learning contract with the faculty member. All independent studies require the consent of the instructor. Approval forms are available on the School of Nursing website.

Registration Changes

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor or the academic dean in the School of Nursing prior to initial enrollment and before making any changes to enrollment. Exceptions to or extensions of the university deadlines may only be requested via the Petition for Special Consideration.

Reentry

Any student who leaves the School of Nursing and wishes to return after an absence of one semester or more must submit a reentry application with the UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Permission to reenter is dependent on program capacity, previous academic standing, and length of absence. Immediate placement in required nursing courses is not assured. Students seeking reentry to the baccalaureate program who have left on academic action must be reviewed by the Office of Academic Affairs. Students may be required to remediate and/or repeat courses, depending on academic standing or length of time since leaving the program. The remaining program will be planned as considered best for the student and according to the current curriculum.

Withdrawal

A nursing student who needs to withdraw during a term is encouraged to talk with an academic advisor or the Director of Advising prior to completing the withdrawal process. For specific deadlines for withdrawing, see Dates and Deadlines on the Office of the Registrar's website. Exceptions to or extensions of the University deadlines may only be required via the Petition for Special Consideration. 

Credits

30-Credit residence requirement

All students must complete at least 30 degree credits at UW–Madison. 

Credit Load

A full-time program is 12 to 18 credits for fall and spring terms. Students who wish to carry more than 18 credits per semester may submit a Petition for Special Consideration. Students will be assessed additional tuition per credit on credits beyond 18.

Retroactive credits

UW-Madison awards degree credit (called retroactive credit or retro-credit) for language learning to students who meet certain criteria. See Retroactive Language Credit for more information. Retroactive credits will be counted as electives only.

Degrees

Second Undergraduate Degree

Second undergraduate degree candidates are considered for admission to both pre-nursing and nursing. Students who apply as second undergraduate program candidates must meet the admission and transfer grade point requirements of the university in place at the time they apply for admission. If admitted, an action is taken granting permission to pursue a second degree.

Second Major

Students may request permission to pursue a second major along with the nursing degree. Students must complete the nursing school’s Petition for Special Consideration to make the request.

Grades

Grading Scale

The school has a standard grading scale in nursing courses that are graded A-F, as noted below. Some Experiential Learning (i.e., clinical) courses are graded Credit/No Credit.

For Traditional and Accelerated BSN students who began their program in May 2025 or before:

A:    94–100
AB: 88–93.99
B:    82–87.99
BC: 76–81.99
C:   70–75.99
D:   65–69.99
F:   <65

For Traditional and Accelerated BSN students who began their program fall 2025 or after:

A:    95–100
AB: 89–94.99
B:    84–88.99
BC: 79–83.99
C:   76–78.99
D:   66–75.99
F:   <65.99

Minimum Grade Requirement

Admitted nursing students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or higher in each required nursing (NURSING#) course. Students must receive credit (CR) in any clinical course that is offered on a Credit/No Credit basis. Any student who earns a grade below C or does not receive credit for a clinical course must repeat the course and earn a C or higher (or CR in a clinical course) in order to progress in the program. 

Pass/Fail

Students in good standing (i.e. not on probation) may take only one (1) course as pass/fail per term. A maximum of 24 credits may be completed as pass/fail. The pass/fail privilege is for elective courses only. The pass/fail grade will not be included when computing a student's GPA. The registrar's office will convert final letter grades reported by the student's instructor to an S (pass) grade if the letter grade is C or higher or to a U (fail) if the final letter grade is below C. Course credits in which a student obtains a U grade cannot be counted toward the minimum of 124 credits required for graduation. Once a pass/fail grade is recorded as S or U, it cannot be changed to a letter grade. Students interested in the pass/fail option must contact their nursing academic advisor to determine eligibility.

Course Audits

A student may audit a course with the approval of the instructor and the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs. Auditors are expected to attend class with regularity, participate in the class, and complete assigned course work as determined by the instructor, in collaboration with Academic Affairs. Audited courses carry no degree credit and are not graded (the only valid grades for audited courses are S [satisfactory] and NR [no report]). Audited courses do not count toward the minimum number of credits needed for full-time standing for the term but do count toward the term's credit load for fee purposes. Audited courses may affect eligibility for financial aid. Any student receiving financial aid who wishes to audit a course should consult with an advisor in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Requirements 

All BSN students must complete both the BSN General Degree Requirements and Graduation Requirements. To determine which requirements are needed for application eligibility, review the How to Get in section.

BSN General Degree Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Resources

Signe Skott Cooper Hall

The School of Nursing is located in Signe Skott Cooper Hall. The building features world-class technology and innovative educational spaces that will allow the nursing school to address health care’s new standard of excellence—high-tech and high-touch methods and practices that result in better patient outcomes.

Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs functions as the academic dean's office for the School of Nursing. Staff members interpret school regulations, policies, and program requirements; make exceptions around requirements and deadlines; advise prospective and current students; monitor and support students having academic difficulties; coordinate compliance; facilitate the admissions process; and maintain the official files of students in the school.

Academic and Career Advising

The School of Nursing provides dedicated, professional academic and career advising to undergraduate students in their pre-nursing and nursing years. Detailed information can be found on each individual degree guide page and on the School of Nursing’s Student Website.

Academic Support Services

Career & Student Success is available at the School of Nursing. Students can utilize support by Student Success course TAs and peer led study groups.     

Student Support Services

Information about student support: academic and non-academic resources, policies, forms, clinicals, and compliance can be found on the School of Nursing’s Student Website.

Student Organizations

The School of Nursing encourages and supports students to pursue their interests and form social networks. Information about nursing specific student organizations can be found on the School of Nursing’s Student Website. You can also find more opportunities by going to the Wisconsin Involvement Network page.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The School of Nursing offers a generous scholarship program to incoming and current School of Nursing students. All School of Nursing applicants and current students are highly encouraged to apply for scholarships.  Applications will be considered for all School of Nursing scholarships depending on a variety of factors, including: academic achievement, financial need, leadership experiences, community involvement, personal qualifications, and career interests.

Students are invited to apply to nursing-specific scholarships, as well as campus-wide or non-nursing scholarships, through the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub or WiSH. For more information, see the School of Nursing website.

In addition, university scholarships, loans, and employment are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid for additional information about financing your education.