Two nursing students practicing skills on a dummy

BSN@Home

The RN to BSN program, called the BSN@Home program, is for Registered Nurses who already have an associate's degree or diploma in nursing and wish to earn the bachelor of science in nursing degree.

The curriculum is designed for working adults. Almost all required coursework is completed online. Students can complete the program in as little as a year and a half.

The BSN@Home program is cooperatively administered by six campuses in the University of Wisconsin System: UW–Madison, UW–Eau Claire, UW–Green Bay, UW–Milwaukee, UW–Oshkosh and UW–Stevens Point. Students typically select their home institution based on proximity. All BSN@Home students are required to complete the same core nursing curriculum, but specific admission and degree requirements vary among campuses.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing from an accredited nursing program. Students with an ADN (or equivalent degree) through an international institution are eligible for admission consideration if they have completed the following required coursework. International Nurse Admission Requirements can be downloaded from this page.
  • Overall GPA of 2.5 on 4.0 scale
  • RN license
  • Resident of Wisconsin, upper peninsula of Michigan, and/or contiguous counties in Illinois, Iowa or Minnesota
  • Meets university transfer admission requirements at UW–Madison. Factors considered in admission decisions include:
    • Cumulative grade point average (GPA): While the average GPA of admitted transfers is a 3.4, UW–Madison will consider prospective BSN@Home if they have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with steady grade trends and patterns. GPA calculations will include all grades received for repeated courses; the initial grade, as well as grades received in second and subsequent attempts will be included in the GPA calculation.
    • College-Level Course Preparation: Students must have completed at least 24 transferable (college-level) non-nursing credits in addition to the nursing classes they completed in their ADN or nursing piploma program.
    • High School Record: Regardless of the number of college credits earned, the high school transcript is required and must show proof of graduation.
    • Required Courses:  Students must have completed one year each of high school algebra, plane geometry, and college-preparatory math, and two high school years or two college semesters of a single foreign language. Requirements may vary if students graduated high school 1991 or prior. Contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment with specific questions about academic background.

To Apply

Admissions Timeline

Students can begin the program in either spring or fall.

  • Fall term application due: February 1
  • Spring term application due: October 1

Review of Applications

Applications are reviewed by the UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Students will be evaluated on both high school and college records. Admission to the program is selective.

To Apply

Complete the UW System Application for Admission:

  • Intended campus: UW–Madison
  • Intended major: BSN@Home/Nursing Collaborative Program

For this program, there is no supplemental application submitted to the School of Nursing.

UW–Madison Reentry Admission

Students who have previously attended UW–Madison as degree-seeking students are eligible to apply to the BSN@Home program by submitting a Reentry Application. Second-degree candidate should select BSN@Home/Nursing Collaborative Program as the intended major. Students who have not previously earned an undergraduate degree through UW–Madison will be readmitted to their previous classification (e.g., Letters & Science). If readmitted to the previous classification, students should email the School of Nursing to request consideration for admission to the BSN@Home program.

Reentry applications will be evaluated by the UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment. While the Reentry Admissions site lists university-wide application deadlines, students should submit the application by the following dates to ensure access to open nursing courses:

  • Summer term: February 1
  • Fall semester: March 1
  • Spring semester: October 1

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A & Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B *

* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

RN to BSN (BSN@Home) Major Requirements

Students may transfer up to 90 credits of coursework taken elsewhere (from a two-year or a four-year institution). A total of 120 credits is required for the Nursing, BSN (Collaborative).

Science 112-13
Humanities and Social Science 122
Nursing Transfer Credits 224-30
BSN@Home Coursework24
Electives31-38
Total Credits120
1

The entirety of this requirement group may be fulfilled by transfer credit.

2

Students who earned an ADN from a Wisconsin Technical College may transfer 30 credits. All others receive 24 credits.

Science

All requirements may be transferred from a two-year or four-year institution (12-13 credits).

Science
Chemistry
Select one of the following:4-5
General Chemistry I
Chemistry in Our World
Advanced General Chemistry
Microbiology
Select one of the following:3
General Microbiology
Introduction to Biochemistry
Anatomy & Physiology
ANAT&PHY 335 Physiology5
Total Credits12-13

Humanities and Social Science

All requirements may be transferred from a two-year or four-year institution (22 credits).

Humanities and Social Science
Psychology
PSYCH 202 Introduction to Psychology (or equivalent)3
Sociology
Select any introductory Sociology course3
Human Growth and Development
Select three credits of Human Growth and Development3
Humanities
Select six credits of Humanities6
Humanities or Social Science
Select seven credits of Humanities or Social Science7
Total Credits22

Nursing Transfer Credits

Students pursuing a Nursing BSN may transfer in credits from another institution to fulfill some of the requirements of the degree. These transfer credits are awarded in recognition of the associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or nursing diploma. Students who earned the ADN from a Wisconsin Technical College receive 30 transfer credits1. All other students receive 24 credits.2

1

Transcripted as NURSINGX02 and NURSINGX28.

2

Transcripted as NURSINGX02 and NURSINGX22.

BSN@Home Nursing Coursework

Nursing
CNP 306 Transitions: Practice, Professional and Personal3
CNP 407 Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice3
CNP 441 Chronic Care Management3
CNP 446 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice3
CNP 447 Leadership and Management3
CNP 453 Information Management and Healthcare Technology3
CNP 454 Community Health Nursing3
CNP 519 Capstone Practicum for Registered Nurses3
Total Credits24

Electives

Electives
Select 31-38 credits of electives31-38
Total Credits31-38

University Degree Requirements 

Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.
  1. Promote health and manage illness by providing safe, client-centered, culturally congruent care across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings.
  2. Employ professional nursing leadership concepts to address patient care and system needs to promote quality health care outcomes and health equity for all.
  3. Make effective use of technology for patient care, education, and management of health information.
  4. Understand the roles and scope of practice of disciplines of the health care team and practice as an effective, collaborating member of the interprofessional team.
  5. Use knowledge sources effectively to provide evidence-based care.
  6. Identify health disparities and advocate for basic essential health services for all.
  7. Allocate health care resources to maximize the health care benefit to clients, families, and community.
  8. Assume fiscal and ethical responsibility for clinical practice.
  9. Function as a member of the nursing profession within the community and the world.
Semester 1
FallCredits  
CNP 306 (Must be taken first semester in the program)3  
CNP 4073  
 6  
Semester 2
 SpringCredits 
 CNP 4413 
 CNP 4463 
  6 
Semester 3
  SummerCredits
  CNP 4473
   3
Semester 4
FallCredits  
CNP 4533  
CNP 4543  
 6  
Semester 5
 SpringCredits 
 CNP 4901-4 
 CNP 519 (Must be taken in the last semester of nursing coursework.)3 
  4-7 
Total Credits 25-28

Office of Academic Affairs

Administration

Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Dean and Professor
ldscott@wisc.edu

Lisa C. Bratzke, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor
bratzke@wisc.edu

Katie Bleier

Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs (Academic Dean)
katie.bleier@wisc.edu
608-263-5172

Dana O'Brien, PhD, MSN, MHA, RN, CNE

Undergraduate Program Director, Associate Professor
drobrien2@wisc.edu

Advising and Student Services

Darby Sugar

Director of Advising and Student Services
darby.sugar@nursing.wisc.edu

Molly Censky

Assistant Director of Advising and Student Success, Pre-Nursing Advisor
molly.censky@wisc.edu

Maisee Her

Pre-Nursing Academic Advisor
maisee.her@wisc.edu

Leigh Arora

Pre-Nursing Academic Advisor & BSN@Home Program Coordinator
leigh.arora@wisc.edu

Tracey Maloney

Advisor for Admitted Nursing Students (TBSN)
tmmaloney@wisc.edu

Kelli Richards

Career Development & Learning Support Manager
kelli.richards@wisc.edu

Admissions and Recruitment

admissions@nursing.wisc.edu

Clinical placement

Ann Johnson

Undergraduate Clinical Placement Coordinator
amjohnson46@wisc.edu

Rikki Klassy

Undergraduate Clinical Placement Coordinator
klassy2@wisc.edu

Student Information and technology

John Coutley

Data Reporting Specialist
coutley@wisc.edu

Amy Corridon

Curricular & Technology Specialist
corridon@wisc.edu

Certification/Licensure

National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX-RN

Year of Exam UW-Madison Graduates: First Attempt National: First Attempt  
April-September 2021 81% 72%
April-September 2020 93% 79%
April-September 2019 89% 86%

 Note: UW-Madison BSN Graduates pass rate reflects all UW-Madison Bachelor of Science-Nursing graduates who tested during the April-to-September test period for the first time, including recent and previous graduates.

Professional Certification/Licensure Disclosure (NC-SARA)

The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:

The requirements of this program meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

The requirements of this program do not meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

California, New York

The requirements of this program have not been determined if they meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, American Samoa, Puerto Rico

Accreditation

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Accreditation status: Next accreditation review: 2029–2030.