BSN Pre-Licensure Program

The suggested curriculum plan is laid out Freshman through Senior year in the 8-semester plan.

As each student's situation may vary students should communicate with their advisor to complete their liberal studies and University requirements for graduation.

Thanks to NC Promise, tuition for all undergraduate students at WCU is $500 per fall and spring semesters for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students. Students admitted into the BSN program will be required to make additional purchases for supplies and other requirements as needed for class and clinical placement throughout the program.

UNDERGRADUATE TUITION AND FEES

To be eligible to apply and be considered for admission, students must complete the following admission requirements. Applicants are encouraged to use the Pre-requisite Worksheet to keep track of their completed and still needed entrance requirements:

1. Western Carolina University Application (if not already a student)
   • Transfer students must complete the WCU Transfer Application and provide all offical transcripts to the admissions office
2. Cumulative GPA of a 3.0 (minimum)
3. ACT Composite Score
   • Official high school scores are acceptable
   • Applicants that need to take/retake the exam can do so through the Testing Center at WCU or an approved ACT testing site
4. Test of Essential Acadmic Skills (TEAS)
5. Science Prerequisites
   

   1. Chemistry 132 – Introductory Chemistry with lab (4hr) [Note: Chem 139: Gen Chem I meets/exceeds Chem 132]

   2. Biology 291 – Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (4hr) [Animal A & P is not equivalent]

   3. Biology 292 – Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab (4hr)

   4. Environmental Health 260/261 – Etiology of Infectious Disease with lab (3hr) [Note: BIOL 331: MicroBio in Health and Nutrition meets/exeeds requirement]

      • 3 of the science pre-reqs with a grade of 'C' or higher prior to the application deadline
      • The remaining must be completed prior to program matriculation/start
6. Nursing Prerequisites
   1. ND 330 – Human Nutritional Needs (may be transferred in: ND 338: Normal & Therapeutic Nutrition is also acceptable)
   2. NSG 346 – Pathophysiology for Nursing (may only be repeated once for a total of two attempts/only taken through WCU)
      • Must be complete with a grade of 'C' or higher prior to program matriculation (NSG 101 requires a 'B')
7. Liberal Sudies Prerequisites - The courses listed below must be completed with a grade of 'C' or higher prior to starting the program
   
   1. C1: ENGL 101 & ENGL 202 – Writing and Rhetoric & Writing and Critical Inquiry
   2. C2: MAT 170: Applied Statistics
   3. C3: COMM 201 – Foundations of Communication
   4. PSY 150 – General Psychology (counts as a P1)
   5. C4: HEAL 111, OR HEAL 123, OR HSCC 101 – Nutrition, Fitness & Wellness
      • The remaining Liberal Studies requirements must be completed by the start of the senior year
8. 60 Credit Hours - Applicants must have 60 hours of completed coursework (recommended 72 hours) prior to program matriculation
9. Complete the BSN Program Application

Transfer Course Credits:
If courses were completed at another institution,  we will accept (approved) equivalents with grades of C (2.0) or higher. You can check what courses will transfer in as through the "Credits Earned Elsewhere" tool.

The BSN program application should only be completed by students who have completed or are nearly finished with their program prerequisites as detailed below. Applicants should follow the Complete Application Instructions.

Application Deadlines:
Fall Entry

• February 1st for application to WCU (see "incoming transfer students" below)
• February 15th for Application to the BSN program through NursingCAS
  

Spring Entry

• September 5th for application to WCU
• September 15th for application to the BSN program through NursingCAS
  
• NEW: A limited number of NCAS fee waivers for based on financial need or service are available through NursingCAS.

Students should reference this checklist when completing their WCU and NursingCAS applications. 

INCOMING TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students will need to submit a WCU Transfer Application for admission to WCU as an "undeclared-interested in nursing" student. Most transfer students enter WCU at least one semester prior to their intended BSN start date, to allow them to take required pre-requisites. Thus, applicants should apply for admission to WCU in general for the first semester during which they plan to take pre-requisites.

To allow time for receipt and processing of transcripts transfer students should submit this application at least 10 days prior to the program application deadline. Following that, they will need to apply to the BSN Program. 

Applicants are responsible for reviewing the admission and prerequisite requirements in advance of the application deadline. University admissions and/or meeting the minimum requirements for program admission does not guarantee acceptance into the BSN Program.