Two nursing students practicing skills on a dummy

Students who already have a bachelor’s degree or higher and are interested in making a career change to nursing can apply to enter this fast-track professional program to earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 12 months. In the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, students complete approximately one credit per week including classroom-based, clinical, and out-of-class hours each week.

For tuition rates, see: https://bursar.wisc.edu/tuition-and-fees

How to Get in

School of Nursing Admissions Requirements

Requirements Details
How to get in Application required. Meeting the requirements listed below does not guarantee admission. The program requires two applications: one to UW–Madison (https://admissions.wisc.edu/apply-as-a-second-degree-student/) and one to the School of Nursing for the Accelerated BSN program (https://nursing.wisc.edu/undergraduate/bsn-accelerated/).
Courses required to get in Applicants are required to complete a course (or its equivalent) in each of the seven prerequisite areas. Requirements can be completed via coursework, test credit, transfer work, or placement exam (if applicable).

Chemistry
Microbiology
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Psychology
Sociology
Human Growth and Development

The first four prerequisites (science courses) must be completed by the application deadline and within seven years of program start date. The Anatomy and Physiology prerequisite may be satisfied by one stand alone Anatomy course and one stand alone Physiology course or by two semesters of a combined Anatomy and Physiology I and II. The pairing of one combined Anatomy and Physiology course and a stand alone Anatomy or Physiology is not acceptable for this requirement.

All prerequisites must be completed before the program start date. Prerequisite equivalency information is available on the BSN Prerequisite Course Equivalencies page (https://nursing.wisc.edu/undergraduate/course-equivalencies/).

Applicants must complete the following university-wide General Education Requirements (https://gened.wisc.edu/general-education-requirements/). At least two must be completed by the application deadline, and all must be completed before the program start date.
  • Communications Part A: Literacy Proficiency
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A: QR Proficiency
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part B: Enhanced QR Proficiency
  • Ethnic Studies


Note: Communications Part B is not required for Accelerated BSN applicants.
GPA requirements to get in At the point of application submission (mid-September):
  • A minimum combined prerequisite GPA of 2.75 on all prerequisites completed at time of application.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all undergraduate college credits.


Prior to program start (early May):
  • Have at least a C grade in each of the individual seven prerequisite courses.
  • A minimum combined prerequisite GPA of 2.75 on all seven prerequisites.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all prior undergraduate college credits.
Credits required to get in
  • Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution, completed by the program start date.
Other
  • Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution, completed by the program start date.
Semester Deadline to apply Decision notification timeline
To apply for a fall start This program does not accept applications to start in the fall
To apply for a spring start This program does not accept applications to start in the spring
To apply for a summer start Mid-September On or before December 31

Transfer Credit Evaluation

An unofficial transfer credit evaluation to check for completion of the nursing prerequisite courses and the university’s General Education Requirements will be completed by the School of Nursing prior to the decision release date. Admission is contingent upon official verification by the UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

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.

School of Nursing Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree is a 53-credit curriculum comprised of didactic and experiential learning (i.e., clinical) nursing courses. The program builds on coursework students completed in their prior undergraduate and/or graduate degree(s) and the prerequisite coursework, including the university's General Education Requirements, completed in preparation for admission to the program.

Major Requirements

During the 12-months in the ABSN program, students complete 53-credits of required nursing coursework, including classroom-based active learning courses and experiential learning courses in the clinical environment. This nursing coursework will include Pathology and Pharmacology.

Nursing

NURSING 313 Foundations of Nursing Practice3
NURSING 314 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Across the Lifespan3
NURSING 315 Professionalism in Nursing Practice1
NURSING 316 Foundations of Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning4
NURSING 317 Pharmacology Essentials for Nursing Practice2
NURSING 318 Pathophysiology Essentials for Nursing Practice3
NURSING 323 Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals and Families4
NURSING 324 Meeting the Psychosocial Health Needs of Individuals, Families, and Communities3
NURSING 326 Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals and Families: Experiential Learning4
NURSING 430 Perinatal Nursing2
NURSING 431 Nursing Care of Children & their Families2
NURSING 432 Population Health Nursing2
NURSING 433 Nursing Care of the Older Adult2
NURSING 436 Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals, Families, and Communities: Experiential Learning2
NURSING 438 Informatics and Health Technologies for Nursing Practice1
NURSING 443 Advanced Concepts in Complex Nursing Practice5
NURSING 445 Transformative Nursing Capstone1
NURSING 446 Advanced Concepts in Complex Nursing Practice: Experiential Learning5
NURSING 447 Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice2
NURSING 448 Leadership in the Profession of Nursing2
Total Credits53

 Residence and Quality of Work

  • A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for graduation.
  • Students must earn a C or better in all nursing coursework.
  • 30 credits of coursework must be completed in-residence

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.

Learning Outcomes

  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.

Four-Year Plan

The ABSN program is for second-degree candidates and is a 53-credit program completed over 12 months, not four years.

Semester 1Credits
Summer Term
NURSING 3133
NURSING 3143
NURSING 3164
NURSING 3172
NURSING 3183
 15
Semester 2Credits
Fall Term
NURSING 3234
NURSING 3243
NURSING 3264
NURSING 4312
NURSING 4332
NURSING 4381
NURSING 4472
 18
Semester 3Credits
Winter Term
NURSING 3151
NURSING 4362
Spring Term
NURSING 4302
NURSING 4322
NURSING 4435
NURSING 4451
NURSING 4465
NURSING 4482
 20
Total Credits 53

Advising and Careers

The School of Nursing’s advising team helps students identify academic pathways and educational goals to aid in developing meaningful plans to ensure academic and career success. We believe that advising is an ongoing, caring, and collaborative relationship between advisor and student that provides meaning, guidance, and support throughout the educational process.

Academic Advising

All students are assigned an academic advisor based on the nursing or pre-nursing program with which they are affiliated. Detailed information on the school's advising structure and staff is available on the School of Nursing’s academic advising website. 

Career Advising

The School of Nursing offers extensive career advising services which provide resources and strategies for career readiness and licensure planning. This includes workshops, career fairs, resume review, prospective employment resources, and licensure information. More information about career advising is available on the School of Nursing’s career advising website.

Student Support

The School of Nursing offers academic support, leadership & connection, mentorship, and wellness throughout the student experience. Additionally, admitted nursing students have access to onsite UHS mental health services. Information about student support is available on the School of Nursing’s student support website.

Certification/Licensure

Earning the bachelor of science in nursing degree is the first step toward becoming a Registered Nurse. Graduates must also take and and pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) to receive their nursing license and begin their careers as nurses in hospitals, community health and mental health agencies, industrial health centers, nursing homes, family planning centers, crisis care centers, and beyond. A nursing license gives an individual permission to practice nursing, granted by the state where he or she met the requirements.

The School of Nursing works with students as they complete graduation requirements and the two-step process to register for the NCLEX. Specifically the school verifies graduation and assists students as they register for the exam. Most students take the NCLEX within three months of graduation. More than 90 percent of School of Nursing graduates pass the NCLEX on first attempt.

NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX-RN

Year of Exam UW-Madison Graduates: First Attempt National: First Attempt  
April-September 2024 100% 100%
April-September 2023 96% 81%
April-September 2022 85% 80%

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 (via 34 CFR Part 668) requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure. The expectation is that institutions will determine whether each applicable academic program meets state professional licensure requirements and provide a general disclosure of such on an official university website.

Professional licensure requirements vary from state-to-state and can change year-to-year; they are established in a variety of state statutes, regulations, rules, and policies; and they center on a range of educational requirements, including degree type, specialized accreditation, total credits, specific courses, and examinations.  

UW-Madison has taken reasonable efforts to determine whether this program satisfies the educational requirements for certification/licensure in states where prospective and enrolled students are located and is disclosing that information as follows.

Disclaimer: This information is based on the most recent annual review of state agency certification/licensure data and is subject to change. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with the individual/office listed in the Contact Information box on this page and with the applicable state agency for specific information.

The requirements of this program meet certification/licensure requirements 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 requirements in the following states:

California, New York

Updated: 1 June 2025

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. 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.

Accreditation

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Accreditation status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2029–2030.