FAQs
UNCW School of Nursing: B.S. Nursing Prelicensure
General Questions:
Am I a competitive student?
 We cannot guarantee your successful admission. However, we can share past data with you that may help you in
gauging your competitiveness. Please see the “Admissions Info” link located at
http://uncw.edu/oss/prelicensure.html.
What is the Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS) program?
 This loan provides financial assistance to in-state students who are committed to working in North Carolina. For
information, visit www.cfnc.org/FELS.
Are scholarships available to nursing students?
 Yes, there are over 50 scholarships available to current nursing students.
If I have already taken STT and/or BIO 241, can I substitute another prerequisite in its place in my program of
study?
 Yes, you can substitute PSY 223, BIO 246, or PAR. You can also substitute a basic/university studies course.
I was accepted to UNCW, does that mean I will get accepted to the nursing program?
 No, acceptance to UNCW does not guarantee admittance to the Nursing Program.
My UNCW Pre-Nursing Advisor and I are not a good match. Can I switch advisors?
 Yes, you can switch Advisors by notifying the Office of Student Success.
Once I am in the nursing program, can I take courses in the summer?
 Nursing courses are not offered in the summer. However, you may take other non-nursing courses during the
summer.
Transfer Student Questions:
I am transferring courses into UNCW. How do I know what will transfer?
 You may take classes at another institution. However, verify with the UNCW Registrar to ensure that each course
will transfer in as one of our prerequisites. Transfer credit equivalents can be found at
www.uncw.edu/reg/transfercredit.htm.
I am transferring into UNCW. Am I required to take courses at UNCW in order to apply to the SON?
 No. However, you must be accepted to UNCW and pay your enrollment deposit prior to applying to the SON.
You should apply (prior to March 1st) to UNCW for the Fall semester in order to apply (prior to July 1st) to the
SON for the following Spring semester. If accepted to the SON, you would not be required to take a course at
UNCW in the Fall Semester. However, you will need to submit a request in writing to the CHHS Office of
Student Success (chhs@uncw.edu) to update your university application to Spring. If you are not accepted to the
SON and desire to continue with UNCW, you must take at least one course in the Fall Semester to remain an
active student.
 If you apply to UNCW after March 1st, there is no guarantee that your transcripts will be evaluated in time to
apply to the SON by the July 1st deadline.
Can I apply to both UNCW and the SON for the Fall semester?
 It is possible to apply to both UNCW and the SON for the Fall semester. However, you must apply to UNCW
prior to October 15th in order to be accepted to UNCW prior to the SON application deadline of December 15th.
There is no guarantee that your acceptance to UNCW will be delivered in time to apply to the SON by December
15th, so we typically recommend that transfer students plan to apply to the SON for the Spring semester.
Can I transfer into UNCW for the Spring semester?
 UNCW does not always take transfer students for the Spring semester. This is generally decided in September.
The School of Nursing’s advice is to plan on transferring to UNCW in the Fall semester.
If I have taken a course, can I retake that course to get a better grade?
 The UNCW policy states that courses transferred with a grade of C or better cannot be retaken, either at UNCW
or another institution. UNCW will only give credit to the first course taken with a C or better. A C- or below will
not transfer into UNCW.
 If you have taken one of the courses that have multiple options (MAT, SOC/ECN, PAR, and STT), you can take
one of the other courses to get a better grade. We use the highest grade in each of those categories.
I have taken BIO 240, 241, and 246, but I have not taken BIO 201. Do I have to go back and take BIO 201?
 No. At UNCW, BIO 201 is a prerequisite for BIO 240, 241, and 246. If you complete them at an institution in
which BIO 201 is not a prerequisite, you will not need BIO 201. However, you are still required to take two
approved science courses that fulfill university/basic studies. In addition, you will need to complete two science
prerequisite courses prior to SON application.
Application/Admissions Questions:
Most questions can be answered by reviewing the “Admissions Info” link located at
http://uncw.edu/oss/prelicensure.html.
What are the prerequisites for admission?
 Please see the “Program Brochure” located at http://uncw.edu/oss/prelicensure.html.
What courses must I have completed in order to apply for admission?
 You must complete a minimum of CHM 101, one biology course (BIO 201, BIO 240, or BIO 246), one math or
statistic course (MAT 111, 112, 115, 151, 152, 161, 162, or STT 210, STT 215, QMM 280 or PSY 225), PSY105
and (SOC105, ECN 125, or ECN 221). In total, you must have a minimum of five of these courses completed in
order to apply. At least one course in each category (Math/Science and Designated Prerequisites) must be
completed for a grade in order to be evaluated for admission potential.
Do all prerequisite and corequisite courses need to be completed in order to start the program?
 No, courses can be completed concurrently with the first semester courses of the nursing program (NSG 250 &
NSG 252). All required prerequisite and corequisite courses must be successfully completed in order to be eligible
for the second semester nursing courses (NSG 320, 322, 324 & 326).
What if I have taken a higher level course, can I substitute it for one of the prerequisites?
 No. For example, if you have taken CHM 102, we will not evaluate it because it is not one of the prerequisites.
The only exception is BIO 425 can be substituted for BIO 246, as they are both Microbiology courses.
The nursing program no longer requires a CNA, LPN, or EMT. Will having one improve my competitiveness?
 No, it is not used in our evaluation criteria.
Do I have to take the TEAS assessment at UNCW?
 No, you may take the TEAS at another testing center. If you choose to do this, it is your responsibility to ensure
that you are taking the correct version of the TEAS and that UNCW Testing Services receives your official scores
prior to the end of the test administration period. For more information, please see the “Admission Assessment
Testing” link located at http://uncw.edu/oss/prelicensure.html.
If I have taken a course, can I retake that course to get a better grade?
 The UNCW policy states that courses with a grade of C or better cannot be retaken, either at UNCW or another
institution. UNCW will only give credit to the first course taken with a C or better. Although UNCW allows you
to audit courses, the SON only uses credit bearing courses in our evaluation.

If you have taken one of the courses that have multiple options (MAT, SOC/ECN, PAR, and STT), you can take
one of the other courses to get a better grade. We use the highest grade in each of those categories.
Will my AP courses be evaluated?
 No, we do not be use AP scores in our evaluation. You will get credit for the course, but your score will not affect
your standing. At least one course in each category (Science/Math Prerequisites and Designated Prerequisites)
must be completed for a grade in order to be evaluated for admission potential.
I took classes a long time ago. Will they be evaluated?
 Science prerequisite courses (CHM 101, BIO 201, BIO 240, BIO 241, and BIO 246) and Math prerequisite
courses (MAT 111, 112, 115, 151, 152, 161, 162, and STT 210, STT 215, QMM 280 and PSY 225) must have
been completed at least 10 years prior to your application. If they are older than 10 years, you must retake/audit
those courses (this is the only situation in which we allow auditing of courses). Non Math/Science courses older
than 10 years may be retaken/audited – check with your advisor for approval.
What Math and English courses does a student need to be accepted to UNCW?
 One transferable Math and two transferable English courses (complete or in progress at the time of application).
Transferable courses must transfer into UNCW as an equivalent course at UNCW (not an 001 elective course) and
must earn a C or better. Transfer equivalency information can be found on the following site:
http://appserv02.uncw.edu/dasapps/transfer_articulation/.
Alternative Option Questions:
Should I apply to other Nursing Programs?
 Yes, we strongly encourage all students to explore other nursing programs in case they are not accepted to the
UNCW SON. Some other nursing programs may require a second chemistry course, a nutrition course, and the
lab component for BIO 246.
Is there a required lab component for BIO 246?
 The UNCW SON does not require a lab component for BIO 246. However, if you are applying to other nursing
programs, some of them may require it.
If I apply to the Nursing Program and don’t get in, what are my options?
 Some students choose to reapply the following semester, apply to other BSN programs, apply to an ADN program
at a community college, or switch their major to Clinical Research, Community Health, etc.
What is a 2nd degree BSN?

A 2nd degree BSN is a bachelor level nursing program specifically set up for students who have already earned a
bachelor degree in a major OUTSIDE of NURSING and desire a career in Nursing. The North Carolina
Universities listed below offer these programs and each link details that specific universities admissions
requirements and length of the program. This would be a great option if your passion is to get into nursing and
you want to remain at UNCW.
o Duke University
o Queens University in Charlotte
o East Carolina
o UNC-Chapel Hill
o UNC-Greensboro
o NC A&T
o Western Carolina
o North Carolina Central University
Rev. 01/21/15