School of Nursing
In the beginning…
The School of Nursing was established in 1969.
Since then things have changed a bit…
The School of Nursing Programs
We offer several undergraduate and graduate programs:
Undergraduate
 Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN Program
 Accelerated BSN Option
 WCU-AB Tech Dual Enrollment RIBN Option
 RN to BSN Program
Graduate
 MS(N) Family Nurse Practitioner
 MS(N) Nurse Administration
 MS(N) Nurse Anesthesia
 MS(N) Nurse Educator
 Doctor of Nursing Program Program
The School of Nursing
Currently over 400 students are enrolled in our
undergraduate and graduate online and residential
programs.
BSN Admission Requirements
Admission to the BSN Program is highly competitive. Students must
satisfy the following requirements to be eligible for admission
consideration:
-General acceptance to WCU
-Minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0
-Accumulate 60+ semester hours by program matriculation
-Complete three of the five science prerequisites by the
application deadline
-Completion of all course prerequisites before entry into the program
-SAT Critical Reading Score – Minimum 500 – may be taken twice post-high
school graduation
-TEAS exam – may be taken once per application cycle
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee
admission into the Traditional Pre-Licensure BSN Program.
Improve your odds of acceptance!
The average admission scores for
recently accepted students are:
GPA: 3.65
SAT Critical Reading score: 600
TEAS exam: 86
Weight of Admission Requirements:
GPA: 25%
SAT Critical Reading score: 25%
TEAS exam: 50%
What to expect as a pre-nursing student
During the Freshman and Sophomore years, students
complete prerequisite courses including:
•ENGL 101/202
•Math 130 or higher
•COMM 201
•Health and Wellness HSCC 101
•PSY 150
•CHEM 132 General Chemistry
•CHEM 133 Organic Chemistry
And students:
•Take the TEAS and SAT exam
•Apply to the BSN Program during
your sophomore year
•
•
•
•
•
•
ENVH 260/261
BIOL 291 A&P I
BIOL 292 A&P II
ND 338 Nml/Thera Nutrition
NSG 101 Intro to Nursing
NSG 346 Pathophysiology
What to expect as a nursing student
Class and Clinicals during
the Junior and Senior years
Schedules vary but a typical schedule is
class 2-3 days/wk and clinical 2 days/wk.
Clinical rotations are in a variety of settings
in areas surrounding Cullowhee and
Asheville to provide students with enriched
and engaging experiences.
The BSN curriculum – Junior Year
Junior Year - First Semester (15 hrs)
•NSG 310 – Foundations of Nursing
•NSG 311 – Foundations of Nursing Practicum
•NSG 312 – Nursing Assessment Across the Lifespan
•NSG 313 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing I
•NSG 314 – Nursing Informatics
•NSG 322 – Concepts of Geriatric Nursing
Junior Year – Second Semester (14 hrs)
•NSG 315 – Nursing Ethics and Health Policy
•NSG 320 – Concepts of Adult Nursing
•NSG 321 – Adult Nursing Practicum
•NSG 323 – Pharmacotherapeutics in Nursing II
•NSG 324 – Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
The BSN curriculum – Senior Year
Senior Year – First Semester (16 hrs)
•NSG 410 – Concepts of Adult Nursing II
•NSG 411 – Adult Nursing II Practicum
•NSG 412 – Concepts of Maternal-Child Nursing
•NSG 413 – Maternal-Child Nursing Practicum
•NSG 414 – Advanced Technology & Pharm
Senior Year – Second Semester (16 hrs)
•NSG 420 – Synthesis of Nursing Concepts
•NSG 421 – Synthesis of Nursing Concepts Prac
•NSG 422 – Concepts of Community/Mental Hlth
•NSG 423 – Community/Mental Health Practicum
•NSG 424 – Concepts of Nsg Leadership in Mgmt
Students who earn the baccalaureate in nursing degree will be
prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and enter a
professional career with a myriad of opportunities in varied and dynamic
work environments.
Students at Western Carolina University have the opportunities to
closely interact with nursing faculty throughout their academic and
clinical experiences. The low student-to-faculty ratio in the BSN
Program allows for personalized advisement while also providing a
comprehensive curriculum and educational experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students apply each
admission cycle? We receive an
average of 75 applications per
admission cycle.
How many students do you
accept? 25 twice per year:
January (Spring) and August (Fall)
What is your NCLEX pass rate:
100% in 2012!
More FAQs
Do I need to be a CNA? No, applicants
do not need to have a CNA certification
though many students do.
Where will my classes be held? In the
new College of Health and Human
Sciences Building on the main WCU
campus in Cullowhee, NC.
What if I am not accepted? Students
are encouraged to reapply or advised
on alternative pathways into healthcare
or other WCU majors.
The College of Health
and Human Sciences Building
WCU Nursing Rocks!
Halloween
Homecoming Nursing Float
Rubber Ducky Fundraiser for Breast Cancer