Pre-Nursing
UNCA and Western Carolina University offer a joint
undergraduate program in Nursing leading to the BSN
degree. However, you may also take coursework at
UNCA to prepare for application to nursing programs at
any university. The answers given to the following
questions are applicable to any nursing
program.
What are the requirements for
admission to an undergraduate nursing program
(BSN)? You will usually need to meet
all of the general education requirements for the program
to which you will apply and that will award your nursing
degree. Nursing programs also require completion of
a handful of specific science courses. Most
programs require completion of 60-68 hours of
undergraduate education before admission to the nursing
program. Specific requirements vary among different
colleges, so research these as early as you can.
Click this link for information concerning the UNCA-WCU
Joint Program in Nursing.
Which science courses should I
take? Requirements vary, so check with the
schools where you intend to apply. Courses in
anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and general psychology
are almost universally required. Many programs
require statistics (STAT 185). At UNCA, you should
probably take at least:
- BIOL 116 or BIOL 105. (One introductory
class)
- BIO 223: Human Anatomy
- BIO 338: Mammalian Physiology
- BIOL 339: Microbiology
- CHEM 132 + 111
- PSYCH 102
How important are grades?
GPA is usually the main
criteria for
admission. You
will need to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA (at least
2.0) and pass all of the required science courses with a
grade of "C" or better. Admission is competitive,
so the higher your GPA, the better your chance of
acceptance into a program.
When do I apply?
Optimally, students will apply during their
sophomore year for admission their junior year. You
are usually required to have completed 60-68 hours of
undergraduate coursework before admission to a BSN
program. Deadlines may vary among programs. You can
apply after you have taken the majority of the required
coursework (for example, 3/5 science classes at WCU).
While you can apply for admission before taking all of
the the prerequisites, all of the requirements must be
completed before you enroll in a nursing
program.
Are there other undergraduate
possibilities? Several schools offer
programs that are specifically designed for people who
already have an RN -- if you are an RN you may want to
consider these options. Additionally, you can become a
nurse without completing an undergraduate degree
(although your pay and duties will be relatively
limited). Nursing certification is possible at
AB Tech and
many other community colleges.
How about graduate nursing
programs? You must have either an
undergraduate degree (BSN) or an RN for admission to
graduate programs in nursing, such as Nurse Practitioner,
Nurse Anesthetist, etc. Work experience is often
required.
What is the UNCA-WCU Joint
Program in Nursing? UNC-Asheville and
Western Carolina University offer a joint undergraduate
program in Nursing leading to the BSN degree.
Preliminary coursework is taken at UNCA, and the student
then applies for admission to the Nursing Program at
WCU. If accepted to the BSN program, the next year
of coursework is taken at Cullowhee and the final year is
taken back in Asheville. Click here for specific
information about the UNCA-WCU
Joint Program in Nursing.