The WMU Bronson School of Nursing offers a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a four-year bachelor's degree that will prepare you for nursing careers in settings like hospitals, home care, public health, clinics, schools, hospice, occupational settings and health and wellness centers.
Technical Standards: Please consult the Bronson School of Nursing prelicensure handbook for description/examples of technical standards to inform prospective and enrolled students of a sampling of technical standards required in completing their nursing science curriculum.
After you earn your pre-licensure BSN degree, you will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination, the licensing exam that allows one to practice as a registered nurse. You will be prepared for leadership and management roles and you'll also have satisfied the educational requirement to enter a master's or doctoral degree program.
If you are a registered nurse interested in pursuing your B.S.N., learn more about our RN-BSN program.
Holistic admissions
The Bronson School of Nursing (BSON) is committed to building and sustaining a diverse academic community of faculty, staff and students. We have developed a holistic admissions process that allows us to admit students with unique experiences and excellent academic performance to come together in an inclusive learning environment.
The process is competitive and thorough and includes a critical evaluation of your GPA and may include a personal statement, letter of recommendation, essay questions and interviews. This allows you to share the experiences you feel support your admission to the nursing program.
Admissions
There are two admission options to a pre-licensure BSN degree at WMU: direct admission for incoming first year (from high school) students and competitive admission for current WMU students and incoming transfer students.
Direct admission
This option is for graduating high school students. There are academic requirements to qualify for this pathway and to remain in the pathway as a student.
Competitive admission
This option is for current WMU students and incoming transfer students.
Transfer students must be admitted to WMU (apply to WMU).
Competitive admission
The pre-licensure BSN program at WMU is one of the University's most competitive programs, which means that there are more qualified applicants than there are seats in the program. We require students to complete pre-nursing prerequisite courses to provide a foundation for success in the pre-licensure BSN program. Note: You can apply to the pre-licensure BSN program in the same semester you will complete the pre-nursing prerequisite courses.
Competitive admission is the most common path to enter the BSN program. Most students complete a year of pre-nursing courses at WMU and then apply to the BSN program. Note: Transfer students who have completed their prerequisites at another institution, must be accepted to WMU before applying to the nursing program. (apply to WMU).
- Applications for the fall semester are due by March 15.
- Applications for spring semester are due October 15.
Due to the unique nature of our holistically endorsed curriculum, we do not accept transfer of nursing course credits from programs at other institutions.
Step One: Complete the pre-nursing prerequisite courses
The pre-nursing prerequisite courses are listed above. Transfer students, you may have completed equivalent courses at your previous institution. Meet with a CHHS advisor to verify your credits.
- Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (B)
- All individual course grades with a minimum grade of C (2.0) or above.
- Pre-nursing prerequisite (qualifying) course grades (or equivalencies) average a GPA of 3.0 (B).
- Earn an average grade of B (3.0) or above in the four science prerequisite courses (or equivalencies)
- Each prerequisite course may only be repeated once. Only the second grade will be considered in the admission decision.
Step Two: Complete the application on NursingCAS
You can apply to the BSN program in the same semester when you will complete the pre-nursing prerequisite courses. Select the "BSON Professional Nursing Program". The cost for NursingCAS is $60.
Step Three: Complete the curriculum
Once you have been admitted to the WMU BSN program, you will complete the pre-licensure BSN curriculum.
Direct admission
High school students, if you apply to WMU by the Early Action Deadline (Dec. 15), declare your major as "nursing," and meet certain criteria (see below), you will be considered for direct admission to the BSN program.
If you are accepted as a direct admit, you must maintain academic minimums to remain in the direct admission pathway.
WMU application link
Selection criteria:
- High school GPA of at least 3.6 or higher.
- Composite SAT score at or above 1240 or equivalent ACT score (optional).
- At least one year of high school chemistry - grades will be evaluated.
- Meets math placement requirements (ACT Math 27 OR SAT Mathematics 640 OR ALEKS placement assessment of 61) to enroll in WMU CHEM 1510/1520 Chemistry for Health Professionals.
- At least two years of high school biology - grades will be evaluated.
Once admitted:
- Maintain a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.
- Earn a B or better in each of the prerequisite sciences courses (CHEM 1510 and 1520, CHEM 1530 and 1540, and BIOS 1910 and 2400).
- Earn no less than a C in all other courses.
- Complete all prerequisite courses within three (3) semesters*.
If you fail to maintain these standards, you will be removed from the direct admission pathway. In that case, you can reapply to the BSN program as part of the competitive application.
* Seats in this program are limited, it may take longer than 4 years to graduate.
Curriculum
Pre-nursing curriculum
Courses taken during your first year.
Pre-licensure BSN program curriculum
Courses taken once admitted to the pre-licensure BSN program.
Total program credits: 122
* course includes an additional enrollment fee
Western Essential Studies and elective courses will be included in degree planning in consultation with your academic advisor.