Undergraduate Programs

At the UW–Madison, Nurses Lead

For nearly a century, the UW–Madison School of Nursing has educated and inspired the most innovative professionals in the field of nursing. We develop critical thinkers and leaders for the profession and for society. We make discoveries, enhance systems, and improve health through research, education, and practice.

The school is the preeminent nursing research institution in Wisconsin and a fundamental part of the state’s healthcare system. We’re the only Academic Health Center in Wisconsin, collaborating across disciplines with the School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Pharmacy, and UW Hospitals and Clinics.

Our students learn the concepts and skills necessary to thrive in an evolving field and apply them through hands-on clinical experiences. We prepare students for successful and rewarding careers across all clinical and community practice settings, from the exam room to the board room. Our graduates organize disaster relief efforts and serve in the military. They educate their peers, patients, and future nurses, and they participate in groundbreaking research that transforms healthcare, improves wellbeing, and advances nursing practice.

Bachelor's degrees offer wider career opportunities to both aspiring and practicing nurses. With clinical experiences and innovative curricula, we'll help you become a nurse leader—able to think critically, collaborate, innovate, and take advantage of the latest nursing research.

Program Information (pdf)

Application periods

Traditional BSN: December 1–January 15 for fall start
Accelerated BSN: July 15–September 15 for May start
Online RN to BSN: August 1–October 1 for spring start; August 1–March 1 for fall start

Three degree programs

Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is a two-year course sequence that builds on a foundation of pre-nursing study to fulfill the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. As a BSN student, you will gain conceptual knowledge and apply it through hands-on experiences in simulation labs and real-world care settings.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

If you already have a bachelor’s degree or higher and are interested in making a career change to nursing, this fast-track professional program will take you there. You can earn a BSN in just 12 months. This program cultivates nurse leaders who are prepared to hit the ground running.

RN to BSN Online | BSN@Home

This low-residency program is designed to help RNs with diplomas or two-year degrees complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing without relocating. Most of the program is completed online. UW–Madison provides services like advising and financial aid, as well as a unique capstone practicum that gives students an integrative educational experience.

“Ultimately, I want to be a nurse so that I can create a lasting difference in healthcare, beyond just our day-to-day experiences, and really, delve into nursing research, and answer some bigger questions that we have about healthcare and nursing.”
Natalie Kustner ’18

More Undergraduate Opportunities

Early Entry PhD

This innovative program is designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a research career. Student get hands-on research experience with a faculty mentor. Programs of study are individually planned by the student and the advisory committee and take into consideration the students’ backgrounds, goals, and interests. Satisfactory progress guarantees admission to the PhD program.

BS to MPH

This unique degree option gives undergraduate nursing students the opportunity to seek early admission to the MPH program and enroll in selected MPH courses while completing requirements for the BSN. Students complete both degrees over five years (three years from admission to the nursing program). Graduates are prepared for a wide range of nursing and public health practice positions.

School nursing

Graduates of the 18-credit School Nurse Certification Program are eligible to apply for licensure through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. BSN students may complete the program concurrently, and BSN@Home students may complete some of the requirements concurrently and the remainder after graduation. For RNs who need to take a community health course to become a school nurse, Nursing 470 is a 3-credit online course that meets this requirement.

10,000+
Graduates

25
Average class size

74
Faculty members

Student Life

Explore your interests, discover exciting ways to spend time outside of the classroom, connect with others, take care of yourself, and get support when you need it. The School of Nursing, the larger campus, and the city of Madison offer endless options to find community.

Meet our students

Q & A | BSN Senior Hanna Braaten
For Hanna Nichole Braaten, a senior in the School of Nursing’s bachelor of science in nursing program, mental health self-care comes in the form of creating art. The aspiring pediatric nurse practitioner uses various art forms for self-expression, stress management, and education. Her latest project, The Intricacies of Nursing, tells the story of her nursing school journey through stitch art.
One Family, Four Generations of Badger Nurses
Following in the footsteps of her great-grandmother, grandmother, and aunt, Emily Hanna is the fourth in her family to take part in UW’s nursing program. The generations of women in her family who studied nursing before her served as inspiration and motivation for her to pursue the same path.
New Nursing Immersion Program Offers Students Meaningful, Hands-on Experience at Respite Camp
BSN students provided services for people with a broad spectrum of disabilities and practiced nursing skills in a new School of Nursing summer respite camp immersion course.
First Students Graduate from Native American Recruitment and Retention Program
Just two years after launching a new project designed to increase the number of Native American nurses in the workforce, the School of Nursing has graduated two students, Brianna Boston-Kemple and Alexandra DeSautel, from the Success Through Recruitment/Retention, Engagement, and Mentorship (STREAM) program.
UW Changes Lives: Got a bachelor’s? UW-Madison nursing degree could be just 12 months away
The first class of students in the accelerated bachelor’s of science in nursing at the School of Nursing graduated in May 2019, after a year of intensive training. The one-year ABSN program responds to Wisconsin's shortage of nurses, while offering adults a second chance at a satisfying, well-paying job.
MORE STORIES ABOUT THE BSN