
Earn a BSN in 12 months
The Accelerated BSN program runs year-long and through traditional academic breaks to prepare students to sit for licensing exams in just 12 months. Individuals who are finishing a degree or already hold a degree in a different field and who have satisfied all program prerequisites are eligible to apply.
As an Accelerated BSN student, you will work under the supervision of clinical experts each semester to provide hands-on care to individuals, families, or communities and participate in interactive simulations using state-of-the-art technology.
This program cultivates nurse leaders who are prepared to hit the ground running. Our graduates manage hospitals, deliver babies, organize disaster relief efforts, conduct health education seminars, serve in the military, and conduct research.
Program Information (pdf)
Program Basics
Delivery: In-person
Credits: 49 credits in nursing curriculum
Time Frame: Bachelor’s degree and nursing prerequisite/general education requirements completed; then 1 year in accelerated program
Audience: Second-degree seekers
Application open July 15–Sept. 15 for May
Instructions & FAQs (pdf)
BSN students at the School of Nursing & Beyond
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.
Accelerated BSN Program News
UW–Madison School of Nursing Selected to Receive Major Grant to Support Accelerated Degree Program
A grant from the esteemed Helene Fuld Health Trust will make a significant impact on scholarship opportunities for students pursuing a degree within the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing.
Meet more BSN students
Other Side of the Door
A winter immersion program for the School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing (ABSN) program shows students how nurses help build healthy communities in rural places. The school is committed to every student participating in a clinical focused on population health.
Exceptional grad to enter Air Force Nurse Corps as one of its youngest members
After juggling nursing school and ROTC training for four years, UW–Madison senior Delora Prange will become one of the youngest members of the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps this summer. “The School of Nursing has been so amazing in helping me accomplish my goals,” she says.
Catalyst for Change
“I’ve been called a catalyst before and I believe that I am one. Challenge the status quo in constructive ways so you can achieve results in the system,” says Rachel Azanleko-Akouete, a recent graduate of the master’s in public health program at UW–Madison and BSN alumna. “We really need to inspire that next generation of researchers and public health nurses.”
Commencement spotlight: Long journey makes nursing degree all the sweeter for JoAnn Brink
After working on it for 20 years, Brink will earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UW–Madison. “There was no way I was not going to finish that degree.”
- More stories about nursing students
“The Accelerated BSN program is intense, yet challenging, intellectually stimulating, and enriching. I feel like I have learned and grown so much from when I began. I truly feel supported by faculty and staff.”
Aniqueka Scott ’19
Curriculum
Students in the Accelerated BSN program must complete a bachelor's degree, prerequisite, and general education courses prior to entry. There are at least 49 required credits in the nursing curriculum.
Although courses and clinical rotations are organized differently, the Accelerated BSN program follows the same concept-based curriculum as the Traditional BSN program and uses the same clinical placement methodology to ensure that students are exposed to a wide range of practice areas.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
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Concept-Based Curriculum
Our innovative, concept-based educational model builds critical thinking skills and cultivates an understanding of issues that cut across cultures, lifespans, illnesses, and care settings. We provide you with a toolbox to use in real-life situations of all kinds, helping you to navigate, manage and apply the latest evidence and information to your practice.
At the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing, we realize the enormous impact nurses have, locally and globally. Our program is designed to do more than prepare nurses to do a job. We prepare nurses to lead—in making discoveries, enhancing systems, and improving health and healthcare, for Wisconsin and the world.
5 core concepts
Our curriculum is based on five core concepts.
- Professional nursing leadership: Expand your understanding of ethics, collaboration, advocacy, global health, and technology across a variety of roles and environments.
- Person, family, community, and systems-centered care: Explore how varied perspectives and dynamics inform our approaches to health care.
- Health and illness: Study health and illness on multiple levels, from how our cells work to how we think, feel and react.
- Health care context and systems: Evaluate how law, policy, financing, and system factors impact health outcomes across populations.
- Scholarship for evidence-based practice: Discern how research and evidence can be applied in your practice to improve health and health care outcomes.
Accelerated pace
Instruction is intense, with students completing approximately 1 credit a week for a total of 49 credits over 12 months. This equates to at least 50 hours of in-class, clinical, and out-of-class work each week. It is not possible for students to work while in the program.
Program Learning Outcome
Each academic program at UW–Madison has student learning outcomes that describe what students are expected to know or be able to do upon completion of the program. The BSN program’s learning outcomes are listed in The Guide.
Licensure
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing prepares students to become general registered nurses (RNs) as a basis for progressing to leadership roles and graduate study.
Students who successfully complete the program are able to apply for their RN license when they sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).
Careers
The nursing program will prepare you for a career by and beyond the bedside. Our graduates manage hospitals, deliver babies, organize disaster relief efforts, conduct health education seminars, serve in the military and conduct research.
The national nurse shortage means our graduates can find career options wherever they live. Nursing school graduates are more than twice as likely to have jobs at the time of graduation as those entering the workforce in other fields.
Nursing is consistently ranked as the profession with the highest standards for honesty and ethics. This is a challenging, satisfying, secure and rewarding profession.
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Accelerated students
1
Year to complete
49
Credits
How to Get In
- Eligibility/Prerequisites
- Courses In-Progress
- Costs & Aid
- To Apply
- Application Information
- Decisions & Appeals
Students apply to enter the Accelerated BSN program after completing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and fulfilling all the necessary nursing prerequisite courses and general education requirements. Students will apply to the School of Nursing between July and September and receive their admission decision in December for the accelerated BSN program starting in May.
Note that applying to the accelerated BSN program disqualifies a candidate from also applying to the traditional BSN program during the same calendar year.
School of Nursing Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited institution, completed by the program start date. Students anticipating spring graduation can apply the prior fall; proof of timely progress is required. We do not accept applications from students previously enrolled in a professional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at another institution.
- Admission to UW–Madison as a post-undergraduate degree-seeking student (separate application required)
- Minimum college-level cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Completion of the prerequisites listed below with a grade of C or better in each course and a minimum combined GPA of 2.75
- The first four prerequisites (science courses) must be completed by the application deadline and within seven years of the program start date. All other prerequisites must be complete before the program start date.
- Prerequisite equivalency information is available on the BSN Prerequisite Course Equivalencies page. Prerequisite equivalencies can be requested by submitting the Prerequisite and General Education Course Evaluation Request Form.
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- Chemistry (4/5 credits, including lab)
- Microbiology (3 credits)
- Anatomy (3 credits)
- Physiology (5 credits, including lab)
- Psychology (3 credits)
- Sociology (3 credits)
- Human Growth & Development (3 credits)
Note: Anatomy and Physiology may be satisfied by one semester of Anatomy and one semester of Physiology or by A&P I and II.
UW–Madison General Education Requirements
- Applicants must also complete the following university-wide General Education Requirements. At least two must be completed by the application deadline, and all prerequisites must be completed before the program start date.
- Course equivalencies can be requested by submitting the Prerequisite and General Education Course Evaluation Request Form.
- Communications Part A: Literacy Proficiency
- Communications Part B: Enhancing Literacy Proficiency
- Quantitative Reasoning Part A: QR Proficiency
- Quantitative Reasoning Part B: Enhanced QR Proficiency
- Ethnic Studies
Note: The Communications Part B requirement must be satisfied prior to enrollment for eligible applicants applying to start the program in May 2022 and beyond.
An unofficial transfer credit evaluation to check for completion of the nursing prerequisite courses and the university’s General Education Requirements will be completed by the School of Nursing prior to the decision release date. Admission is contingent upon official verification by the UW–Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Applicants will be required to submit Proof of Enrollment at the time of application for any prerequisites not yet completed. If enrollment has not opened for a particular course, students will be asked to submit a statement of Intent to Register that lists the course, institution, dates of instruction, and enrollment date.
Tuition is a flat rate of $45,000 for Wisconsin residents (including reciprocity for MN residents) or $60,000 for nonresidents.
Some financial aid will be available, but federal and state aid is limited for second degrees.
All prospective accelerated students will also need to submit an additional application to UW–Madison’s Office of Admissions and Recruitment. Candidates who were previously enrolled at UW–Madison (whether or not a degree was earned), as well as candidates who are applying to enter UW–Madison for the first time, must complete the UW System application for second-degree seeking students in addition to the School of Nursing application. Click here for more information.
Note that applying to the accelerated BSN program disqualifies a candidate from also applying to the traditional BSN program during the same calendar year.
Applications
To be considered, you must complete two application forms:
- UW–Madison Application: Candidates who were previously enrolled at UW–Madison (whether or not a degree was earned), as well as candidates who are applying to enter UW–Madison for the first time, must complete the UW System application for second-degree seeking students in addition to the School of Nursing application by September 15.
- Major: Nursing (Accelerated)
- Start term: Summer 2021
- School of Nursing Supplemental Application for the Accelerated BSN Program: The application deadline has passed. All eligible applicants must participate in an interview in order to be considered for this program.
- Application period open: July 15
- Application deadline: September 15 @ 11:59pm (CT)
- In-Person Interview: November 5–6, 2020. Interview dates and times will be assigned by the School of Nursing.
- Notification of decisions: End of December
Applications are accepted once a year to start the program in May.
Review of Applications
Successful applicants have strong academic ability as well as leadership, participation in extracurricular activities, service, and healthcare experience. We also consider professional goals and diversity in experience and background. Admission is highly competitive and based on a thorough and holistic evaluation of each application.
About the Application
Applications are submitted online here (only live during the annual application period). There is no fee to complete the nursing application. There is no lifetime limit to the number of times a prospective candidate may apply to the Accelerated BSN program.
The online application has four main sections:
- Applicant Information: Name, contact information, etc.
- Academic Information and Educational History: Provide a list all the colleges and universities you’ve attended to date, including dates of attendance, total credits received, and degree(s) earned (if applicable). Complete a table indicating how and where you completed the seven prerequisite and general education courses.
- Work Experience and Involvement Table: List up to five of your most notable activities or accomplishments (leadership roles, community service, employment, other activities, honors, awards), with the amount of time you dedicated to each and a description of your impact, participation or accomplishments.
- Personal Statements (Essays): Answers to three personal statement questions will be required in the preliminary application; an additional “on-demand” essay response will be required in-person and on-site. Questions are subject to change each year.
The School of Nursing sends admission decisions via email in December. Admitted students must accept the offer of admission and confirm intent to enroll by January 20, as detailed in the admission letter.
Appealing a Decision
Every application denied has already been through an extensive faculty review. For an appeal to have merit, it must bring to light new compelling academic and/or personal information, as well as details pertaining to extenuating circumstances, that were not addressed in the initial application. Essentially, the appeal must present information that clearly shows the student to be stronger than had been earlier evidenced.
While all appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the percentage of decisions that are reversed based on an appeal is historically very low.
There is no special form. Appeals should include a letter outlining the argument for an appeal. Supporting documentation may also be included. The following rules apply:
- Applicants can only appeal once and decisions resulting from an appeal are final.
- Appeal letters must be written and submitted by the applicant, along with supporting documentation as appropriate, within 10 business days of the deny decision.
- Waitlist decisions cannot be appealed.
Submitting Your Appeal
Appeals must be submitted to the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs. Email and regular mail are both acceptable formats for submission. It is our usual practice to respond to appeals within 10 business days of the receipt date.
Email admissions@nursing.wisc.edu.