Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Upper Division (Pre-Licensure)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Upper Division (pRE-LICENSURE)
Upper Division Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at UNC Charlotte prepares students to become skilled and compassionate Registered Nurses (RNs). This comprehensive program combines classroom instruction, hands-on clinical experiences, and innovative simulation training to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills needed for patient care in various healthcare settings. A BSN not only prepares students for immediate entry into the nursing profession but also serves as a foundation for advanced studies and leadership roles in nursing. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse.
We are excited that our program capacity has expanded and we are able to admit more students. We evaluate applicants using a holistic admissions review. Applicants will be evaluated on multiple factors, including GPA, essays, past direct patient care and/or volunteer experience, attainment of a prior degree (4-year or higher), and hours completed at UNC Charlotte.
How to Declare
Students wishing to pursue a BSN degree will be classified as a Pre-Nursing major until admitted into the upper-division Nursing program. The Nursing program prepares its students to work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, public health, home health agencies, hospice, and long-term facilities. Students earning a Bachelors of Science in Nursing are prepared to take and pass the NCLEX-RN to begin working as a registered nurse. Charlotte also offers graduate degree programs such as an MSN and/or DNP to allow students to advance in their field.
In Order to Declare Pre-Nursing as a Major, You Must:
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA with no C’s in selected Pre-Nursing prerequisite courses
- Transfer students must have a minimum of 15 completed hours at UNC Charlotte
- Freshmen students must have a minimum of 30 completed hours at UNC Charlotte
Make Sure You’re on Track
It is a great idea to sit down with your academic advisor and map out your time at UNC Charlotte. Take a look at the Pre-Nursing Check Sheet/ Academic Map to see if you’re on the right track.
Progression in the Pre-Licensure Nursing program requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and students must meet grade requirements for admission.
For More Information
Visit the CHHS Advising Center, or visit their webpage.
Application Information for Admission to the Upper-Division Prelicensure Program:
- The School of Nursing (SON) admits to the Upper Division pre-licensure nursing program in the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Students are admitted to the University as pre-nursing majors and then apply to the upper division when prerequisites are completed.
- Students applying for Spring admission must complete required prerequisite courses by the end of the Fall semester preceding their admission. Students applying for Fall admission must complete required prerequisite courses by the end of the Spring semester preceding their admission.
- For the prerequisite science courses and respective labs and for NURS 2100 and NURS 2200, all of which require a grade of B or above, Pre-Nursing students may repeat each course once to earn a B or above prior to applying to Upper Division. If a student does not earn a B or above in those courses, then they will be ineligible for admission to the Upper-Division Nursing major and will need to change their major.
- Completion of at least three (3) of the prerequisite science courses and their respective labs prior to applying to the Pre-Licensure Nursing Major options.
- The SON admissions committee will evaluate applicants based on prerequisite grade point average (GPA) and essay questions. Optional criteria include 50 volunteer hours, previous bachelor’s degree, and those applicants who have earned 30 credit hours at UNC Charlotte at time of application.
- The volunteer hours form can be found online here. Volunteer hours should be completed in a human based health care environment or a community agency that serves persons in need such as homeless shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, meals on wheels, and American Red Cross.
- Students admitted to the Upper-Division Pre-Licensure Nursing major must be certified as a Nurse Aide I (CNA I) and listed in the North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry.
Application Deadlines
FALL Cohort:
Application Opens: Nov. 15
Application Closes: Jan. 31
SPRING COHORT:
Application Opens: Jun. 15
Application Closes: Aug. 31
Licensure Eligibility
Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) The program provides the student with a background in:
- Liberal arts, through the general education requirements of the University
- Sciences, through the required nursing pre-requisite courses
- Generalist nursing education
BSN graduates are prepared to function in a variety of care settings to include hospitals, clinics, public health, and home health agencies, hospice, and long-term care facilities. Upon successful completion of the majority of nursing pre-requisite courses, students may apply to the upper division of the nursing program. For an estimate of costs associated with enrolling in the upper-division major see Estimated Program Costs.
For more information on how to declare Pre-Nursing as a major, or visit the CHHS Advising Center.
Program Contacts
