Nursing (BSN)
Major
Explore the nursing bachelor's degree program at UW-Eau Claire
Change the world one patient at a time with a nursing bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Known for producing skilled, compassionate nurses and health professionals, our renowned program will prepare you for your career through clinical practica, interdisciplinary simulations and clinical cultural immersion experiences.
Under faculty supervision, you will gain experience in a variety of organizations, including hospitals, short-term rehabilitation centers, home care, community agencies, ambulatory care facilities, schools and nursing homes. Through these experiences, you'll work with different specialties like pediatrics, obstetrics, mental health, community health and more, making you a well-rounded, experienced hire. A strong focus on emergency preparedness allows you to learn about the roles, rationale and terminology needed to prepare for situations that require you to respond quickly.
Additional opportunities to network and enhance your learning are made available through study abroad, collaborative student-faculty research, and internships. And thanks to the program's strong reputation and local connections, many students are able to find work as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) while still in school.
Students have the option to pursue their degree at one of two campus location: at the Eau Claire campus or at the Marshfield Site. Both campuses offer students an exceptional education and strong partnerships with leading healthcare organizations, including Mayo Clinic Health System and Marshfield Clinic Health System.
Small campus offers big benefits
Kara Trainor is off to work her dream job as a nurse — an accomplishment she says would not have been possible without UW-Eau Claire's nursing program in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
“The best thing about this campus is the smaller cohort. We ended up with 14 students, and we have become a family," Kara said. “We were also able to develop professional rapport and build relationships with those who were teaching us. It made things like letters of recommendation and references a breeze when it came time to apply for internships and jobs.
“Enrolling here was the best decision I have ever made."
Nursing degree scholarships
UW-Eau Claire's nursing program is rich with scholarship opportunities. Currently, there are over 60 scholarships worth thousands of dollars for students seeking a nursing degree from UW-Eau Claire.
For example, each year the Donald and Leatrice Mathison Nursing Scholarship offers five $5,000 scholarships to nursing students. Donald is a UW-Eau Claire alum and Leatrice served as the Eau Claire Area School District's administrative secretary for 45 years. As long-time members of the Eau Claire community, their hope for the scholarship is to encourage students to enter the nursing profession.
Learn more about additional scholarships and resources available to you by checking out our scholarships page.
Financial aid at UW-Eau Claire
Working to make your college education affordable is very important to us. We are here to walk you through the financial aid process and make applying for aid and paying your bill as easy as possible.
To get this process started, please contact our staff at Blugold Central — our one-stop shop for tuition and financial aid. They will help you learn how to pay for your education and minimize debt, freeing you up to focus on academics and your nursing degree.
Learn more about our financial aid process at UWEC.
There’s no place like home
When a loved one was treated for cancer, Stacie Jacobs saw the incredible impact nurses in oncology have on cancer patients and their families. And she knew she wanted to be one of them.
However, with three kids and strong ties to central Wisconsin, moving to Eau Claire to study nursing wasn’t an option. Thanks to UWEC’s nursing program in Marshfield, Stacie could study close to home and earn her degree from a highly respected nursing program.
“Having the campus and everything right here made my transition from student nurse to intern nurse to professional nurse so much more comfortable,” Stacie said. “And the fact that my internship and clinical experience was on the same floor as where I now work as a professional nurse helped me feel at home from the first day.”
Now a nurse on the oncology floor at Marshfield Medical Center, Stacie is exactly where she hoped to be — helping others impacted by cancer.
Quick facts
Nursing program details
- Program length: four years
- Offered: in person
- Campus: Eau Claire, Marshfield
- This major does not require a minor.
Student organizations
- Eau Claire Student Nurses Association (ECSNA)
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
- American Assembly for Men in Nursing
Accreditation information
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, the master's degree in nursing, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001, (202) 887-6791. The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs are accredited through December 31, 2021, and the DNP degree program is accredited through December 31, 2026. The programs are approved by the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing.
Licensure information
The United States Department of Education requires institutions to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification.
The requirements of this program meet licensure in the following states: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Wisconsin
The requirements of this program do not meet licensure in the following states: N/A
It has not been determined whether the requirements of this program meet licensure in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming
Nursing bachelor's degree program highlights
Emergency training. Simulation experiences allow you to get a sense of what it's like to work with multiple health care organizations during a public health emergency. Scenarios covered include creating an emergency operations center and conducting a mass flu immunization clinic. These exercises allow you to practice likely events prior to experiencing them at clinical sites.
Experiential learning. Opportunities to participate in cultural clinical immersion experiences provide you with new experiences, skills and connections. Previous immersions have included work with the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the Minneapolis and Barron County Somali population, and on Wisconsin dairy farms with Hispanic migrant workers.
Purposeful travel. Broaden your perspective through study abroad and the National Student Exchange program. Popular study abroad options for undergraduate nursing students include Harlaxton, England; Puebla, Mexico; Valladolid, Spain; and Costa Rica.
Research opportunities. Many nursing faculty are engaged in cutting-edge research projects and regularly invite students to collaborate with them. Projects have enabled students to co-author manuscripts, travel and conduct research internationally and present findings at regional and national conferences.
Connection to local employers. Meeting potential employers and gaining a better understanding of the different types of care facilities is a critical component of the nursing program. To help you explore career paths, we host an annual Nursing & Health Care Professional Fair, an on-campus career fair specific for those looking to enter the health care field. This event is an excellent opportunity to make connections and submit your resume for current and future job openings.
675
hours of clinical practicum experiences
2
campus locations
300+
affiliated clinical sites
What jobs can you get with a nursing degree from UWEC?
UW-Eau Claire nursing graduates find incredible opportunities in every corner of the United States. Equipped with knowledge, skills and experiences that set them apart from other candidates, graduates are ready to promote health, advocate for others and save lives. Because of the critical shortage of bachelor's-prepared nurses — especially in rural regions of Wisconsin — many graduates find jobs before or shortly after graduation.
Where are nursing alumni now?
- Registered nurse, Sacred Heart Hospital, Wisconsin
- Director of surgical prep & recovery department, Mayo Clinic Health System, Wisconsin
- Pediatric hematology/oncology nurse, University of Wisconsin Health Systems, Wisconsin
- Hospital nursing service administrator, Mayo Clinic Health System, Minnesota
- Registered nurse, American Mobile Healthcare, California
- Coordinator of nursing special projects, Central Vermont Medical Center, Vermont
Nursing careers
- Medical-surgical registered nurse
- Labor and delivery nurse
- Clinical instructor
- Nurse case manager
- Clinical coordinator
A global education
UW-Eau Claire students are regularly encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and experience something new. Recently, a group of nursing students traveled to Taiwan to do just that, expanding on their knowledge of alternative medicine. Students spent three weeks learning from, and collaborating with, physicians, nurses and fellow students.
During their downtime, students were immersed in a new culture, even participating in a traditional tribal dance with local elders. And for nursing student Morgan Land, the experience made quite an impact.
"Participating in research, studying abroad and caring for people of diverse backgrounds were just some of the 'once in a lifetime' opportunities I was lucky enough to experience while at UWEC," she said.
Nursing bachelor's degree program curriculum
As a nursing major, you will start out with pre-nursing curriculum, taking courses in chemistry, biochemistry, human anatomy, statistics and more. Once admitted to the nursing program, you will begin your professional curriculum and training. Experiential classes, interdisciplinary learning and regular collaboration will provide you with the critical skills needed to lead within diverse and complex environments.
Classes for nursing majors may include:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice
- Nursing Care of Children and Families
- Community and Public Health Nursing
- Pharmacology for Nursing Practice
- Nursing Leadership and Systems
- Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
- Nursing Care of Women, Infants, and Families
Learn more about the comprehensive nursing major at UWEC in the UWEC course catalog.
Learn more about the comprehensive nursing major at Marshfield in the UWEC course catalog.
Application information
If you are interested in applying to the BSN Program at UW-Eau Claire please review the steps involved in the application process below.
Step 1: Apply to the University
- Current UWEC students can skip to Step 2
- Note: a valid UWEC ID and email address will be issued upon acceptance to the university when appropriate fees are paid. A UWEC ID and email are required to complete the nursing application.
Click here to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Step 2: Prerequisites Coursework and Testing
- Review the Admission Requirements (see below)
If you have any questions please contact Marcia St. Germaine (Eau Claire campus) or Dr. Rachel Merkel (Marshfield campus)
Step 3: Apply to the Nursing Program
Part A: Obtain Nursing Application materials
- Each semester UW-Eau Claire Pre-Nursing students are sent an email inviting them to attend an application meeting, which is usually held in March and October. Applications are distributed at the application meeting. Those who are unable to attend the meeting due to work or class conflict may pick up the application in the nursing building (Room 127) beginning the day after the application meeting was held.
- If not on campus, request materials to be sent via U.S. Postal Services by emailing your name and address to Marcia St. Germaine (Eau Claire campus) or Dr. Rachel Merkel (Marshfield campus)
Part B: Written Application
- Application form
- Please complete all sections of the written application form for submission by the appropriate deadline date
- Supporting documentation should be attached to this application
- Deadlines: May 1 for the spring semester, December 1 for the fall semester
Submit the written portion either by U.S. Mail or personally deliver to:
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Attn: Ms. Melissa Gullickson
Nursing Building – Room 127
PO Box 4004
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
Academic requirements
In order to be considered for admission to the nursing program, applicants must have:
- Been accepted as a pre-nursing student at the university and is currently in good standing
- Completed at least 30-semester credits, not including courses for the nursing assistant certification, with a total cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00
- Completed at least three required natural science courses, two of which are laboratory science courses, with a grade point average of at least 2.50
- Earned a grade of "C" or better in all courses required for nursing
- Completed all application materials
Note: Remedial coursework (e.g., Math 20) does not count towards the 30 required credits for admission. Chem 105 & Chem 106 together meet the nursing general chemistry requirement and constitute one course for the purpose of the nursing admission criteria.
Other data used by the Admissions Committee are derived from a variety of sources that include admission applications to the University and the nursing program, high school transcript showing rank in class, previous college records, and standardized tests such as ACT or SAT. International, non-native speakers of English applying to an undergraduate nursing program must have a TOEFL score as follows: TOEFL Written >560; or TOEFL (CBT) >220; or TOEFL (iBT) >83.
Learn more about the admission requirements and application process of the nursing program.
Related programs at UW-Eau Claire
Thinking about a bachelor’s degree in nursing? Here are other programs you may be interested in exploring.