Nursing

How quickly will I be able to complete my degree?

The School of Nursing has one program and several paths which offers students the flexibility to choose the path that works best for them.

• The Traditional Path starts in January (Spring Term) and August (Fall Term) of each year and has summers off.
• The Accelerated Path starts in August (Fall Term and all four terms run back-to-back. 

If a student begins UNW as a freshman, they will complete their degree in four years (eight semesters). All Pre-requisites and core curriculum courses are completed in years 1 and 2 and years 3 and 4 focus solely on nursing courses.

If a student has credits from other universities that are accepted by UNW, their first two years could be shortened, but they will still need to complete the last two years of nursing courses at minimum. 

For students who transfer in credits that meet the UNW required pre-requisites and core curriculum courses, they would be able to complete their nursing courses in less than two years.

For more complete information on course requirements and transfer credits, students can reach out to their advisor.

Can students work while in the program?

Students are encouraged not to work because of full class loads, labs, clinicals, and studying. However, we recognize some students have to work. In these cases, we strongly suggest students find an employer who is flexible.

Do students need a car?

Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation for clinicals. Car-pooling is a possibility for some clinicals but we do suggest that each student has their own vehicle. 

Where do students go for clinical?

Our students go to a number of hospitals within the greater Twin Cities area, which includes: M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center; U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital; Regions Hospital; Lakeview Hospital; Gillette; St. Cloud VA Healthcare System; Hazelden Betty Ford; Robbinsdale Women’s Clinic; Mayo Clinic and more.

During Term 3, students will be enrolled in a transcultural course which provides students an opportunity to participate in a transcultural clinical experience, either internationally or locally. Previous student trips include: Brazil, Ecuador, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Where can I find the application?

Apply to Northwestern through your admissions portal, or contact admissions for clarity on next steps. There is no separate application for the School of Nursing. 

How do I know if I’ve met the pre-requisites?

After reviewing your official transcripts, the Admissions Department will prepare a document entitled Degree Audit. Your Degree Audit will provide you with a list of any pre-requisites and core curriculum courses you still need to take. This document can also be found in your Admissions Portal. You will have the opportunity to meet with Leane Gondek, the Pre-Nursing Student Success Program Coach, to create a plan to complete your courses prior to beginning nursing courses.

If I’m an LPN, do I still have to take all the nursing courses?

Yes.

If I’ve already taken some of the nursing courses, will they transfer in?

Because the nursing courses build on each other from term-to-term, the SON typically doesn’t accept nursing courses from other universities. However, exceptions may be submitted for consideration. Contact Leane Gondek, the Pre-Nursing Student Success Program Coach, for additional information. 

What score do I need to get on the TEAS?

We required a score of 65% or higher. Contact Leane Gondek, the Pre-Nursing Student Success Program Coach for TEAS study resources and other helpful tips.

I have an associate’s degree; do I still have to fulfill all of the core curriculum and prerequisites?

Yes, however, some credits from your degree may transfer. Contact Leane Gondek, the Pre-Nursing Student Success Program Coach, for additional information.

What are the pre-requisite I need to take before starting my nursing courses?

Students are required to earn a “C” in the following pre-requisite courses:

• Chemistry + Lab
• Composition
• Ethics
• Human Anatomy + Lab
• Human Physiology + Lab
• Lifespan Psychology
• Math 
• Microbiology + Lab
• Pathophysiology

A list of core courses will be made available during the initial steps of the application process.

Do all the prerequisites and core curriculum courses need to be completed before students progress into Term 1 of the nursing program?

All nine pre-requisite courses must be completed and passed with a “C” or higher, prior to starting nursing courses.

It’s ideal to complete all core curriculum corses prior to taking nursing courses. However, students can ‘bring-in’ up to 12 core curriculum credits to take while in the nursing program. However, these credits must be completed prior to starting Term 4 of nursing.

The complete list of required courses, (prerequisites, core curriculum and nursing courses) in order to earn the this degree can be found in the Suggested Curriculum Plan of Study.

Please note: While the Suggested Curriculum Plan of Study lists all required courses, the list may be shortened if any transfer credits have been accepted. A more complete idea can be found in a student’s Degree Audit. 

Students will work alongside Leane Gondek, their Pre-Nursing Program Success Coach, to form an individualized plan.

What does the schedule look like?

The schedule for each term varies. The classes, lab and simulation schedules are built around our clinicals; scheduled in advance by our clinical partners. Students are given access to their schedule approximately 4–5 weeks prior to the start of the term.