BSN Second Degree
Second Degree Entry Option for the BSN Program
This option is available for students who want to earn a BSN and who already have a BS or BA degree in a field other than nursing. If you have an Associate Degree in nursing, please see the BSN program.
- Students with prior baccalaureate degrees are EXEMPT from the WKU general education requirements, as you have already met general education requirements in your prior degree program.
- Students with a prior baccalaureate must still complete certain nursing specific pre-requisites prior to entry into the nursing program, as noted below.
- Once accepted into the nursing program, you will join with other BSN students and complete the entire nursing curriculum in 4 semesters.
- Pre-Requisite Courses for Second Degree Students (may be transferred from your prior
degree if you took an equivalent course)
- Chemistry 109- Chemistry for Health Professionals (4 hrs, includes a lab)
- Math 115 or Math 116 - College Algebra
- **Bio 131 Anatomy and Physiology I (4 hrs, includes a lab)
- **Bio 231 Anatomy and Physiology II (4 hrs, includes a lab)
- HMD 211 Human Nutrition (3 hrs)
- Biology 207 Microbiology (3 hrs)
- Psy/Psys 220 Developmental Psychology (3 hrs)
- Statistics (3 hrs) You can take any ONE of the following courses to meet this requirement. Math 183, Econ 206, Social Work 344, Soc 300, PH 383 or PSY/PSYS 313.
- Nursing 102 Introduction to Professional Nursing
- Nursing 324 Pathophysiology (pre-requisite beginning spring 2018)
**NOTES: You must have a grade of C or better in all of the required science courses listed above. Anatomy and Physiology I and II must have been completed at the same institution no more than 5 years prior to application to the nursing program. Students who have obtained a minimum grade of "C" in Anatomy and Physiology more than 5 years prior to application, must either retake the courses or demonstrate current competency by scoring 77% or higher on the Anatomy and Physiology section of the HESI Entrance Exam prior to application to the nursing program.
Students applying for the BSN program must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75. Students with prior degrees whose overall GPA is less than 2.75 but who have a GPA over 2.75 in the above classes, can request an exception to this requirement. The exception (if granted) allows the admissions committee to consider only the above classes, that must be complete, when calculating the student’s overall GPA. The exception is not automatically granted and it is up to the admissions committee to grant or deny this request.
You must have completed at least 10 of the 15 hours of the science classes at the time of application to the program, as grades in these classes are part of the admissions formula. This does not apply to students asking for the GPA exception mentioned above (all pre-requisite courses must be complete for the exception). You must also have completed the HESI exam at the time of application to the program. Application Deadlines are posted on the BSN program page
Application & Deadlines
Students are eligible to apply to be a nursing major only after completing the majority of the pre-requisite classes. Students must have either successfully completed all pre-requisite courses or be enrolled in the remaining pre-requisite courses at the time of application into the nursing program.
All applicants are required to complete the HESI Nursing Entrance Exam prior to applying to the BSN program and to send a copy of those scores with the application. The HESI exam evaluates general knowledge in areas of Reading Comprehension, Anatomy & Physiology and Math. Students may take the HESI exam one time during each application cycle. Students may not retake the SAME exam version. The HESI nurse entrance exam scores are valid for one calendar year.
Click here to register for the HESI Entrance Exam
A completed School of Nursing Application and a copy of your HESI entrance exam scores must be submitted electronically by the application deadline date to nursing@wku.edu . Please indicate BSN Application in subject line. NOTE: Applicants with previous course work that does not directly transfer to WKU as one of the pre-requisites, can be given permission to use other courses by sending the syllabus to the program coordinator to be evaluated. Please send your request in an email to nursing@wku.edu, Attention: Program Coordinator.
Applications for Fall admission must be submitted by February 1.
Applications for Spring submission must be submitted by September 1.
Application: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Application
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This is not an online or distance program. This is not a weekend or evening program. This is not a part-time program and it is not an accelerated program.
The WKU BSN nursing program is only available on the main campus, which is located in Bowling Green Ky. The nursing program is designed so students take their pre-requisites prior to entry into the actual nursing program, and then complete all of their nursing requirements in 4 semesters of full-time coursework.
The BSN nursing program is very intense. Once you are admitted to the nursing program you need to plan on this program taking all of your time and attention. The most common reason for failure from the nursing program is over-commitment of students (jobs, family obligations, personal health problems). If you are not able to commit to four semesters of "overtime" study, (class, clinical, labs), nursing is probably not a good choice for you at this point in your life.
Nursing is one of the most popular majors on campus, and it is an excellent career choice. However, it is a limited enrollment program, which means that students are ranked on the basis of overall undergraduate GPA, completion of pre-requisites courses, science grades, and admissions test scores. We take the top ranking students into the program each semester.
Please contact the School of Nursing at 270-745-3391 or email: nursing@wku.edu for more information.
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