Click here for the Program Requirements
The School of Nursing offers a 59-credit Collaborative Program in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County (UWWRC) leading to a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree.
Prerequisites for Admission to the Collaborative Program
Admission to the Collaborative Program requires a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all courses that satisfy Edgewood University degree requirements and a minimum GPA of 2.75 in all required math and science courses. Required math and science courses must have been taken within 8 years of admission to the first nursing course for credit in the nursing major. A grade of “C” or better is necessary in each required math and science course.
Students are admitted to the Collaborative Program in both Fall and Spring semesters (if enrollment minimums are met). Students anticipating admission to the Collaborative Program for the Spring semester must complete their application between August 15 and October 1. Students anticipating admission to the Collaborative Program for the Fall semester must complete their application between November 15 and February 1. Candidates for admission are required to submit applications through the Nursing Centralized Application Services (NursingCAS) at http://nursingcas.org/. Students must submit all official transcripts and reference information to NursingCAS directly.
Applicants must complete at least 60 University credits prior to the semester the enter the Collaborative Program.
These 60 credits must include the following courses (or their transfer equivalent):
- ENG 110 W - University Writing
- MATH 121 M - Statistics, MATH 114A - University Algebra, or higher
- PSY 101 J - General Psychology
- PSY 345 - Lifespan Development
- CHEM 120 S - General Chemistry I
- BIO 155 SU - Human Cell Biology & Genetics
- BIO 210 - Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIO 211 - Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 311 General Microbiology for Nursing
- NURS 220 - Therapeutic Principles of Infectious Disease
- BIO 412 - Pathology (may be complete first semester of program)
Students who possess a baccalaureate degree in another field from a regionally-accredited institution, or a 2-year associates of science and arts degree from Madison University or a UW school are considered to have fulfilled all of Edgewood University’s General Education requirements, except COR courses. Post-baccalaureate students entering the Collaborative program must meet all the School of Nursing requirements for support courses in the major.
For students transferring into nursing, BIO 155 is not a prerequisite for admission into the program if Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, and Microbiology have been successfully completed and approved for transfer. Students who have met those specified requirements should contact their advisor to request a special arrangement waiver.
Policies for Admission to the Collaborative Program
Students apply for full admission to the School of Nursing’s Collaborative Program following the completion of certain prerequisite courses. Admission to the University does not imply or guarantee admission to the Collaborative Program.
The Nursing Admission Committee will review student records after applications are received. The Committee will make recommendations to the Dean and the Dean will admit the most qualified students based on cumulative GPA, math/science GPA, previous academic records, credits completed at Edgewood University, and the strength of supplemental admission criteria.
Students may be disqualified from entering the Collaborative Program if their cumulative or math/science GPA drops below the required minimum in the semester before admission.
All students who are admitted to the Collaborative Program must hold CPR/BLS for Healthcare Providers certification, complete a Certified Background Check, and meet health requirements prior to beginning nursing courses.
Admission to the Collaborative Program is competitive; even students who meet the minimum requirements may not be admitted. Because of enrollment limits in the major, the School of Nursing may deny admission to qualified students.
Applicants who are not admitted may reapply in a subsequent semester or pursue a major in another field of study. Students who have applied in the past are not given special consideration and their records will be reviewed as a member of the current applicant pool.
Progression in the Collaborative Program
In order to progress in the Collaborative Program, students must maintain an academic cumulative GPA of 2.5, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all nursing courses, and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the required math and science courses. A grade of “C” or better is required in each nursing, math, and science course. A grade of “Pass” in each clinical and simulation course is required for progression into the next nursing course. If these requirements are not met, the student is not eligible to progress in the Collaborative Program.
Current CPR/BLS for Healthcare Providers certification, physical exam, and health data are required before entering any clinical course. A number of clinical agencies require drug screening as part of the routine health data requirement. COVID vaccination and boosters are required by all clinical agencies. Students are responsible for costs associated with obtaining necessary health data or testing. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites. See the Nursing Student Handbook for specific health requirements.
The School of Nursing and all clinical agencies under contract to the School require that every student and faculty member have a background check completed by the Criminal Justice Department of Wisconsin. Background Information Disclosure forms must be completed by students before entry into the Collaborative Program. Students are responsible for notifying the School of Nursing of any criminal charges or convictions that occur while they are progressing through the Collaborative Program. Students who have been convicted of certain types of offenses may not be able to participate in clinical placements and therefore will not be eligible to earn a degree in nursing. It is also possible that a student may not be eligible for licensure by the State of Wisconsin or another state licensing authority if certain types of criminal offenses are identified in the background check.
Random alcohol and drug checks may be done in clinical agencies at the discretion of the faculty members throughout the duration of a student’s clinical experiences.
Assessment
The School of Nursing participates in an assessment process that compares Edgewood University nursing students with other nursing students across the country using a standardized exam. The computerized examinations, completed at regular intervals throughout the curriculum, provide benchmarks for student performance in critical thinking, nursing process, and therapeutic communication. The results are useful in preparing students to take the national licensing examination after graduation. Student abilities in meeting other program objective are evaluated throughout the program of study.
Goals for the Nursing Major
Upon completion of the program, graduates will:
- Integrate the liberal arts into the practice of nursing.
- Apply skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety to provide high quality health care in a systems environment.
- Translate current evidence into the practice of nursing.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology.
- Integrate knowledge of health care policies, including financial and regulatory influences, on the health care system as they relate to quality care.
- Perform communication and collaboration skills consistent with professional standards when working in inter-professional settings to improve health services.
- Assimilate health promotion and disease prevention strategies at the individual and population level.
- Integrate professional standards or moral, ethical, and legal conduct in nursing practice.
- Formulate a personal professional practice model that addresses accountability, continuous professional engagement, and lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the care of patients, including individuals, families, groups, communities and populations across the lifespan and across the continuum of health care environments.
