Frequently Asked Questions – BSN & ABSN

Undergraduate BSN (UPPER DIVISION) & ABSN Program

I’m not a Pre-Nursing major, when can I declare Pre-Nursing?

  • Students who are not admitted as a pre-nursing major and were not denied during the initial Admission process can change their major based on the following criteria:
  • Freshmen: Must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 30 credit hours by the end of their 2nd semester at UNCC
  • Transfers: Must have completed 15 credit hours at UNCC and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Students will meet with an advisor to determine their eligibility. Once you are determined that you’re eligible to change, you will be referred to the School of Nursing for a final review and major change request. Normally it takes 2-4 weeks for a change of major request to be processed.

I was denied Pre-Nursing during the initial Admission process. When can I declare Pre-Nursing?

  • You can change your major based on the following criteria:
    • Freshmen: Must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 30 credit hours by the end of the 2nd semester at UNCC
    • Transfers: Must have completed 15 credit hours at UNCC and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA

When can a student apply to the Upper Division BSN program?

  • The Upper Division selection process admits students into both the Fall and Spring semesters. For the class entering in Fall, applications will be available the previous November 15th. The deadline to apply is January 31st. For the class entering Spring, applications will be available June 15th and the deadline to apply is August 31st.

When can a student apply to the Accelerated BSN program?

  • The School of Nursing (SON) admits to the Accelerated BSN nursing program option in the Fall semester only.
  • The application deadline to apply for a Fall start is January 31st. 

Do I have to be finished with all of the pre-requisite courses before I apply to the Upper Division BSN program?

  • Pre-requisite courses must be completed or in progress when you apply to the Upper Division Nursing program.
  • Three (3) out of the five (5) of the science courses and their labs must be completed with a B or higher prior to applying.
  • If you are applying for Fall admission, all remaining pre-requisite courses must be completed satisfactorily (grade of C or better) by the end of the preceding Spring semester.
  • Applicants for Fall admission may not complete pre-requisite courses in the summer immediately prior to beginning to Upper Division coursework.
  • Students applying for Spring admission may be enrolled in the final pre-requisite courses during the preceding Fall semester.
  • There are no exceptions to this policy.

Do I have to be finished with all of the pre-requisite courses before I apply to the ABSN program?

  • Students applying for the Fall ABSN admission option should complete required prerequisite courses by the end of the Spring semester preceding their admission. 
  • In addition, students must have a previous bachelor’s degree, Associate in Arts degree, or Associate in Science degree to be eligible for the ABSN Option.

What are the pre-requisites for the Upper Division BSN and ABSN program?

  • Intro to General, Organic and Biochemistry I (with Lab) – B or higher
  • Intro to General, Organic and Biochemistry II (with Lab) – B or higher
  • Anatomy & Physiology I (with Lab) – B or higher
  • Anatomy & Physiology II (with Lab) – B or higher
  • Fundamentals of Microbiology (with Lab) – B or higher
  • Writing and Inquiry I
  • Writing/Research in Disc II
  • College Algebra or higher
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • General Psychology
  • General Nutrition – B or higher
  • Human Growth & Development – B or higher
  • In addition, students must have a current certificate as a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA I) and be listed on the NC Nurse Aide Registry prior to beginning classes in the Upper Division.
  • You do not have to be a CNA I to apply to the Upper Division Nursing program.

Who can be admitted to the Upper Division BSN program?

  • Once a student has completed all of the required nursing pre-requisite courses (with a grade of B or better for Science/labs/Nursing classes and C’s or higher remaining prerequisites) and has achieved a minimum pre-requisite GPA of 3.0, he or she is eligible to apply to the Upper Division Nursing program.
  • Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be admitted. Consistent with University policy, the School offers admission to applicants whose credentials present the best qualifications among those meeting minimum requirements.

How do you determine who is admitted to the Upper Division BSN program?

  • The Upper Division Pre-Licensure Nursing Program admits 64 students each semester.
  • For each applicant, the pre-requisite GPA is calculated based upon grades earned in the pre-requisite courses.
  • Additional consideration (points) is given to students with 30+ credit hours completed at UNC Charlotte, 50+ hours of paid or volunteer experience in a human-based healthcare environment and/or a previous Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
  • The point accumulations for all of the applicants are numerically ranked from highest to lowest and the top 64 students are admitted to the Upper Division program. The next ten (10) highest ranking students are placed on a waiting list.
  • Eligible applicants not admitted may reapply for future terms.

What grades are taken into consideration when you calculate the pre-requisite GPA?

  • When calculating the pre-requisite GPA, only grades from the pre-requisite courses are taken into consideration, regardless of where you completed the courses.
  • If you have taken related science courses that are not pre-requisites for the Upper Division program, they will not be included in your pre-requisite GPA.

Will being an EMT or a Certified Medical Assistant help me be admitted into the nursing program?

  • It’s possible these positions will likely have provided you with a realistic knowledge base and valuable hours of “healthcare experience” for which you may earn points when you apply to the Upper Division Nursing program.

What if, after being offered admission to the Upper Division program, I don’t pass a Nursing pre-requisite course in the current semester? May I re-take it and still progress into the Upper Division program?

  • No. All Nursing pre-requisite courses must be completed satisfactorily (meeting grade requirements of B/C or higher) by the end of the semester in which you are applying.
  • For instance, if you are admitted to the Upper Division Nursing program for the Fall, that admission is “conditional”, pending successful completion of your Spring pre-requisite courses.
  • If you are admitted for the Spring, that admission is “conditional”, pending successful completion of your Fall pre-requisite courses. (Pre-requisite courses cannot be completed in the Summer for Fall admission.)
  • The grades of pre-requisite courses enrolled at the time of application will be verified prior to “unconditional” admission to the Upper Division Nursing program.
  • Those who are not successful in one or more of the pre-requisite courses will have their admission rescinded and are eligible to re-apply for a future term.

May I take my General Education and Nursing pre-requisite courses at a North Carolina community college?

  • Yes. However, since additional consideration is given to students with 30+ credit hours completed at UNC Charlotte, completing the pre-requisite and General Education courses at another school disadvantages your application to the Upper Division program.
  • If you are already a student at UNC Charlotte at the time you decide to take a course(s) at other schools, you are required to complete a “Petition for Transient Study” form prior to enrolling in the course(s).

Do I really need to see an academic advisor? I already know what the pre-requisite courses are.

  • Yes, you should see an Academic Advisor on a regular basis (at least once a semester).
  • Your Advisor can assist you through the ‘ups and downs’ of college life, assist you in making appropriate course selections, and answer questions about University and College policies.
  • Ultimately, you are responsible for your academic plan of study, but an Academic Advisor is an excellent resource.

What clinical requirements must I fulfill once I am admitted to the Upper Division BSN and ABSN program?

  • Our Nursing program has clinical contracts with many different healthcare facilities. Each facility has varying requirements for students.
  • Please review the 3 CEP (Centralina Consortium for Clinical Education and Practice webpage for information regarding the clinical requirements: https://www.southpiedmontahec.org/student-services/3cep

If I am admitted to the Upper Division BSN and ABSN program, what additional costs should I expect?