General Information about the School of Nursing

About The School of Nursing

The School of Nursing at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington offers a program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. The purpose of this baccalaureate program is to prepare generalists who possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes with which to practice family-centered professional nursing in a variety of current and emerging health care delivery systems. In addition, the program is designed to provide a foundation for graduate nursing education.

The School of Nursing baccalaureate program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, 61 Broadway-33rd Floor, New York City, NY 10006, phone (212) 363-5555 ext. 153 and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The program is approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

The University requires 124 credit hours for a Bachelor of Science degree. Most traditional baccalaureate students enrolled at UNCW who are not yet registered nurses earn 66 credits during their freshman and sophomore years, then the remaining 58 credits are earned in the nursing curriculum during the junior and senior years. Academic advisement for students enrolled in pre-nursing and nursing courses is provided by School of Nursing faculty. For details about School of Nursing objectives, requirements, and policies, see the UNCW School of Nursing Student Handbook (Adobe Reader required).

Another option is offered by the School of Nursing for individuals who are already registered nurses and who wish to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree. The RN Access Program is a web-based application in distance learning.

The School of Nursing was granted approval to begin a new health science focus in fall 2004 with the initiation of the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Research. This undergraduate program will prepare health science professionals to participate in the science and business of developing health care products and protocols, from discovery to market and human utilization. The program is the result of a shared vision between higher education and a community partner, Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD). The first class enrolled in fall 2004.

The UNCW School of Nursing offers a two-year family nurse practitioner course of study leading to a Master of Science in Nursing. The first FNPs graduated from the program May 2000.

A second option in the Master of Science program was approved for implementation in fall 2004. The Nurse Educator Option is designed to produce a professional with the values, knowledge and skills to educate nurses for the current and future health care delivery systems. The School of Nursing collaborated with the Watson School of Education and the Department of Math and Statistics to offer courses that assist students to develop and evaluate nursing education pedagogy.