Program Overview
MSOE pairs caregiving with one of the state’s most technology- and simulation-rich curricula (the Ruehlow Nursing Complex, ~180 lab hours, and 15+ simulations) — and backs it with near-perfect outcomes: a 96-100% first-time NCLEX rate and 100% graduate placement.
The Accelerated Second-Degree BSN (BSN-ASD) at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is a compressed, year-round program that lets individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field enter nursing practice in approximately 16 months. The curriculum spans 62 credits across four semesters and admits two cohorts a year, in August/September and January.
As an engineering and technology university, MSOE integrates technology and caregiving throughout the program:
- students train in the Ruehlow Nursing Complex,
- a technology-rich experiential learning and simulation center,
- completing roughly 660 clinical hours and 180 lab hours
- plus at least 15 simulations across hospitals and health care agencies around metro Milwaukee
Outcomes are exceptional — MSOE reports first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates consistently in the 96-100% range (with a recent cohort at 100%), and 100% of its 2024-25 nursing graduates are employed, enrolled in graduate school, or serving in the military.
Accreditation & Licensure
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and the master’s degree program in nursing at Milwaukee School of Engineering are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and have full approval of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
The BSN-ASD satisfies the educational requirements for RN licensure in 49 states and territories (including Wisconsin, California, Texas, and New York); a few states have not yet been evaluated, and none currently list the program as non-compliant.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
Admissions & Requirements
- BA or BS degree in a non-nursing field from a regionally accredited institution
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; GPAs between 2.7 and 2.99 may be reviewed case-by-case and require an interview
- Prerequisite coursework completed (applicants may finish prerequisites after admission but must complete all coursework at least three weeks before the program starts)
- CLEP credits may be accepted for certain subjects with scores of 60 or higher
- Application through MSOE’s School of Nursing (rolling)
Prerequisite subject areas: anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, statistics, psychology, ethics, and mathematics. Review the program’s prerequisite list for specific course equivalents.
Curriculum
The BSN-ASD is a 62-credit, four-semester sequence delivered year-round, blending classroom theory, technology-rich lab work, simulation, and clinical practice. Coursework emphasizes evidence-based practice, communication, cultural competence, and leadership.
NUR 1000 – Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice (PBEL)
Introduces the foundations of professional nursing — its history, core values, ethics, roles, and standards of practice. Students build critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and scholarly writing skills while examining how personal values and bias affect care.
NUR 2003 – Pathophysiology (ASD)
Provides a comprehensive understanding of disease processes — etiology, manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment — grounded in pathophysiology and homeostasis. Students apply clinical judgment to interpret diagnostic tests and recognize disease progression across body systems.
NUR 2004 – Pharmacology (ASD)
Covers how drugs affect physiological systems, including pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, and safe administration. Students develop clinical reasoning for medication safety and patient education, with attention to high-risk drugs and genetic factors.
NUR 2015 – Health Assessment and Foundations of Safe, Person-Centered Nursing Care (ASD)
Introduces the core concepts and skills for safe, person-centered care, including health assessment, basic care, safety, and medication administration. Students use the nursing process to plan, implement, and evaluate care while accounting for social, cultural, and personal factors.
NUR 3030 – Population Health (PBEL)
Focuses on public and community health, using the nursing process to address the needs of specific populations through community-based approaches. Students apply epidemiology, health promotion, policy, and disaster-preparedness concepts to real-world population health problems.
NUR 3001 – Transcultural Dynamics in Healthcare (PBEL)
Examines how culture shapes health perceptions, resource use, and care decisions, building cultural competence and humility. Students reflect on personal biases and learn to partner with clients as experts in their own cultural care.
NUR 3015 – Episodic and Restorative Health Care (ASD)
Applies the nursing process to deliver safe, person-centered care to episodic and restorative populations across the lifespan, with an emphasis on preventing complications. Students refine communication, health education, and teamwork skills through clinical experience.
NUR 3016 – Acquisition of Psychomotor Skills and Integration of Clinical Reasoning (ASD)
A lab-based course where students build the psychomotor skills for safe nursing care through deliberate, repetitive practice with guided feedback. Simulated experiences strengthen clinical reasoning, prioritization, delegation, and teamwork.
NUR 4010 – Supportive Care for End-of-Life, Mental Health, and Trauma-Informed Care
Applies the nursing process to individuals and families needing supportive care in mental health, trauma-informed, and end-of-life situations. Students develop assessment, communication, and advocacy skills while examining the impact of culture, stigma, and access on care.
NUR 4015 – Chronic Health Challenges (ASD)
Centers on the nurse’s role as provider, coordinator, and advocate for people living with chronic conditions across the lifespan. Students apply the nursing process to chronic illness while considering trauma, health disparities, and social determinants of health.
NUR 4901 – Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice (PBEL)
Introduces the research process and evidence-based practice, preparing students to appraise research quality and evidence levels. Students learn to apply the best available evidence — alongside clinical expertise and client preferences — to support safe, quality care.
NUR 4001 – Preparing for NCLEX Licensure Success
Prepares students for the NCLEX-RN by integrating prior content and building individualized, reflection-based remediation plans. The course emphasizes clinical judgment, test-taking strategies, and the regulatory bodies that govern nursing practice.
NUR 4020 – Complex High Acuity Health Challenges
Focuses on caring for clients with critical, high-acuity needs by examining how physiological, psychological, and environmental factors shape dynamic health patterns. Students prioritize care across the lifespan and build proficiency with health information technology for decision-making.
NUR 4030 – Practice Synthesis: Preceptorship and Simulations
Prepares students for professional practice through preceptorship and simulation experiences that build confidence, prioritization, and time management. Case scenarios and summative simulations strengthen clinical judgment, conflict management, and delegation.
NUR 4902 – Nurses as Leaders in Advancing Health Care (PBEL)
Develops nurses who can lead and manage safe, high-quality, patient-centered, and fiscally responsible care while navigating ethical and legal issues. Students complete a professional practice project that addresses a real-world healthcare problem through evidence-based change.
More detail is available in the MSOE academic catalog.
Clinical Training & Time Commitment
Clinical preparation is extensive, with over 660 hours of hands-on training, 180 lab hours, and at least 15 simulation experiences. Clinical placements take place in a variety of settings around metro Milwaukee — including mental health facilities, children’s hospitals, and critical care centers — and students complete a capstone preceptorship and leadership project in their final semester.
The Ruehlow Nursing Complex provides a high-tech learning environment with the School of Nursing labs and a state-of-the-art Simulation Center.
The program is intensive: students are in class roughly 10-15 hours weekly, with an additional 15-18 hours in lab or clinicals, plus study time. MSOE strongly advises against outside employment during the program.
Tuition
Total estimated cost for the program is approximately $59,876, based on four terms of tuition ($14,120 per term × 4 = $56,480) plus a per-term technology fee ($849 per term × 4 = $3,396).
MSOE positions the program as a premium option justified by its extensive simulation facilities and strong placement outcomes; grants, loans, and scholarships may be available.
Confirm current figures via the official undergraduate tuition page.
Other Nursing Options
In addition to the BSN-ASD, MSOE offers a traditional four-year BSN track for first-time and transfer students, plus graduate nursing options including a Master of Science in Nursing (including a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track). Both BSN tracks emphasize direct clinical entry and guarantee progression for full-time students who meet academic standards.