Program Overview
A Detroit public research university that takes two burdens off your shoulders — it guarantees a clinical placement every semester, and it admits on the whole person (service, leadership, and resilience, not just grades) — all in service of an urban-health mission focused on diverse populations and health disparities.
Wayne State University’s College of Nursing BSN Second Career/Degree (CD2) pathway is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and want to become nurses. The 20-month accelerated program (five semesters) combines on-campus teaching, community-focused research, and clinical experiences throughout the Detroit area, and admits one cohort each year for a spring/summer start.
Two features stand out: students are guaranteed a clinical placement each semester (removing the stress of sourcing their own sites), and admission is holistic — the committee weighs healthcare-related service, leadership, resilience, and essay responses alongside academic performance, welcoming students from diverse backgrounds.
With more than 75 years of nursing education and an explicit focus on urban populations and health disparities, Wayne State prepares graduates to serve where the need is greatest.
Accreditation
The bachelor of science in nursing, master of science in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at the Wayne State University College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — granted full accreditation through 2033, with no compliance concerns across all key elements reviewed. Wayne State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the program is approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN.
ABSN Admission Requirements
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses, minimum “C” grades in all prerequisites, and completion of 10+ hours of healthcare-related service. Meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission to this competitive program; an Undergraduate Admission Committee of faculty, alumni, and community partners reviews complete applications holistically.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a non-nursing discipline (by June 1 if conditionally admitted)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA based on prerequisite courses only
- Minimum grade “C” in all prerequisites; minimum 2.0 in science prerequisites
- Entering nursing for the first time
- All prerequisites current (10-year expiration from the application deadline)
- 10+ hours of healthcare-related service completed within one year of the deadline
Holistic Admission Criteria
- Academic performance in prerequisite courses
- Healthcare-related volunteer service experience
- Essay responses demonstrating personal attributes
- Leadership experience and qualities
- Alignment with the College of Nursing mission
- Resilience and ability to overcome adversity
- Passion for the nursing profession
Application Timeline
- September: College of Nursing applications open
- December 1: Transfer students must be admitted to Wayne State University
- February 15: All materials due (secondary application, fee, essays, service forms, transcripts)
- March 31: Admission decisions made no later than this date
- Early May: First day of program (spring/summer start)
- June 1: Final transcripts showing bachelor’s degree completion due
Prerequisites taken at Wayne State must be repeated at Wayne State, and preference is given to science prerequisites taken at WSU. Pass/No Pass and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grades are not accepted.
Two-Step Application Process
Step 1 — Apply to Wayne State University (by December 1): new students apply as a transfer student, selecting “Pre-Second Degree/Second Career Pre-Nursing” as the major and the spring/summer semester; returning students email the registrar to request readmission.
Step 2 — Apply to the College of Nursing (after WSU admission): complete the online secondary application (opens September), pay the $50 non-refundable fee, and submit all supplemental materials to the AppStatus page by February 15.
Supplemental Materials
Four essays (250 words max each) covering leadership, alignment with the CON mission and experience with people different from you, overcoming adversity, and how 10+ hours of healthcare-related service shaped your decision to pursue nursing. A completed Healthcare Related Service Experience Form is required for each experience (examples: health fairs, volunteering with seniors or assisted-care facilities, non-clerical hospital/community volunteering, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or shadowing a nurse; service must be distinct from paid positions or required internships and cannot include caring for friends/family).
Prerequisite Courses
Eight prerequisites plus Social Inquiry (SI) and Cultural Inquiry (CI) requirements, each with a minimum “C” grade; prerequisites must transfer to WSU as exact equivalents:
- BIO 2270 + 2271 or BIO 2200: Microbiology (5)
- BIO 2870: Anatomy & Physiology (5)
- CHM 1020: Survey of General Chemistry, or CHM 1060: General, Organic and Biochemistry (5)
- PSY 2400: Developmental Psychology, or PSY 2410: Health Psychology (4)
- NFS 2030: Nutrition and Health (3)
- NUR 2030: Pathophysiology Related to Nursing Practice (3) — may be completed the winter before the program start (not counted in the prerequisite GPA if not done by end of fall)
- Social Inquiry (SI) course
- Cultural Inquiry (CI) course
Prerequisites older than 10 years are not accepted; SI/CI requirements do not expire. One CLEP exam may substitute for a prerequisite. NUR 2030 transfer equivalents are accepted only from four-year institutions with accredited nursing or professional health programs.
Curriculum
The program consists of 65 nursing credits across five semesters, blending classroom learning with clinical components (marked with a clinical component in most upper courses). Coursework covers fundamentals, health assessment, pharmacology, adult and pediatric care, psychiatric nursing, women’s health, community health, critical care, and leadership.
First Semester (Spring/Summer)
NUR 2010 – Health Assessment (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of health assessment, focusing on holistic approaches. Students learn techniques for taking patient histories and performing physical examinations, considering health promotion, culture, mental health, and development throughout the lifespan. Critical thinking and the nursing process are emphasized to identify nursing diagnoses.
NUR 2060 – Nursing Implications of Drug Administration (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of pharmacology, focusing on how medications affect human physiology. Students explore safe, legal, and ethical practices in drug administration while learning the nurse’s role in therapeutic drug therapy. Key topics include stages of development, patient safety, and the nursing process in medication management.
NUR 4800 – Transcultural Health Through the Life Cycle (3 credits)
Students examine the cultural variations in health practices across Western and non-Western cultures. This course uses theories and research methods from health sciences, focusing on the health needs of individuals from birth through old age, highlighting the importance of cultural competence in healthcare.
Second Semester (Fall)
NUR 2050 – Fundamentals of Nursing Care (5 credits)
This course focuses on the foundational nursing care of individuals within a family and community context. Students practice fundamental nursing skills, applying critical thinking and the nursing process in clinical settings. Cultural sensitivity and therapeutic communication are key components of the course.
NUR 2995 – Foundations of Professional Nursing (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the essential principles of professional nursing, including its history, theory, and regulatory aspects. Students develop critical thinking and clinical judgment skills, emphasizing health promotion and the social determinants of health in diverse populations.
NUR 3405 – Introduction to Research and Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Students learn the basics of nursing research, focusing on evidence-based practice and how research informs clinical decisions. The course covers ethical considerations, the research process, and how to critically analyze research findings to improve patient care.
NUR 4300 – Nursing Informatics (3 credits)
This course explores the role of informatics in nursing, emphasizing how technology supports clinical decision-making and patient care. Students learn about electronic health records, data management, and the ethical implications of using digital tools in healthcare.
Third Semester (Winter)
NUR 3010 – Comprehensive Nursing Care of the Adult I (5 credits)
This course focuses on nursing care for adult patients with a range of health conditions. Students apply the nursing process to manage the care of adults, integrating knowledge from previous courses and expanding their clinical decision-making skills.
NUR 3015 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (5 credits)
Students learn the principles of mental health nursing, focusing on therapeutic communication and care for individuals with psychiatric conditions. The course includes clinical practice in mental health settings, emphasizing patient safety and holistic care.
NUR 4020 – Integrative Care of Women’s Health and the Perinatal Family (5 credits)
This course prepares students to provide care for women and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods. Students learn about the physiological and psychological changes during these stages and how to provide evidence-based care in various clinical settings.
Fourth Semester (Spring/Summer)
NUR 3020 – Care of the Adult II (5 credits)
This course covers the nursing care of adults with complex health issues, focusing on critical conditions such as neurological and endocrine disorders. Students use the nursing process to develop comprehensive care plans and provide safe, evidence-based care in acute care settings.
NUR 4010 – Integrative Care of Children and their Families (5 credits)
Students focus on pediatric nursing care, emphasizing family-centered care for children from infancy through adolescence. The course integrates knowledge of child development and health promotion strategies in both primary and acute care settings.
NUR 4040 – Leadership and Management in Nursing Practice (4 credits)
This course equips students with leadership and management skills necessary for nursing practice in healthcare settings. Topics include decision-making, team building, ethics, and evidence-based leadership practices to improve patient outcomes.
Fifth Semester (Fall)
NUR 4050 – Care of the Critically Ill Patient (3 credits)
This course prepares students to care for critically ill patients with complex, life-threatening conditions. Students focus on advanced clinical reasoning and apply their knowledge of physiology and pharmacology in critical care settings.
NUR 4060 – Synthesis of Core Nursing Knowledge (5 credits)
Students synthesize their nursing knowledge in this capstone course, preparing for entry into the profession. Clinical immersion experiences allow students to apply skills in real-world settings, focusing on clinical judgment, ethics, and patient care standards.
NUR 4120 – Community-focused Nursing Practice (5 credits)
This course emphasizes nursing care at the community level, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and addressing health disparities. Students collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to assess and improve community health outcomes.
More detail is available in the Wayne State nursing bulletin.
Clinical Experience
Students receive a guaranteed clinical placement each semester throughout the Detroit area, organized by the Office of Student Affairs and the Alliance for Clinical Education (specific placement requests are not considered). Clinical experiences span acute care, community health, mental health, pediatrics, maternal-newborn care, and critical care across diverse Detroit-area facilities.
Students must maintain a valid clinical permit and health clearance throughout the program (annual compliance verified through the CastleBranch tracker); non-compliance at a course’s start results in a 5% grade deduction, increasing 5% each subsequent week the permit remains invalid.
Health & Professional Requirements
Requirements include a valid clinical permit and health clearance (uploaded to CastleBranch), malpractice liability insurance ($1,000,000/$3,000,000 coverage), annual BLS certification, a criminal background investigation, and a ten-panel drug test.
All undergraduate students participate in the Michigan Health Council’s ACEMAPP program, which manages health status, insurance, BLS, background checks, and drug screens shared with clinical sites, along with required HIPAA, OSHA, and blood-borne pathogens training. A felony conviction or specified misdemeanors may disqualify a student from clinical courses.
Tuition & Costs
As a public university, Wayne State charges by residency and credit load (upper-division College of Nursing rates).
In-state tuition runs about $882.68 per credit (1-11 credits) or a flat $10,614.21 per semester (12-18 credits), so the 65-credit nursing major totals roughly $48,000-$51,000 in-state (about $48,230 tuition plus roughly $5,000 in fees, near $53,200 total cost).
Out-of-state tuition is about $1,757.53 per credit (flat $21,134.27 for 12-18 credits), for roughly $100,000-$105,000 total. Additional costs include the $50 application fee, malpractice insurance, BLS, background check, drug screen, and tracker/ACEMAPP fees.
Confirm current figures via the official tuition page.
Academic Policies
- Cumulative University GPA of 2.0 or above for good standing
- A grade below “C” in a professional nursing course is unsatisfactory for progression
- A maximum of one nursing curriculum course may be repeated
- Graduation requires a minimum 120 credits, the last 30 at Wayne State, and a 2.0+ GPA in residence and all nursing courses
Related Programs
In addition to the BSN Second Career/Degree pathway, Wayne State offers a traditional BSN, a BSN for Veterans, and graduate nursing programs (MSN, RN-to-MSN, DNP, BSN-to-DNP, PhD, and BSN-to-PhD).