The College of Nursing's BSN Second Career/Degree (CD2) pathway is designed for students with a bachelor's in another discipline who are looking to pursue a career in nursing. This program combines on-campus teaching from expert faculty, community-focused research in our laboratories and clinical experiences throughout the Detroit area. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and we welcome the benefits that a diverse student body brings not only to the college but ultimately to the profession of nursing. That's why we use a holistic admission process that looks at each individual applicant as just that: an individual.

Holistic admission is a competitive and thorough process that considers not only a critical evaluation of grade point averages and test scores, if applicable, but also includes healthcare related service and a completed essay form submitted by the applicant describing the personal attributes and experiences that they feel would support their admission. This entire package is what the Undergraduate Admission Committee uses to determine which students will best fit the program.

Complete a request for information to immediately receive a link to pre-recorded videos to learn more about our programs. It is strongly suggested that you sign up for and attend a BSN Second Career/Degree information meeting, which covers admission requirements and program curriculum in detail, prior to applying for admission.

Pre-admission advising

We encourage prospective students to work directly with the Office of Student Affairs to learn more about how your previous studies have prepared you for the BSN Second Career/Degree program. Both former WSU students and prospective students can use the STARS system to make an appointment for a virtual or in-person advising session (prospective students will need to make an account; all students will need to select “Explore Nursing – Second Career/Degree Pathway” to find availability for an appointment). In preparation for your appointment, be sure to have your transcript information ready so your advisor can make appropriate course recommendations for a successful application to the CD2 program.

Prerequisite courses

Make sure you have reviewed the prerequisite courses that must be completed before you apply.

• BIO 2270 + 2271 or BIO 2200: Microbiology* (BIO 1050 and/or BIO 1510/1511 may be needed as a prerequisite)
• BIO 2870: Anatomy & Physiology (BIO 1050 and/or BIO 1510/1511 may be needed as a prerequisite)
• CHM 1020: Survey of General Chemistry or CHM 1060: General, Organic and Biochemistry*
• PSY 2400: Developmental Psychology or PSY 2410: Health Psychology* (PSY 1010 or PSY 1020 may be needed as a prerequisite)
• NFS: 2030 Nutrition and Health
• NUR 2030: Pathophysiology Related to Nursing Practice**  (NUR 2030 can be completed during the winter semester prior to the start of the program. For applicants who do not complete this course by the end of the fall semester, this course will not be calculated in the overall prerequisite GPA.)
• Social Inquiry (SI)***
• Cultural Inquiry (CI)***

*Applicants may choose course. However, if a grade below "C" is earned in one course and the applicant takes the other in order to meet the requirement, it will count as a repeat.

**Equivalent transfer courses will only be accepted from 4-year institutions with an accredited nursing program or professional health program (ex. OT, PT, Medical School).

***SI and CI courses can be met by completing or transferring in equivalent courses listed on the Inquiry Course Group Requirements page. SI and CI courses are exempt from the 10-year expiration policy.

The CD2 prerequisite & GPA verification checklist can be used as a guide to help applicants determine if they have met the minimum prereq and overall GPA requirement for admission. BEFORE APPLYING, please verify:

1. Each course meets the minimum “C” grade.
2. That the term in which each course was taken does not exceed January 2015 (10-year expiration date).
3. Each course transfers directly to WSU as an EXACT equivalent course (if taken at another institution).
4. All 8 prerequisite courses have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.

Prerequisite Transfer Guide

The College of Nursing evaluates courses from other institutions based on guidelines and requirements established by the College. These evaluations take precedence over evaluations by other departments or the university transfer credit department. Please note: prerequisites taken at another institution must transfer to WSU exactly as the courses listed above.

• College of Nursing Prerequisite Transfer Guide - BSN
• The above PDF guide is not exhaustive of the course options transferrable from local colleges. Please use the Transfer Credit Evaluation website to find the equivalent courses offered through other colleges and universities, including those outside Michigan. If a course you have already taken cannot be found using these tools, please do not hesitate to reach out to the College of Nursing to verify transferability.

Steps to Apply to the College of Nursing

• Step 1: Apply to WSU and the College of Nursing 
• Step 2: Submit supplemental materials
• Step 3: Academic requirements
• Step 4: Submit official transcripts
• Additional information and important dates

Step 1: Apply to WSU and the College of Nursing

Applying to the College of Nursing is a two-step process. Students must first apply and gain admission to Wayne State by December 1.

NEW Wayne State students:

• You should apply as a transfer student and select pre-nursing (exploratory) as your major for the spring/summer term.
• Following admission to Wayne State, you must then apply directly to the College of Nursing via the online secondary application, which opens in September.

RETURNING Wayne State students:

• Email a request to return to WSU to registration@wayne.edu. Please indicate that you plan to apply to the BSN Second Career/Degree program once admitted. Find more information for returning students.
• Following admission to Wayne State, you must then apply directly to the College of Nursing via the online secondary application, which opens in September.

Step 2: Submit supplemental materials

When completing the College of Nursing Secondary Application, you must also include supplemental materials, which you may upload to your AppStatus page. Failure to submit all supplemental materials by the February 15 deadline will result in the application not being reviewed. These materials include:  

• Application fee: A $50 College of Nursing application fee (nonrefundable) must be paid in order for applications to be processed. 
• Essay questions: Applicants must submit answers to the following three questions. Each response is to not exceed 250 words. College of Nursing Application BSN Essay Form to your application.
  1. Describe a leadership experience that you have had (i.e., work, school, team) and/or led an initiative/ campaign to generate change and/or interest and discuss what you learned from this experience. Personal attributes of a leader include inquisitiveness, ambition, empathy and problem-solving abilities. Include a description of the leadership qualities that you possess and how they will assist you with success in the nursing program.
  2. The College of Nursing's mission statement states:
          We create and translate knowledge and educate a diverse student body prepared to excel as clinicians,
          scholars and leaders who improve health in local and global communities.
     How does your passion for nursing align with the mission of the CON?  Describe any experiences that you have had with diverse groups of people (or people who are different from you in some way). What did you learn from this experience?
  3. Courage, resiliency, and an ability to overcome adversity are important characteristics for success in the College of Nursing. Describe a time when you were faced with a difficult situation. How did these traits contribute to successfully achieving your goals?
  4. Describe how your 10+ hours of volunteer healthcare related service experience that you detailed on the Healthcare Related Service Experience Form have contributed to your desire to become a nurse.

Please use the CD2 prerequisite & GPA Verification Checklist form as a guide to check that each of these requirements is met prior to submitting your application. See Step 3 below for a full list of prerequisite requirements.

• Healthcare related service experience: You are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of healthcare related service. Provide a complete Healthcare Related Service Experience Form for each experience and upload to your Nursing Secondary Application. Examples of healthcare-related service include, but are not limited to, volunteering (unpaid) at health fairs; with senior citizens or those in Assisted Care facilities; with support groups or programs for children/adults with special needs; as a non-clerical volunteer in a hospital or community health organizations; soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
  • Service must be completed within one year of the application deadline.
  • Shadowing of a professional nurse is acceptable.
  • Volunteer experiences must be clearly distinct from any paid positions or required school-based internship or work hours.
  • Volunteer experiences may not include caring for a friend/family member.

Step 3: Academic requirements and prerequisite courses 

To be eligible to apply to the BSN Second Career/Degree pathway, you must:

• Be entering nursing for the first time.
• Have completed (or will complete) a bachelor's degree by June 1 (if conditionally admitted).

Additionally:

• You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (based on prerequisite courses only).
• You must have a minimum grade of "C" or higher in all prerequisite courses. Note: Pass/No Pass (P/N) and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grades are not accepted by the College of Nursing.
• Prerequisite courses may not be older than 10 years by the application deadline. For the 2025 cohort, courses taken prior to January 2014 will not be accepted. SI/CI requirements do not expire.
• Only one prerequisite course may be repeated within a 10-year period. Original courses with a grade of "C" or higher that were repeated for a better grade will not count as a repeat.
• Preference is given to science prerequisite courses taken at WSU.
• Credit by exam:
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP):
    • CLEP exams taken to replace an existing grade (grade less than C) will count as a repeat.
    • A maximum of one CLEP exam may be used to substitute a prerequisite.
  • AP credits or official scores for the ACT/SAT or CLEP exam must be sent to and received by the College of Nursing no later than February 15.
  • AP, ACT/SAT, and CLEP scores older than 10 years at time of application deadline will not be accepted.
• English Proficiency:
  • Non-native students whose prior bachelor’s degree was earned outside the US may need to provide proof of English proficiency. Countries exempt from English proficiency by exam can be found on the WSU international student English proficiency requirement page. If the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required, the minimum accepted scores for the College of Nursing are higher than those listed by WSU. You will need to provide scores at the following level: 101 total score with a minimum of 25 in Listening, 25 in Reading, 25 in Writing and 26 in Speaking.
  • If you have earned any degree from an accredited US college or university (associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate), you are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.

Use the CD2 Prerequisite & GPA Verification Checklist form to make sure you’ve taken all the courses needed and that your prerequisite GPA meets the 3.0 minimum.

Step 4: Submit official transcripts

Courses completed at WSU are already provided as part of your student profile. WSU transcripts are not necessary.

Applicants who have completed their bachelor’s degree outside the US (including Canada) must provide an official international transcript evaluation to Wayne State University. WSU accepts World Education Services and Education Credential Evaluators.

Applicants who are transferring courses from another institution and have not yet had official transcripts sent should request official transcripts be sent to admissions@wayne.edu or have them mailed to:

Wayne State University
Transfer Credit Evaluation
P.O. Box 02759
Detroit, MI 48202-0759

If you are taking courses during the fall semester (August-December) of the application year, all final transcripts with posted grades must be sent directly to the College of Nursing. Transcripts must be received by the College of Nursing by February 15. Official transcripts may be emailed to nursinginfo@wayne.edu.

Additional information and important dates for the 2025 cohort

All updates and communications from the College of Nursing will be sent to the Wayne State University email account. It is important to check this account regularly for updates regarding registration and other information. After applying, applications can be monitored by checking the AppStatus page. Contact us at nursinginfo@wayne.edu if there are any discrepancies. Prerequisite courses are manually entered on the AppStatus page, however it is the responsibility of the applicant to verify the AppStatus page accurately reflects their academic history.

Important dates