School of Nursing
Introduction
The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is nationally recognized as one of the premier nursing schools in the United States. With a trifold mission of excellence in nursing education, research, and service, the School of Nursing offers a full complement of nursing education programs, including bachelor’s and master’s of science in nursing, a doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.), a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.), pre- and postdoctoral fellowships, and post-master's certificate programs. Since its inception in 1950, the school has led nursing education in North Carolina, and today boasts one of the highest nationwide pass rates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and a rich tradition of cutting-edge nursing science. The School of Nursing is one of few schools in the country to house a biobehavioral laboratory for the promotion of nursing discovery.
Program of Study
The School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers an undergraduate program of study designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to function effectively in all areas of professional nursing. The curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree offers two options for study:
- two years of upper-division courses in the School of Nursing, which follow two years of lower-division courses in the General College (or equivalent courses completed at another college/university);
- an accelerated second degree option for students with a previous bachelor’s degree (A.B.S.N.).
Students are subject to the requirements in place when they are admitted to the School of Nursing; consequently, the requirements described in this Catalog apply to students admitted to the School of Nursing during the 2026–2027 academic year.
Admission to the program is required.
Advising
All first degree students intending to major in nursing have a primary academic advisor in the Academic Advising Program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor to learn the latest course requirements necessary to become an outstanding candidate for the nursing major, and to review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. In addition, students can visit the Health Professions Advising Office soon after entering the University for specific guidance on career preparation. Advising information, advising hours, and information about joining the pre-health listserv may be found on the office’s website.
Facilities
The School of Nursing is located in Carrington Hall. The Education-Innovation-Simulation Learning Environment (EISLE) provides students with a simulated clinical environment in which to practice and acquire fundamental psychomotor and psychosocial skills necessary for clinical application. Under the close supervision of nursing faculty and teaching assistants, students learn therapeutic techniques, develop clinical judgement, and prioritize patient care in simulated situations.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
The school offers a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree in five advanced practice areas, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in nursing science. B.S.N. graduates may pursue the M.S.N. or D.N.P. after one year of clinical practice, or they may pursue the Ph.D. directly following the B.S.N., prior to completion of master’s-level coursework. For further information on the graduate program, contact the Office of Student Affairs or visit the school website.
The school works closely with University Career Services to prepare all B.S.N. graduates for the transition from student to professional nurse. A preparatory career development series and career fair are offered annually. Additionally, the school cooperates with clinical agencies across the country to make available to students an array of information on employment opportunities.
Requirements Lower-Division Courses in the General College
Students are admitted to the baccalaureate nursing program at the upper-division level. All lower-division courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester. Lower-division courses taken at another college or university must be approved for transfer by the UNC–Chapel Hill Office of Undergraduate Admissions as comparable to the courses offered on this campus. Prospective students can request an unofficial transfer evaluation to determine the status of compliance with lower-division requirements. Prospective students may submit their transcripts for review through the School of Nursing transcript evaluation request form.
Students must complete all First-Year Foundation requirements, all Reflection and Integration requirements, and complete at least six (6) Focus Capacity requirements (plus the Empirical Investigation Lab requirement) as part of the IDEAs in Action General Education curriculum. Special Note: Applicants must complete the two-course combination, Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II sequence from the same college/university, OR a complete course in anatomy and a complete course in physiology. If these courses are not completed on this campus, they must be approved equivalents to the courses offered at UNC–Chapel Hill.
Beginning with the fall 2020 application cycle (fall 2021 matriculation), the 5-semester B.S.N. option is open to first degree applicants only. Students holding a bachelor’s degree in another field may apply to the 4-semester accelerated B.S.N. option or the Military Pathway.
First Degree Applicants
Students seeking a first bachelor’s degree are admitted to the upper-division (junior/senior) B.S.N. (five-semester) option, typically in the spring semester of the sophomore year. Students must complete all lower-division (first-year/sophomore) courses by the end of the spring semester prior to matriculating into the School of Nursing. The first nursing courses begin in the fall of the junior year.
Students seeking a first bachelor's degree who are Armed Forces Veterans or Active Duty service members from any branch, including past service in the Reserves or National Guard, may choose to apply to the Military Pathway. The requirements for the Military Pathway are the same as those for the B.S.N. (5-semester) option.
Beginning in Fall 2026, the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Nursing launched the Assured Admission program for first-time applicants to UNC Undergraduate Admissions. Applicants are identified through a holistic review of their undergraduate application, and no separate or supplemental application is required. Selection is based on exceptional academic achievement, meaningful extracurricular involvement, and demonstrated interest in the nursing profession.
Admission Criteria
Admission to the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Nursing is competitive. The minimum cumulative GPA for admission to the B.S.N. option or Military Pathway is 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, and the minimum cumulative GPA for the A.B.S.N. option is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants seeking admission to the A.B.S.N. as second-degree students must have completed their first degree by the December prior to the start of the program and must be eligible to return to all previously attended institutions.
At the time of application, A.B.S.N. applicants must have completed at least three of the five key prerequisite science courses, including Anatomy or Anatomy and Physiology I. Applicants to the B.S.N. or Military Pathway must also have completed at least three of the five science prerequisites by the application deadline, including Anatomy and Physiology I. The five key science prerequisites are BIOL 252/252L, BIOL 253/253L, MCRO 251 (with lab), PSYC 101, and STOR 151, STOR 155, or STOR 120. For first-degree students, additional requirements include CHEM 101/101L and CHEM 102/102L or BIOC 107 and BIOC 108.
BIOL 252/252L, BIOL 253/253L, and MCRO 251 must have been completed within the past five years. PSYC 101 and STOR 151 or STOR 155 must have been completed within the past ten years. Beginning with the May 2022 application cycle, A.B.S.N. applicants must also have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the five key science courses at the time of application. Admissions committee review follows the process described above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| BIOL 101 & 101L | 
Principles of Biologyand
Introductory Biology Laboratory H, F | 4 |
| CHEM 101 & 101L |
General Descriptive Chemistry I and
Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I H, F | 4 |
| or BIOC 107 | Introduction to Biochemistry | |
| CHEM 102 & 102L |
General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H, F | 4 |
| or BIOC 108 | Introduction to Biochemistry | |
| Key Science Courses | ||
| BIOL 252 & 252L |
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 1,4, H | 4 |
| BIOL 253 & 253L | Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 1,4 | 4 |
| MCRO 251 | Introductory Medical Microbiology 1,4 | 4 |
| PSYC 101 |
General Psychology 2,5, F | 3 |
| One course from the following: | 3 | |
|
Introduction to Data Analysis 2,5 | ||
|
Introduction to Data Models and Inference 2,3,5, H, F | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
A grade of B- or better is required.
- 2
A grade of C or better is required.
- 3
STOR 155 is strongly recommended for students interested in graduate study.
- 4
Must have been completed within the past five years.
- 5
Must have been completed within the past ten years.
The admissions committee critically evaluates each applicant’s academic performance, descriptive essays, community service history, and special skills and abilities that have the potential to affect care delivery or contribute overall to the nursing profession. The ideal applicant will clearly demonstrate a strong academic history as well as a commitment to the ideology of nursing and service to others. Performance in required science courses is particularly important.
Second Degree Applicants
Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing may pursue admission to the accelerated and intensive A.B.S.N. (four-semester) option. Second degree students will have 60 credit hours from their previous degree counted toward the B.S.N. degree. Applicants must complete (or verify completion as part of their previous degree) only five courses from the lower-division requirements.
Students who have completed bachelor's degree in a subject other than nursing who are Armed Forces Veterans or Active Duty service members from any branch, including past service in the Reserves or National Guard may choose to apply to the Military Pathway.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 252 & 252L |
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology and Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 1,4, H | 4 |
| BIOL 253 & 253L | Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 1,4 | 4 |
| MCRO 251 | Introductory Medical Microbiology 1,4 | 4 |
| PSYC 101 |
General Psychology 2,5, F | 3 |
| One course from the following: | 3 | |
|
Introduction to Data Analysis 2,5 | ||
|
Introduction to Data Models and Inference 2,3,5, H, F | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
A grade of B- or better is required.
- 2
A grade of C or better is required.
- 3
STOR 155 is strongly recommended for students interested in graduate study.
- 4
Must have been completed within the past five years.
- 5
Must have been completed within the past ten years.
Application
Applications for the B.S.N. option and B.S.N. Military Pathway option may be submitted by the December deadline for fall (August) matriculation, while applications to the A.B.S.N. option may be submitted by the August deadline for summer (May) matriculation. The application link, instructions, deadlines, and decision timeframe can be found on the School of Nursing website.
Tenured/Tenure Track
Distinguished Professors
Jada Brooks, Ashley Leak Bryant, Cheryl Giscombe, Cheryl B. Jones, Saif Khairat, Shawn Kneipp, Jennifer Leeman, Sheila Santacroce, Mark Toles.
Professors
Ashley Leak Bryant, Cheryl Giscombe, Cheryl B. Jones, Saif Khairat, Shawn Kneipp, Jennifer Leeman, Sheila Santacroce, Brent Small, Mark Toles, Margaret C. Wilmoth.
Associate Professors
Jada Brooks, Leslie Davis, Rachel Hirschey, Eric Hodges, Cathi Propper, Natalia Villegas Rodriguez, Jessica Williams, Jessica Zegre-Hemsey.
Assistant Professors
Lorinda Coombs, Matthew LeBlanc, Lisa Mansfield, Isabel Roth, Rebecca Salomon, Jihye Kim Scroggins, Karen Sheffield-Abdullah, Grace Wu.
Research Associate Professors
Jamie Crandell, Sinhye Kim, Todd Schwartz, Bharathi Zvara.
Fixed Term Track
Professors
Jennifer Alderman, Rumay Alexander, Suja Davis, Jean Davison, Rebecca Hill, Valerie Howard, Rhonda Lanning, Carrie Palmer, Theresa Raphael-Grimm, Victoria Soltis-Jarrett, Lisa Woodley, Meg Zomorodi.
Associate Professors
Brandi Apple, Maureen Baker, Susana Barroso, Samantha Bernstein, Julie Jacobson-Vann, Maureen Kelly, Rebecca Kitzmiller, Shannon Matthews, Audra Rankin, Leslie Sharpe, JoAn Stanek, Elizabeth Stone, Tracy Vernon-Platt, Megan Williams.
Assistant Professors
Elizabeth Baldwin, Candace Beddard, Alzora Benjamin, Kandyce Brennan, Amanda Brinson, Michael Bury, LaTonia Chalmers, Beth Cosgrove, Cathy Crawford, Bethany Davis, Stephanie Fisher, Nicole Forlan, Jean Hammer, Sharon Jackson, Ann Marie Jones, Stephanie Machalicky, Melody McCune, Rachel McInerney, Rebecca Michael, Felicia Mosley-Williams, Leigh Mullen, Krystal Pendergraft-Horne, Katherine Peppers, Paige Randall, Erin Stanley, Nancy Thompson, Jessica White, Sarah White.
Instructors
Marlena Brokob, Marco Castro, Ryan Lewis, Megan Ross, Scotty Switzer, Cara Winstead.
Nurse Specialists
Cheyenne Hochhalter, Tali Horn, Laura Livingston, Dianna Monroe, Makkada Morrison, Lonna Patel, Samantha Sheets Mapel.
Faculty Emeriti
Ruth Anderson, Linda Beeber, Beth Black, Barbara Bunker, Margaret E. Campbell, Marianne Cockroft, Linda Cronenwett, Jo Ann Dalton, Jennifer D'Auria, Molly C. Dougherty, Margery Duffey, Carol Durham, Noreen Esposito, Catherine I. Fogel, Beverly Foster, Cynthia M. Freund, Sandra G. Funk, Barbara Germino, Jean Goeppinger, Edward Halloran, Joanne Harrell, Donna Havens, Carol C. Hogue, Margaret F. Hudson, George Knafl, Kathleen Knafl, Betty H. Landsberger, Patricia Lawrence, Vickie Lester, Mary Lynn, Barbara Mark, Deborah Mayer, Laura McQueen, Margaret Miles, Nancy Milio, Helen M. Murphy, Betty Nance-Floyd, Virginia Neelon, Sonda Oppewal, Julie Page, Mary Palmer, Nilda Peragallo Montano, Susan Pierce, Shielda Rodgers, Barbara C. Rynerson, Margarete Sandelowski, Mary Schuler, Gwen Sherwood, Anne Skelly, Lixin Song, Ingrid Swenson, Eleanor Taggart, Anita Tesh, Suzanne Thoyre, Debbie Travers, Marcia Van Riper, Julie Waldrop, SeonAe Yeo.
