Spanish Minor
Advantages
Communicate effectively in nursing practice with clients and families whose first language is not English.
Outcome
Bilingual Registered Nurse Working in Predominantly Non-English Speaking Settings
Undergraduate Major
Nursing BSN Degree (Nursing Major)
Pursue your nursing BSN degree at a nationally-ranked, accredited school. As a Widener nursing major, you'll experience best-in-class, hands-on instruction by faculty mentors dedicated to your success—continuing our tradition of more than 50 years of nursing education excellence.
At a Glance
Click to OpenOffered as
Major
Format
On Campus
College/School
Campus Location
- Chester, PA
Explore the Nursing Major
Our BSN program is a traditional, four-year nursing program completed on-campus. As a nursing major, you'll experience hands-on coursework taught by faculty mentors who will be by your side throughout your academic journey. You'll also participate in valuable clinical experiences that prepare you for a successful career as a BSN nurse.
In addition to our four-year program, Widener also offers an advanced transfer BSN to help you get further faster—accepting as many as 60 or more transfer credits—as well as an accelerated bachelor's in nursing option (ABSN).
Widener's BSN program will meet you where you are and equip you with the skills needed to excel.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Widener University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Widener University's bachelor's of nursing degree meets state licensure requirements for all U.S. states and territories for students considering licensure (NCLEX) and/or advanced practice certification. To learn more, visit the Dwyer School of Nursing Licensure by State webpage or the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
Nursing Major Program Options
New, incoming students and transfer students with a few completed college credits will join the full-time, traditional undergraduate nursing major track.
Program Details
- Full-time, 4-year program (transfer students may complete their degree in 3-4 years, depending on accepted credits)
- Completed in-person at our Chester, PA campus
View the Loading... for curriculum and coursework requirements for the BSN degree.
As an experienced college student with 60 or more transfer credits, you may be eligible to propel your nursing education and transfer into our traditional BSN program as a junior. This unique, full-time program allows you to complete your BSN degree in as little as 5 semesters.
Program Details
- Full-time coursework starts in the summer and spans 5 semesters
- Completed in-person at our Chester, PA campus
- Reduced tuition for your first semester of summer coursework will save you around $6,000!
- Summer tuition at the start of the program is offered at the reduced general Adult & Continuing Studies rate. All other semesters will be billed at the traditional, full-time undergraduate rate. Keep in mind, starting your fall semester, you may be eligible for a transfer scholarship.
View the curriculum and coursework requirements for the BSN degree for advanced transfer students.
Set yourself apart academically by participating in the Dwyer School of Nursing honors program.
The Dwyer School of Nursing Honors Program provides opportunities for in-depth study and professional development, nurtures development as a nurse leader and educator, and prepares students for graduate school. Students will have opportunities to:
- Work with faculty conducting research
- Mentor classmates
- Cultivate leadership through community service and involvement
- Interact with faculty in small group settings
- Become involved in the university's summer research program
Nursing students are a great fit for Widener's ROTC program. Here you'll strengthen critical-thinking, self-discipline, and team-building skills that can help you excel in a plethora of nursing leadership and military careers. Widener University is also a major contributor to the Army Nurse Corps officers and offers special military training opportunities for nursing majors.
ROTC cadets are eligible for generous scholarships—up to 100% full-tuition coverage—as well as the opportunity to join the Army as a commissioned officer after graduation.
The ABSN Second-Degree Program is an accelerated nursing program for college graduates with a bachelor's degree in a different discipline. As a college graduate, you may be eligible to transform credits earned while completing your first bachelor's degree into acceptance into our accelerated second-degree nursing program. This unique, full-time program allows you to complete your BSN degree in as little as 4 semesters.
Unsure which nursing bachelor's degree is right for you? Contact our undergraduate associate dean. We'll review your academic history and career goals together to determine your right fit.
Take Your BSN Degree Further
Continue your education through the Dwyer School of Nursing's robust graduate program offerings. You can pursue master's and doctoral (PhD/DNP) degrees as well as post-graduate certificates.
Pair Your Nursing Major with a Minor or Certificate
Career Outlook & Outcomes for Nursing Majors
Why Study Nursing at Widener?
Learn Beyond the Classroom
Throughout your nursing education, you'll gain real-world clinical experience in a variety of specialties and settings. You'll problem-solve clinical scenarios in our modern nursing sim lab, practice quick-thinking assessments in our annual disaster simulation event, and have opportunities to give back to the local community through Widener's Community Nursing Clinics.
When it's time for clinical rotations in your junior and senior years, you'll not only feel prepared—you'll get matched within our network of the region's top hospitals and health care facilities.
Study Abroad and Still Graduate in 4 Years
The ability to study abroad as a nursing major is hard to find at most schools—but not here. As a Widener nursing student, you can study abroad in Madrid, Spain the fall semester of your sophomore year through a partnership with the Universidad San Pablo CEU.
Engage & Strengthen Your Nursing Network
Live and learn with fellow nursing classmates in our nursing Living Learning Community (LLC). This unique experience enables you to form even closer relationships with nursing majors in and out of the classroom. Nursing majors also have the opportunity to join various clubs and organizations to expand their network and engage with Widener nursing alums and faculty.
Experience Mentorship & Support From Day One
Student Stories
Nursing Major Highlights
Our Faculty
I’m a bedside-tested nurse, educator, and community activist with 20+ years in Philadelphia. I bridge evidence, simulation, and real-world service so you become practice-ready and equity-minded. My work expands access in underserved communities, and my scholarship focuses on health equity, including supporting youth aging out of foster care.
My goal is to help students think critically, lead with compassion, and apply evidence-based strategies to real-world healthcare challenges. I believe leadership in nursing extends beyond formal titles—every nurse has the power to create meaningful change. Through active learning, reflective practice, and a commitment to ethical leadership, I guide students in building the confidence and skills needed to navigate today’s complex healthcare environments.
"My teaching philosophy has its roots in Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy. I believe that students learn (and clients change behaviors) through observing others perform activities, doing the activities themselves, having positive feedback provided, and having their anxieties decreased."
As a Nurse Educator, one of the pedagogical strategies I use is experiential learning, an approach that links course objectives with activities to contextualize learning as students develop clinical judgement. Experiential learning is particularly impactful in combination with community engagement, especially for raising social awareness and emphasizing the importance of social justice in health care.
"As a teacher, my role is to help students go beyond the facts. It is equally important to help students grow as people, support their professional and intellectual development, and to expand their world views. Through this growth process, students better understand themselves, their clients, and the clients' experiences."
Clinical care has always been a passion of mine. My career started in EMS and progressed to Emergency Services and Critical Care Programs for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients. My students appreciate my ability to bring the clinical patient to life in our classes. Exceptional care is my passion.
Getting to know students as learners and humans is vital to me. I feel the best way to support and empower learning is to understand the learner. There are many great aspects of teaching nursing and one of my favorites is watching our Widener nursing students bloom into practicing nurses. When I teach, I firmly believe in being authentic and transparent with my students
Recent News
Nursing Students Hone Their Emergency Preparedness Skills with Disaster Simulation
More than 100 Widener nursing students participated in a realistic disaster simulation, applying emergency preparedness, triage, and evacuation skills alongside Chester first responders.
Widener Announces $10 Million Gift, Unveils the Jack & Nancy Dwyer School of Nursing
Jack ’78 and Nancy Dwyer’s gift -- the biggest in Widener’s history -- will rename the nursing program and advance its mission of graduating nurse leaders.
‘President for a Day’ Swap Gives Nursing Student a Taste of Leadership
Nursing student Elizabeth Martin had a unique leadership experience while swapping places with Widener President Stacey Robertson as “President for a Day,” and Robertson got to experience student life firsthand.
Admissions & Aid
Our admissions and financial aid teams are here to support you every step of the way. Have a question? Ask away!
Admissions Information
All incoming first-year students must have completed a high school-level chemistry course prior to enrolling.
Applying to Widener is easy—and free! Simply complete our Widener Application or the Common Application. You'll also need your official high school transcript and either an admissions essay or your SAT/ACT scores. We're a test-optional school, so there's no need to submit both.
When to Apply
We accept applications on a rolling basis—there are no hard deadlines. Apply when you're ready and we'll take a look as soon as we receive your app.
Key dates to keep in mind:
- October 1: FAFSA opens for the next academic year (Widener's school code is 003313)
- November 1: Early Action deadline and decision notifications begin
What to Expect After Applying
Once we receive your application and all materials, you can expect to hear back from us quickly. Along with your application decision, you'll also find out about any merit-based scholarship awards. You're automatically considered for merit scholarships as soon as you apply—you don't need to apply separately.
Learn more about the application process
Waiting List Details
Seat availability for the nursing program is limited. Once seat capacity is reached, students may be placed on a waiting list and they will be notified as seats become available and as soon as possible. Admission into the program is not a guarantee for students placed on a waiting list. The waiting list is not deferred to the next available intake, but students can apply again if so desired.
Our BSN program fills up fast! If you're admitted and ready to say YES to joining the Widener pride, be sure to confirm your enrollment early. Once our program reaches capacity, we cannot guarantee a spot.
Widener offers two transfer pathways for nursing students—a traditional transfer student with a few completed credits as well as an advanced transfer student with 60 or more completed credits.
- Application Deadlines:
- Traditional Transfer: None! We offer rolling admissions so you can apply any time.
- Advanced Transfer: Applications are due by January 15.
- Application Requirements:
- Completed application to Widener University specifying a major in nursing
- 3.0 GPA (both cumulative and science) in previous course work with a pattern of academic success
- Letter of good standing from the dean/director/chair of the nursing program for students whose transcript contains evidence of nursing courses, including a statement indicating the student is eligible to return to the school
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- For the advanced transfer pathway, the following 60 credits should be completed, including 4 sciences:
- Chemistry (4 credits, including lab) *Must be taken within 5 years
- Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits, including lab) taken within 5 years
- Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits, including lab) taken within 5 years
- Microbiology (4 credits, including lab) *Must be taken within 5 years
- Statistics
- Nutrition
Visit the How to Apply as a Transfer Student page for more information about transferring into Widener, how transfer credits are evaluated, and scholarships especially for transfer students.
Waiting List Details
Seat availability for the nursing program is limited. Once seat capacity is reached, students may be placed on a waiting list and will be notified as seats become available. Admission into the program is not a guarantee for students placed on a waiting list. The waiting list is not deferred to the next available intake, but students can apply again if so desired.
International applicants, immigrants to the U.S., and U.S. permanent residents are required to submit the results of an English proficiency test taken with 2 years, unless they are from a TOEFL-exempt country.
Financial Aid
Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college—an investment in your future—affordable. This free, online application is the gateway to grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education offers billions of dollars in financial aid to eligible students. Widener gets in on the action, too, annually awarding aid to students with need.
You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is 003313.
Paths to Savings
Nearly 100% of Undergrad Students Receive Financial Aid
Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive significant financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities–but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.
The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.
Scholarships Start at $100,000 Over 4 Years
(including $20,000 per academic year for transfer students)
Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win! Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
Advanced Transfer Students Save Around $6,000
If you're transferring into Widener's BSN program with 60 or more qualified transfer credits, you may be eligible to receive significant savings. You'll kick-off your coursework at a reduced summer Adult & Continuing Studies tuition rate and be eligible for for a transfer scholarship. This ends up saving an average of $6,000—not to mention quite a bit of time!
4+2 Students Complete 3 Grad Courses at No Added Cost
In the 4+2 BSN+MSN program, you'll complete three graduate courses as an undergraduate major at no additional cost. This adds up to significant savings—both in time and tuition! Interested students can apply for the 4+2 program in the fall of their junior year to enroll in any of our MSN degree options.
ROTC Cadets Eligible for Up to 100% Tuition Coverage
Cadets in the ROTC program are given the opportunity to have a significant portion of their education paid for through scholarships—as high as 100% full-tuition coverage. If eligible, the scholarship program has numerous benefits for cadets including room and board, a monthly stipend, and more.
After graduation, cadets also have a direct pathway to a paid career with the option to advance into the military as a commissioned officer.
Undergraduate Admissions Office
-
Muller Hall
University Pl
Chester, PA 19013
- 888-WIDENER
- admissions.office@widener.edu
Dwyer School of Nursing Undergraduate Programs Office
-
Founders Hall, Room 308
- (610) 499-4254
- sjeffers@widener.edu
Stephanie Jeffers
Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs
-
Founders Hall
Room 308 - (610) 499-4254
- sjeffers@widener.edu