Western Carolina University School of Nursing

Western Carolina University (WCU) is a public university in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina, which operates a total of ten campuses. It was established in 1889 and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the University of North Carolina system. The university was originally founded to teach students living in the mountains of western North Carolina. It now serves students from 48 states and over 35 countries. Annual enrollment exceeds 11,000 students. The university is in Jackson County, in the valley of the Tuckasegee River, which is about 52 miles west of Asheville and near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Nursing programs are taught at the WCU School of Nursing. CCNE-accredited programs at WCU include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, and MSN programs. Students enrolled in the traditional BSN program complete their liberal arts education during their freshman and sophomore years before starting their nursing curriculum. During the last two years, students also complete clinical experiences at healthcare agencies located throughout the western North Carolina region. The accelerated BSN program is designed for working nurses and includes both online courses and traditional classroom learning. This program should be completed in just four semesters.