ASCEND
Program Overview
Aggie Student-Centered Express Nursing Degree (ASCEND) is an RN-to-BSN program exclusively for Blinn College nursing students.
Students complete an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree from Blinn and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Texas A&M University while co-enrolled in both institutions. ADN courses are completed in person at Blinn, while BSN courses are finished completely online through Texas A&M.
Students may apply to ASCEND during their first or second semester of the Blinn ADN Program. Depending on their Blinn entry term, students can earn their BSN from Texas A&M in as few as one semester after completing their ADN at Blinn. ASCEND graduates are eligible to receive an Aggie Ring.
For information on Blinn's ADN program, visit blinn.edu/ascend or email adn@blinn.edu.
Admission Criteria
Applicants for the ASCEND program must fall under the following conditions:
- Enrolled and attending their first or second semester in the Blinn ADN Program
- Earned a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in Texas A&M College of Nursing prerequisite, nursing science and Blinn ADN coursework
- Verification of good standing in Blinn ADN Program, signed by the appropriate official
Admissions Decisions
All applicants will be notified of admission decisions via NursingCAS in March.
Prerequisite Coursework
Courses may be in progress during the application cycle; however, all courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" by the first class day. See below for a list of required courses. All courses are subject to approval by the College of Nursing.
In addition to the required prerequisites listed below, students receiving a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University must satisfy the coursework requirements of the university's Core Curriculum.
By the application deadline, applicants must have completed a minimum of 40 prerequisite course credit hours of the 59 hours required. Of those 40, 12 credit hours must be from the following nursing science courses: General psychology (3), lifespan psychology (3), statistics (3), chemistry (4), anatomy and physiology (8), and microbiology (4).
Nursing science courses are in bold.
| Subject | Course Name | Texas Common Course Number | Semester Credit Hours | TAMU Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communications | Any two courses from core list | Any two courses from core list | 6 | See TAMU Core Curriculum |
| American History | Any two courses from core list | Any two courses from core list | 6 | See TAMU Core Curriculum |
| Government | Federal Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 | POLS 206 |
| Government | TX Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 | POLS 207 |
| Creative Arts | Any course from core list | Any course from core list | 3 | See TAMU Core Curriculum |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture | Any course from core list (Philosophy or Ethics recommended) |
Any course from core list (PHIL 2306 or 1301 recommended) |
3 | See TAMU Core Curriculum (PHIL 111 or 251 recommended) |
| Science | Nutrition | BIOL 1322 | 3 | NUTR 202, 203 or 222 |
| Science |
Zoology, Biology, Physics or Chemistry II | BIOL 1413, BIOL 1406/1407, PHYS 1401/1402, or CHEM 1412 | 4 | BIOL 107, BIOL 111/112, PHYS 201/202, or CHEM 120 |
| Math | Any course from core list | Any course from core list | 3 | See TAMU Core Curriculum |
| Social and Behavioral Science | General Psychology | PSYC 2301 | 3 | PBSI 107 |
| Psychology* | Developmental Lifespan Psychology | PSYC 2314 | 3 | PBSI 225 |
| Math | Statistics | MATH 1342 | 3 | STAT 201 |
| Science | Anatomy & Physiology I |
BIOL 2401 | 4 | BIOL 319, NUTR 366 or VIBS 305 |
| Science | Anatomy & Physiology II |
BIOL 2402 | 4 | BIOL 320, NUTR 367 (starting spring 2025) or VTPP 423 |
| Science | General/Introductory Chemistry I with lab | CHEM 1405/1105 or 1411 | 4 | CHEM 119 |
| Science |
Microbiology | BIOL 2420 or 2421 | 4 | BIOL 206 or 351, NUTR 440 or VTPB 405 |
* PBSI 307 is acceptable if completed prior to spring 2022
Students applying from other Texas public institutions may take up to three hours of math which meet that institution's core curriculum requirements. Out-of-state or private university applicants must have three hours of math from the Texas A&M Core Curriculum.
Repeated Course Policy
Students may repeat prerequisite courses. A student with two prerequisite course failures in the past five years is ineligible for admission consideration.
When deciding to repeat a course, consider the impact the course will make on your GPA. For example, earning a “C” on the first attempt of biology and an “A” the second attempt may not significantly impact the prerequisite GPA since this calculation includes all grades for completed prerequisite coursework. Applicants must consider the time and cost of repeating courses as it can be difficult to greatly improve one’s GPA.
Visit How to Calculate GPA for assistance in determining your prerequisite coursework and nursing science course GPA.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Proficiency in a foreign language is required to graduate from Texas A&M. This requirement can be met by having completed two years of the same foreign language in high school, completing two semesters of the same foreign language at the university level or demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language by examination.
Texas A&M Course Equivalency
Applicants from other Texas public institutions may transfer courses listed under their institution's core curriculum to satisfy the corresponding requirements for the Texas A&M College of Nursing. For questions about what courses may or may not transfer from other institutions, see the Texas A&M Transfer Course Equivalency Matrix. If a course is not listed in the matrix or noted as "TRNS" (transfer by title), email nursingadmissions@tamu.edu to identify the appropriate course of action to determine course transferability.
Applicants from out-of-state or private universities must complete courses that are Texas A&M core equivalent.
Application Deadlines
| Texas A&M entry term | Summer | |
|---|---|---|
| Application opening date | Step 1: NursingCAS Nov. 1 |
Step 2: ApplyTexas Jan. 1 |
| Application deadline | Nursing CAS Jan. 15 |
ApplyTexas March 1 |
| Mandatory orientation date | TBD | |
CURRICULUM
Students enter ASCEND in the fall or spring at Blinn and co-enroll at Texas A&M to complete their BSN courses.
Blinn ADN Fall Entry
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1513 |
Foundations for Nursing Practice |
5 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1215 |
Health Assessment |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1301 |
Pharmacology |
3 |
|
|
Semester total |
10 |
|
Instituion |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1341 |
Common Concepts of Adult Health |
3 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1260 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Common Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2213 |
Mental Health Nursing |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2160 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Mental Health Nursing |
1 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1144 |
Nursing Skills II |
1 |
|
|
Semester total |
12 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
TAMU |
NURS 460 |
Nursing Dimensions and Informatics for the RN |
3 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 464 |
Health Promotion Across the Lifespan for the RN |
3 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 465 |
Care of the Older Adult |
2 |
|
|
Semester total |
8 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1343 |
Complex Concepts of Adult Health |
3 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2261 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Complex Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1412 |
Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family |
4 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2261 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family |
2 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 468 |
Professional Practice Issues for the RN |
2 |
|
|
Semester total |
13 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2231 |
Advanced Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2262 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Advanced Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2263 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Preceptorship |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2121 |
Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management |
1 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 463 |
Health Assessment for the RN |
3 |
|
|
Semester total |
10 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
TAMU |
NURS 466 |
Community Health for the RN |
5 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 461 |
Application of Evidence-Based Practice for the RN |
3 |
|
|
Semester total |
8 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
TAMU |
NURS 462 |
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for the RN |
4 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 467 |
Leadership and Management for the RN |
5 |
|
|
Semester total |
9 |
Blinn ADN Spring Entry
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1513 |
Foundations for Nursing Practice |
5 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1215 |
Health Assessment |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1301 |
Pharmacology |
3 |
|
|
Semester total |
10 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
TAMU |
NURS 460 |
Nursing Dimensions and Informatics for the RN |
3 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 464 |
Health Promotion Across the Lifespan for the RN |
3 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 465 |
Care of the Older Adult |
2 |
|
|
Semester total |
8 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1341 |
Common Concepts of Adult Health |
3 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1260 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Common Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2213 |
Mental Health Nursing |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2160 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Mental Health Nursing |
1 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1144 |
Nursing Skills II |
1 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 468 |
Professional Practice Issues for the RN |
2 |
|
|
Semester total |
11 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1343 |
Complex Concepts of Adult Health |
3 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2261 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Complex Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 1412 |
Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family |
4 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2261 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Nursing Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family |
2 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 463 |
Health Assessment for the RN |
3 |
|
|
Semester total |
14 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
TAMU |
NURS 466 |
Community Health for the RN |
5 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 461 |
Application of Evidence-Based Practice for the RN |
3 |
|
|
Semester total |
8 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2231 |
Advanced Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2262 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Advanced Concepts of Adult Health |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2263 |
Clinical - Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse/Preceptorship |
2 |
|
Blinn |
RNSG 2121 |
Professional Nursing: Leadership and Management |
1 |
|
TAMU |
NURS 462 |
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for the RN |
4 |
|
|
Semester total |
11 |
|
Institution |
Course Number |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
TAMU |
NURS 467 |
Leadership and Management for the RN |
5 |
|
|
Semester total |
5 |
Cost of Attendance
For cost of attendance, including estimated cost of tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and more, visit Aggie One Stop.
Application Requirements
- NursingCAS application and nonrefundable application fee
- Completion of prerequisite coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 by the first class day
- Minimum of 3.0 GPA in Blinn ADN fall and/or spring semester(s)
- Final verification letter of admission/good standing from the Blinn ADN program by the date of the first class.
- Official transcripts from each institution attended sent to NursingCAS (this includes Texas A&M University, if applicable)
- ApplyTexas application and nonrefundable application fee as required for students not currently enrolled at Texas A&M University or for currently enrolled students who will earn their first degree prior to nursing (complete this upon notification through NursingCAS)
- International applicant credentials (if applicable)
Information Sessions
Interested students are invited to attend an information session to learn more about our programs of study. These sessions provide details on admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, student life, clinical experiences and other opportunities. Students are required to attend an information sessions prior to requesting an individual appointment.
- Reservations are required to attend a session.
- Guests of registered attendees are welcome.
- Sessions last approximately 60-90 minutes.