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RN to BSN

Program Overview

The RN-to-BSN program is available to registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The 30-credit hour curriculum is delivered entirely online. Students complete individual practicum experiences in their own community throughout the program.

Prior to entry, students must complete approximately 59 semester credit hours of prerequisite courses in the humanities and biological, physical and behavioral sciences. All coursework, including nursing courses, must have been earned from a regionally accredited institution. Students are admitted in the spring and summer terms each year and may complete the curriculum in three or four semesters, depending on their entry term.

Applicants must hold a current, unencumbered RN license or be licensed no later than the end of the first term in the program. New ADN graduates may apply and be admitted but must pass the NCLEX by the end of the first term in the program. Applicants who completed their ADN through a LVN to RN, paramedic bridge or diploma program must have earned a minimum of 35 transferable nursing credits in their program in order to apply. If an admitted student relocates to another state during the course of their enrollment, they may be unable to complete courses with a practicum component due to the regulations which many state boards of nursing impose.

Curriculum

A minimum number of hours of 300/400 level coursework is required to be successfully completed in residence at Texas A&M University to qualify for a baccalaureate degree. Transfer nursing coursework from previous RN-to-BSN programs are not accepted.

Semester 1: Summer Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 460 Nursing Dimensions and Informatics for the RN 3
NURS 461 Application of Evidence-Based Practice for the RN 3
Semester Total 6

Semester 2: Fall Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 464 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan for the RN 3
NURS 467 Leadership and Management for the RN 5
NURS 462 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for the RN 4
Semester Total 12

Semester 3: Spring Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 463 Health Assessment for the RN  3
NURS 466 Community Health for the RN 5
NURS 465 Care of the Older Adult 2
NURS 468 Professional Practice Issues for the RN 2
Semester Total 12
Program Total 30

Semester 1: Spring Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 460 Nursing Dimensions and Informatics for the RN 3
NURS 461 Application of Evidence-Based Practice for the RN 3
Semester Total 6

Semester 2: Summer Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 462 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for the RN 4
NURS 465 Care of the Older Adult for the RN 2
Semester Total 6

Semester 3: Fall Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 464 Health Promotion Across the Lifespan for the RN 3
NURS 467 Leadership and Management for the RN 5
Semester Total 8

Semester 4: Spring Term

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
NURS 466 Community Health for the RN 5
NURS 468 Professional Practice Issues for the RN 2
NURS 463 Health Assessment for the RN  3
Semester Total 10
Program Total 30

Cost of Attendence

For cost of attendance, including estimated cost of tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and more, visit Aggie One Stop.

Application Deadlines

Entry Term Spring
Application Opening Date Step 1: Nursing CAS
June 1
Step 2: ApplyTexas
August 1
Application Deadline Nursing CAS
August 1
ApplyTexas
October 15
First Class Day January
Mandatory Nursing School
Orientation Date
TBD
 
Entry Term Summer
Application Opening Date Step 1: Nursing CAS
Nov. 1
Step 2: ApplyTexas
Jan. 1
Application Deadline Nursing CAS
Jan. 15
ApplyTexas
March 1
First Class Day May
Mandatory Nursing School
Orientation Date
TBD

 

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.

Admission Criteria

It is strongly recommended applicants present a GPA above 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale). To be eligible for admission consideration, applicants must have an ADN and prerequisite and nursing science GPA of 2.5.

Applicants will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:

  • Prerequisite coursework GPA; graduate coursework is not considered
  • Nursing science GPA from nutrition, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, lifespan growth and development, and Texas A&M University core equivalent math course
  • GPA in associate degree in nursing coursework
  • Timed verbal responses and written assessments
  • Community service
  • Leadership/involvement in extracurricular and/or professional activities
  • TOEFL score, required of international applicants only
  • History of withdrawals, repeats or failures will place applicant at a disadvantage
Repeated Course Policy

Students may repeat prerequisite courses; however, grades earned from both the first and a second attempt will be used to determine the final GPA. Any additional attempts will not be considered. If a grade of "C" is not earned within two attempts, the student will not be eligible for admission.

When deciding to repeat a course, consider the impact the course will make on your GPA. Courses from the nursing science prerequisites (nutrition, lifespan developmental psychology, chemistry, Texas A&M core math, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology) may impact your GPA when repeated. 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.

Criminal Background Check

Criminal background checks are required of all applicants. Prior criminal convictions may cause one to be ineligible for licensure as a registered nurse. Applicants will be responsible for obtaining a background check and paying appropriate fees to be fingerprinted for the Texas Board of Nursing. The board will provide applicants with notification of their eligibility (or not) for future RN licensure following their successful completion of a nursing degree. Results are typically returned within six weeks of fingerprinting if there is no record of criminal history.

In order to apply for licensure as an RN, students must declare any eligibility issues with the Texas Board of Nursing. The board will notify applicants who may not meet conditions for future RN licensure after results of the fingerprinting are received. Individuals who have significant criminal history will likely be ineligible for licensure. If there is any history of criminal charges, alcohol or drug abuse or mental health concerns, students must file a declaratory order petition to the Board of Nursing. The time required to review a petition can be lengthy so students are encouraged to begin the process early in the application process.

An offer of admission from the College of Nursing will not be final until the completion of the background check with results that are deemed favorable. Admission may be denied or rescinded based on the review.

Application Requirements

  1. NursingCAS application and nonrefundable application fee
  2. Official college transcripts from each institution attended sent to NursingCAS (this includes Texas A&M University, if applicable)
  3. Apply Texas 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)
  4. Online interview and online written assessments through the secondary assessment provider, Kira Talent (eligible applicants will be sent invitations to complete this portion following review of their NursingCAS application)
  5. One professional reference evaluation (submitted in NursingCAS)
  6. Professional resume (submitted in NursingCAS)
  7. RN licensure (submitted in NursingCAS)
  8. Completion of prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of “C” by the first class day
  9. Unofficial high school transcript (only required for students not currently or previously enrolled at Texas A&M University; an official copy will be required if admitted)
  10. 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.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements between the College of Nursing and community colleges allow a seamless transition from an associate to a bachelor's degree. Articulation agreements identify each school's required coursework to ensure students take the necessary courses.

Contact us to learn more about each school's specific articulation agreement course requirements.

South Texas College

Eva Magallan

Eva Magallan, MEd, MA

Academic Advisor IV
956.668.6328
Angelina College

Shelby Nerren

Shelby Nerren

Academic Advisor III
936.633.3293