Nursing Major

The philosophy of the department is that professional nursing is based on knowledge of the arts, sciences, humanities and nursing. UT provides unique opportunities for nursing students to balance “learning by thinking” with “learning by doing.” Students have the opportunity to be taught by a nationally recognized faculty as well as expert nurse clinicians in current practice. The program offers a learning environment rich in experiences encompassing state-of-the-art technology and clinical expertise in health care provision.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree offers a comprehensive program of learning for students without previous preparation in nursing. The nursing curriculum consists of 125 credit hours, 60 credits from general education courses (including electives) and 65 from nursing courses. Of the 27 nursing courses, nine have a clinical component.

Admission requirements are consistent with those of the university. Additional requirements are detailed under the Progress in the Program section below.

A student seeking to enter the four-year BSN program initially applies to UT as a regular undergraduate student. After successfully completing the designated 49 credits, the student applies for admission to the nursing program. The baccalaureate program is a competitive program; meeting minimal requirements does not guarantee admission. The deadline to apply to the Nursing Program is Oct. 15.

Four-Year BSN Admission Requirements

  • Completion of prerequisite courses (49 credits) with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.
  • A grade of “C” or better in all prerequisites. (Prerequisites include the courses listed below. These courses must be completed prior to the second semester of sophomore year. Gateways courses apply to UT freshmen and are replaced with other coursework for transfer students.)
  • Meeting core performance standards, including the following:

Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment and cognitive skills to acquire, assimilate, integrate and apply information.

Ability to communicate in English effectively/therapeutically with people from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.

Interpersonal skills sufficient to interact effectively with people from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.

Components of Application

  • Written application to the Department of Nursing.
  • A personal statement (one page) discussing reasons for electing the nursing major.
  • One letter of recommendation from an academic source.
  • Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) score offered through Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). See below for information on this test.

Upon acceptance to the nursing program and prior to initiating any clinical/laboratory courses, students are subject to additional departmental requirements as noted in the departmental handbook.

Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) examination

Prospective nursing students are required to complete the TEAS exam as a part of the application process. At the time the test is taken, the student must select UT as a designated school to receive electronic results. Scores must be received from the testing service by the university by the application deadline. For more information, visit the ATI website at atitesting.com.

Progression in BSN Nursing Program

In order to progress toward their degree, students must pass a progression plan including standardized testing.

Visit www.ut.edu/nursing for information on the four-year BSN curriculum and prerequisites.

Degree Requirements

Prerequisite courses for a four-year BSN degree:

FYW 101Writing and Inquiry

4

FYW 102Writing & Research

4

SOC 100Introduction to Sociology

4

MAT 160College Algebra

4

HSC 230Human Anatomy and Physiology I

3

HSC 231Human Anatomy and Physiology II

3

HSC 234Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory

1

HSC 235Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory

1

CHE 150Chemistry for Health Care Professions

4

PSY 200General Psychology

4

PSY 210Development I: Child Psychology

4

BIO 183Microbiology for the Allied Health Sciences

3

Required courses for a four-year BSN degree:

NUR 201Foundations of Nursing

3

NUR 210Intro to Pathophysiology

3

NUR 213Professional Skills in Nursing

3

NUR 213LProfessional Skills in Nursing Lab

2

NUR 218Health Assessment and 218L

4

NUR 312Nursing Care of Adults

2

NUR 312LNursing Care of Adults Laboratory

1

NUR 313Nursing Care of Older Adults

2

NUR 313LNursing Care of Older Adults Laboratory

1

NUR 314Nursing Care of the Developing Family

2

NUR 314LNursing Care of the Developing Family Laboratory

1

NUR 315Nursing Care of Children

2

NUR 315LNursing Care of Children Laboratory

1

NUR 322Contemporary Issues in Health Care

3

NUR 345Pharmacology

3

NUR 347Clinical Human Nutrition

2

NUR 410Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan

2

NUR 410LMental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan Laboratory

1

NUR 412Nursing Care of Clients in the Acute Care Setting

4

NUR 412LNursing Care of Clients in the Acute Care Setting Laboratory

3

NUR 415Leadership and Management

3

NUR 422Principles of Community Health Nursing

3

NUR 422LCommunity Health Laboratory

2

NUR 432Introduction to Nursing Research

2

NUR 452Clinical Preceptorship

5

NUR 454Senior Seminar

2

NUR
Elective

3

Total Credit Hours: 65