Skip to Search Skip to Global Navigation Skip to Local Navigation Skip to Content
University Health Professions Office

Nursing

For a printable PDF version of this information - Click Here

Overview

There are several pathways toward entering the nursing profession.  This handout will focus on the pathway for students who, with no prior nursing experience or education, intend to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).  At The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing (UTHSCSA SON), this approach is called the “Traditional Track” and requires two phases.  The first is the completion of pre-nursing coursework at an undergraduate institution.  After being accepted into the School of Nursing at UTHSCSA, students complete the second phase of upper-division nursing courses leading to a BSN.  The following courses represent what courses may be taken at UTSA to fulfill the core and program prerequisites for entry into the UTHSCSA SON Traditional or Accelerated BSN Program.  There is some variation in requirements for other nursing schools.  Thus, students are advised to consult individual programs for their specific and most current information.  Supplemental worksheets that detail pre-nursing coursework from some other area institutions may also be available upon request in the University Health Professions Office (UHPO).

Timeline

Applicants for spring 2013 and after are not eligible to apply until they have completed 53 of the 62 hours of pre-nursing course requirements. Within the 53 hours, all science prerequisite coursework must be completed. Of the 62 credit hours required for entry, a maximum of 12 hours will be accepted without a letter grade, such as through advanced placement (AP), pass/fail, credit by examination, challenge examination or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Prerequisites

Click here for a printable PDF

Required Areas of Study

 

UTSA Course

Grade/ Sem

Prerequisites/ Corequisites

UTHSCSA Core Curriculum-Must receive C or better                                          

English
(6 hrs lecture)

WRC 1013

 

 

WRC 1023

 

WRC 1013

US History
(6 hrs lecture)

NOTE:  Six total hours of HIS are required. Students may choose any two of these three courses.

HIS 1043, HIS 1053 or HIS 2053

 

 

HIS 1043, HIS 1053 or HIS 2053

 

 

US Government
(6 hrs lecture)

POL 1013

 

 

POL 1133 or POL 1213

 

 

Visual/Performing Arts   
(3 hrs lecture)

Any ART, AHC, MUS or THR course  

others considered on an individual basis

 

 

Humanities
(3 hrs lecture)

NOTE:  By choosing to take PHI 2013 specifically to fulfill this requirement, student will also have necessary prerequisites to apply to the UTHSC-Houston SON.

Any “literature,” HUM, or PHI course

 

 

BIO 1033 and CLA 2323 also acceptable;
others considered on an individual basis

 

 

UTSA Prerequisites for Other Required BIO Courses

Biology
NOTE: These courses are not officially included among the program prerequisites for the UTHSCSA SON, but are required before taking the other BIO prerequisites at UTSA (ie Anatomy, Physiology etc).

¹BIO 1404 or ²BIO 1233

 

¹Completion of or concurrent enrollment in MAT 1023, MAT 1073 or higher or STA 1053 (for non-BIO majors).  CHE 1003 or higher recommended by the UHPO; ²no prerequisite required

Program Prerequisites-Must receive C or better

Biology
(12 hrs lecture; 3 hrs lab)

NOTES:  Most institutions offer Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II (A&P I and II).  UTSA offers Anatomy separate from Physiology as two separate courses.  The Anatomy and Physiology course sequence should be completed at the same institution. 

These courses are formerly known as AHS.

BIO 2083 Anatomy

 

BIO 1404 or 1233*

BIO 2091 Anatomy Lab

 

BIO 1404 or 1233*; concurrent enrollment in BIO 2083 recommended

BIO 2103 Physiology

BIO 3413 also acceptable

 

BIO 1404 or 1233*

BIO 2111Physiology Lab

 

BIO 3422 also acceptable

 

BIO 1404 or 1233*; concurrent enrollment in BIO 2103 recommended

BIO 1053 Microbiology

BIO 3713 also acceptable

 

BIO 1404 or 1233 or consent of instructor

BIO 1061 Microbiology Lab

 

 

 

BIO 3722 also acceptable

 

BIO 1404 or 1233or consent of instructor; concurrent enrollment in BIO 1053 recommended

BIO 2043 Nutrition

HTH 3013 also acceptable

 

BIO 1404 or 1233

Chemistry
(6 hrs lecture)
Please note that other nursing programs may require one or more chemistry labs.  Please refer to the prerequisite requirements for those schools and talk to your UHPO Advisor.

CHE 1003

CHE 1103 also acceptable

 

MAT 1023 or higher recommended by the UHPO

CHE 1013

CHE 1113, CHE 1153, or CHE 2603 also acceptable

 

CHE 1003

Algebra
(3 hrs lecture)

MAT 1023 or higher

 

Satisfactory performance on placement exam

Statistics
(3 hrs lecture)

STA 1053 or higher

 

Satisfactory performance on placement exam

Psychology
(3 hrs lecture)

PSY 1013

 

 

Growth & Development
(3 hrs lecture)

PSY 2503

 

PSY 1013

Sociology
(3 hrs lecture)

SOC 1013

 

 


Application Process

Application Process:  At the UTHSCSA School of Nursing, prospective students must apply online and the UTHSCSA SON must have all supporting documents by the following deadlines:
January 10 – For the upcoming Fall semester (Traditional BSN)
July 1 – For the upcoming Spring Semester (Traditional BSN)
November 1 – For the upcoming Summer Semester (Accelerated BSN)

Student Organization

Student organizations can provide important opportunities for networking, education and service. For additional information please contact the Pre-Nursing Society or visit the organization's facebook page.

UTHSCSA Accelerated BSN

The accelerated BSN program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in something other than nursing. Students will complete four semesters and 60 hours of nursing credits in fifteen months of fulltime study.