The curriculum for the BSN Track focuses on nursing skills and theory.  Content is taught online, in the classroom, in laboratories, and in clinical practice. Courses cover the provision of nursing care across the life span and address individuals and their health care needs in the context of the family and the community. In addition, the upper-division course work emphasizes theories and fundamentals of nursing leadership, management, and research.

Typically, a full-time student will spend 16 to 18 hours a week in clinical settings with patients and 10 to 12 hours in classroom and laboratories at the School of Nursing. Required upper-division courses can be completed in four semesters of full-time study.

All applicants to the Fall 2010 Baccalaureate pre-licensure programs (accelerated_ Bacc2 and Traditional –Generic) are required to take the ATI (Assessment Technologies Institute) TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test and the test of Critical Thinking. The results of this assessment  are included in the overall evaluation of your application for admission. These tests can be scheduled through the at an ATI testing site.

ABOUT THE ATI TEST:

Every college-level educational program begins with a solid foundation in Reading, Math, Science, and English and Language Usage. Your previous educational roles might have given you all the preparation you need. However, you might have just gotten by, or perhaps it’s been quite a while since you had to tackle those subjects in school.

ATI TEAS has four parts that ask you to answer multiple-choice questions covering the following:

• Reading – paragraph comprehension, passage comprehension, and inferences/conclusions (40 items, 50 minutes)
• Math – whole numbers, metric conversion, fractions, decimals, algebraic equations, percentages, and ratio/proportion (45 items, 56 minutes)
• Science –science reasoning, science knowledge, biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, basic physical principles, and general science (30 items, 38 minutes)
• English and Language Usage – punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, contextual words, and spelling (55 items, 65 minutes)

The Critical Thinking test has 40 questions.

ATI also has a study manual available for purchase.

PRIOR TO THE TEST:

Admission Requirements

In addition to general university admission requirements, applicants for the full-time pre licensure BSN program must satisfy the following, based on a 4.0 grading scale:  Prerequisite courses

All transcripts should be sent directly to Enrollment Services. Paper copies of transcripts will not be accepted if the issuing institution is capable of sending them electronically. Please click here for a listing of schools that are able to send transcripts via the Electronic Transcript Speede System. 

• Complete 60 hours of prerequisites with a minimum GPA of 2.75.
• Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.75 on life and physical science prerequisites.
• Achieve a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses.
• Complete the following life and physical science prerequisites courses prior to application submission (Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Nutrition )
• Submit an application for admission and application fee. Students must submit application via the Web on the Office of Enrollment Services web site.
• Arrange for an official transcript to be sent from each academic institution attended.
• A minimum of 40 of the 60 hours of prerequisites must be completed in order to apply for admission to the program. All 60 hours of prerequisites must be completed prior to beginning the Baccalaureate program.
• Submit documentation of a completed background check for security clearance. For information regarding this process, please see the Security Screening Information Page on this site.
• Complete CPR for health care providers covering infant, child, adult and two man CPR. Please visit the American Heart Association's web page to find a course offered in your geographical area.

Transcripts and all other application documents should be sent directly to:

Office of Enrollment Services

The University of Texas Medical Branch

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, TX 77555-1305

(409) 772-1215

Policy for Criminal Background Checks

As indicated above, applicants are required to undergo and pass a criminal background check as part of the application process. For more information, please visit the Student Security Screening Information page.

Immunizations Requirements

Evidence of immunizations required by UTMB must be submitted to Student Wellness for verification and processing, including documentation for COMPLETED three dose series of Hepatitis B vaccine and a positive Hepatitis B antibody titer. All immunization requirements must be met to proceed in a clinical course. Students who are not in compliance (documentation must be received by Orientation Date) with the above policy will not be permitted to participate in clinical activities.

Clinical Facilities

The students’ experiences in clinical practice areas are designed to prepare them to function effectively in the current health care system. A large variety of clinical facilities are used, including the inpatient, ambulatory and home care services provided by UTMB at Galveston. In addition, other hospitals, long-term care, rehabilitation, and other community-based agencies in the Houston-Galveston area are used to provide students with opportunities to build a strong foundation in clinical practice.

Graduation Requirements

Eligibility for graduation:

Completion of the curriculum within 6 years from the date of first enrollment with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all 60 semester hours of required courses in the School of Nursing and cumulative overall GPA of 2.0 for all work undertaken at UTMB.

Completion of a minimum of 30 of the final 35 upper-division hours in residence at the School of Nursing and an official transcript of any courses taken outside the UTMB School of Nursing.

Successful completion of all NURS 4100 requirements (see NCLEX-RN© preparation policy).

Texas Core Curriculum Requirements

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requires that all students receiving a baccalaureate degree from a state of Texas institution must successfully complete the Texas Core Curriculum requirements prior to graduation. Consequently, students receiving a baccalaureate degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing must successfully complete the Texas Core Curriculum requirements prior to graduation. Note: Texas Core Curriculum requirements are mirrored in the School of Nursing prerequisite courses. 

To view a list of the Texas Core Curriculum requirements or obtain additional information please visit the following: http://statecore.its.txstate.edu or http://www.utmb.edu/enrollmentservices/prospect/admissions/corecurriculumpolicy.htm