Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Accelerated

Eligibility to the TAMUCC CONHS Accelerated BSN program:

• Hold an earned baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
• Have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in all prerequisite courses.
  • Principles of Microbiology + Lab 4 credits (BIOL 2420)*
  • General Chemistry I + Lab 4 credits (CHEM 1411)*
  • General Psychology or Introduction to Sociology 3 credits (PSYC 2301 or SOCI  
      1301)
  • Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab 4 credits (BIOL 2401)*
  • Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab 4 credits (BIOL 2402)*
  • Human Growth & Development through Lifespan 3 credits (PSYC 2314)           
           (PSYCH 2301 is a required pre-requisite for PSYC 2314 at Texas A&M  
           University-Corpus Christi)

• Statistics for Life 4 credits (MATH1442) or Statistics credits (MATH1342 or 2342)
   *Prerequisite science courses must be completed within seven years of the
         submission of the application for consideration.

• All prerequisite coursework must be completed from a regionally accredited institution.
• Completion of a medical terminology course (for credit or certificate of completion) is encouraged.
• A personal statement should be uploaded to the Personal Statement tab under program materials in the Nursing CAS application.
• All Texas Core Curriculum requirements are considered prerequisite courses for all graduates from private institutions located in Texas or public/private institutions outside of Texas.http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/apps/tcc/
• Complete or be on track to complete all core curriculum and nursing prerequisites prior expected semester of entry to the nursing program. NOTE: Courses do not have to be completed prior to application. You must indicate any courses in-progress or planned for future semesters on your NursingCAS application.  Failure to include this information will deem your application incomplete.
• Students currently enrolled in their last semester of a non-nursing baccalaureate may apply for admission.
• Students must verify degree conferment prior to the first day of Accelerated BSN coursework.
  • All in-progress and future coursework including outstanding prerequisite requirements must be documented in the Nursing CAS application and/or included on an official transcript verifying the intent to complete the requirement. 
• Paid or volunteer health care experience is encouraged.
• Meet Essential Qualifications for Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Students located under the Undergraduate Students Tab at http://conhs.tamucc.edu/current-students/assets/tamucc_conhs_bsn_ess-qual_sept2018.pdf
• You must have a completed TAMUCC application and NursingCAS application prior to deadline. 
• Completed applications are evaluated as they are received. Select candidates will participate in a structured video interview. Professional attire is required for interview.  Completed application review is ongoing until all the slots for the incoming cohort are filled. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure all eligibility requirements are met and all requirements for application have been completed.

Students in the Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing program are subject to the following policies as listed elsewhere in this section:

1. Program Requirements for all Undergraduate Prelicensure Students
2. Grading Policies, Progression, Retention and Dismissal
3. Advising
4. Graduation Requirements

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 361-825-2648.

The application process is as follows:

1. Students must complete an online application to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences using Nursing CAS. Students may only apply for one track into the program. The student’s choice must be designated on the Nursing CAS application.
2. If the student is not already enrolled at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the student must also apply to the University for admission. Admission to the University DOES NOT constitute admission to the nursing program.

Notification of the results of the admission review is sent via email to students using the email provided in Nursing CAS. Admission to the program is conditional pending submission of the background check and proof of vaccination status. To ensure students remain certified to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation while enrolled in the program, all students are required to participate in Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (BLS-CPR) training during their first semester. All BLS-CPR fees are the responsibility of the student. 

The Texas Department of State Health Services has specific immunization requirements for students involved with direct patient contact. These requirements, as stated in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 97, Subchapter B, Rule 97.64, include the following:

1. “Students cannot be provisionally enrolled without at least one dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine if direct patient contact will occur during the provisional enrollment period.”
2. “Polio vaccine is not required. Students enrolled in health-related courses are encouraged to ascertain that they are immune to poliomyelitis.”
3. “One dose of tetanus-diphtheria toxoid (Td) is required within the last ten years.”
4. “Students who were born on or after January 1, 1957, must show, prior to patient contact, acceptable evidence of vaccination of two doses of measles containing vaccine."
5. “Students may be provisionally enrolled for up to one semester to allow students to attend classes while obtaining the required vaccines and acceptable evidence of vaccination administered since January 1, 1968.”
6. “Students must show, prior to patient contact acceptable evidence of vaccination of one dose of rubella vaccine.”
7. “Students born on or after January 1, 1957, must show, prior to patient contact, acceptable evidence of vaccination of one dose of mumps vaccine.”
8. “Students shall receive a complete series of hepatitis B vaccine prior to the start of direct patient care or show serologic confirmation of immunity to hepatitis B virus” (Additionally, the Nursing Program requires students to receive a complete series of hepatitis A vaccine prior to the start of direct patient care or show serologic confirmation of immunity to hepatitis A virus).
9. “Students shall receive two doses of varicella vaccine unless the first dose was received prior to thirteen years of age.”

For additional information, please see the Texas Administrative Code, Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 97, Subchapter B.  Please note that some hospitals have stricter requirements than the state minimum standards.

Rule 97.65 lists the following exceptions to the immunization requirements: 

1. “Serologic confirmations of immunity to measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or varicella, are acceptable. Evidence of measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, or hepatitis B, or varicella illness must consist of a laboratory report that indicates either confirmation of immunity or infection.”
2. “A parent or physician validated history of varicella disease (chickenpox) or varicella immunity is acceptable in lieu of vaccine. A written statement from a physician, or the student’s parent or guardian, or school nurse, must support histories of varicella disease.”

(Immunizations are available for a nominal fee at the student health clinic for currently enrolled students and from the Public Health Department.)

1. Results of tuberculosis screening are required annually.
2. All Students are required to complete a criminal background check through the Texas Board of Nursing before acceptance into the program.
3. Students are required to purchase professional liability coverage through the University. Fees for this coverage are included in the fees paid at the time of registration at the beginning of each academic year. (See College of Nursing & Health Sciences Student Handbook)
4. Medical insurance coverage is strongly recommended. The University and affiliating clinical agencies accept no responsibility for medical care sought as a result of accidents/incidents occurring during the course of nursing instruction or clinical assignments (See College of Nursing & Health Sciences Student Handbook)
5. When a student’s academic progression in the program is interrupted for personal or academic reasons s/he may be reinstated on a “place available” basis. Students are referred to the CONHS Student Handbook or Catalog for the readmission process.  All accelerated prelicensure nursing courses are offered once per academic year. 

Updating of immunizations and/or renewal of BLS-CPR training may be required for students who experience academic progression interruption.   

The following requirements refer to grading policies.

1. A scholastic grade point average of 2.25 is a minimum requirement in the upper division nursing courses designated for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses in the nursing major.
2. If a student earns a grade of D, F, or W (Withdrawal) in a nursing course, that course must be repeated. A course in which a grade of less than C (i.e., D, F, or W) was earned may be repeated only once.
3. A student who has earned a grade of less than C (i.e., D, F, or W) in two nursing courses or who has earned a grade of less than C (D, F, or W) twice in the same nursing course will be dismissed from the nursing program.
4. Students receiving a grade of D, F, or W (Withdrawal) or I (Incomplete) in a nursing course may not progress to courses for which that course is a prerequisite.
5. Administration and faculty reserve the right to dismiss students without previous warning for unsafe and/or unprofessional behavior. The conduct of nursing students should meet ethical standards as defined by American Nurses Association (ANA) in the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Personal integrity is reflected in professional judgments. Consequently, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences reserves the right to dismiss students from the program for unprofessional or unsafe behavior. (See College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Handbook for further examples and to review the Academic Honesty and Professional Integrity Policy)
6. Following dismissal, students may apply for reinstatement to the nursing program. Reinstatement is competitive and based upon space availability.
7. Students must meet the standards for minimal performance and progression established by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (see the catalog section on Academic Policies and Regulations).
8. In order for students to progress through the program, they must be in compliance with immunizations, BLS CPR, and Hospital Orientation regulations. (See College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Handbook for consequences for noncompliance to these policies.)
9. Students must complete the University Core Curriculum Program. (See “University Core Curriculum Programs” in the catalog). See “General Education Requirement” in the “Undergraduate Programs” section of the catalog for information on ways in which transfer students can fulfill requirements. In addition to the core curriculum requirements, students must also take the required support courses.

Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information on this page. However, information is subject to change without notice. Therefore, pre-nursing students and transfer students must consult with their Nursing Program advisors each semester prior to registration. 

Students in the nursing major are assigned a faculty mentor by the Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. If for any reason the faculty mentor-student assignment is not effective, the student or the faculty member can request a change in assignment. Freshmen and sophomore students pursuing the pre-nursing curriculum are also assigned a nursing faculty mentor. Academic advisors for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences are available for advisement. Students must make appointments for advisement.