Admission and Degree Requirements
Master of Science in Nursing
The entering student normally holds a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Registered nurses with non-nursing baccalaureate degrees may also apply. Applicants who wish to pursue the family or pediatric nurse practitioner track must have at least one to two years of clinical practice experience as a registered nurse at the time of application to be considered for admission. Please visit the Advanced Practice Nursing Web site for more information.
Factors considered in the admission decision include satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background and goals; and proficiency in the English language. An interview may also be required. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
All students are expected to complete an approved statistics course prior to or during the first semester of enrollment. Since all courses are not offered each semester, the student who waits to complete the statistics requirement after enrolling may find that his or her course sequence is altered. As a result, the student may need more time to complete the degree program.
The advanced practice registered nurse tracks, adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, and family psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner requires a minimum of forty-eight semester hours of coursework.
The requirements for the non-advanced practice concentrations are as follows:
| Concentrations | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| child health nursing | at least 43 |
| holistic adult health nursing | at least 42 |
| maternity nursing | at least 42 |
| nursing administration and health care systems management | at least 42 |
| public health nursing | at least 39 |
Preparation of a thesis is optional; when this option is chosen, an additional three to six semester hours are required.
Program components are: (1) core courses that provide advanced theoretical and research knowledge and a deeper understanding of professional issues; (2) courses in the student’s concentration; (3) courses in a selected focus (required only for students in the holistic adult health, maternity, and child health nursing concentrations); (4) advanced practice core courses (required for students in the adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, holistic adult health, and child health concentrations); and (5) supporting courses, which may include courses from outside nursing.
Master of Science in Nursing: Alternate Entry
The alternate entry program is designed for the student who has no previous degrees in nursing, who desires a career in specialized nursing practice, and who holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing. It is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and is nationally accredited. Alternate-entry students may choose from concentrations in child health nursing, holistic adult health nursing, maternity nursing, nursing administration and health care systems management, and public health nursing. Students may also choose the clinical nurse specialist track with a concentration in adult-gerontology nursing, or the nurse practitioner track with a concentration in family psychiatric/mental health nursing.
Admission requirements include at least a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing; satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; satisfactory academic and/or professional references; personal and professional goals compatible with the purpose of the program; and proficiency in the English language. An interview may also be required. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Prerequisite courses in statistics and the natural and behavioral sciences must be completed prior to enrollment. Of the required prerequisites, the courses in anatomy, chemistry, and microbiology must be completed prior to application. All students must be fully compliant with program requirements, including clearance of a background check from the Board of Nursing prior to beginning the alternate entry pre-licensure summer courses. All pre-licensure summer courses must be completed with a grade of at least C to progress in the alternate entry curriculum.
Practicing nurses and nursing students are held to a high standard of competencies in order to perform responsible and safe care. Successful completion of the nursing program requires that students demonstrate ability to effectively and safely perform several essential skills. Students considering this major must meet the required standards. For more information, please see Professional and Technical Standards for Nursing Practice (PDF) .
The alternate-entry student is eligible to take the licensure examination to become a registered nurse (NCLEX-RN) in the state of Texas after completing thirty-eight semester hours of foundation courses. The student must pass Nursing 290S in order to enroll in the first semester of courses following the foundation courses. With the exception of supporting courses, the student must be a registered nurse in order to enroll in graduate nursing courses following the foundation year. Depending on the chosen concentration, students must complete a minimum of seventy-four to eighty-three semester hours of coursework. Preparation of a thesis is optional; when this option is chosen, an additional three to six semester hours are required.
Program components are: (1) accelerated foundation courses in all major clinical areas of nursing; (2) core courses that provide advanced theoretical and research knowledge and a deeper understanding of professional issues; (3) courses in one of the nursing concentrations available to the alternate-entry student; (4) courses in a selected focus (required only for students in the holistic adult health, maternity, and child health nursing concentrations); (5) advanced practice core courses (required for students in the adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, family psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, holistic adult health, and child health concentrations); and (6) supporting courses, which may include courses from outside nursing.
Doctor of Philosophy
The entering student must be a registered nurse who holds either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The occasional student who holds no master’s degree or a master’s degree in another discipline will be required to complete prescribed graduate bridge courses in nursing as a condition of admission. Bridge courses may not be counted toward degree requirements. These students may also choose to complete a Master of Science in Nursing degree en route to the PhD.
Factors considered in the admission decision include satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background; congruence of the student’s research goals with the expertise of the nursing faculty; a satisfactory interview; and proficiency in the English language. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
All students are expected to complete an approved statistics course prior to or during the first semester of enrollment. In addition, all students must pass a qualifying examination before entering candidacy for the degree. Students must complete at least fifty-one semester hours of coursework.
The degree program requires completion of the following coursework: (1) core courses focused on advanced theoretical, analytical, and research method skills; (2) seminars and related supporting courses in a focused area of study; (3) research practicum courses; and (4) dissertation courses.
Doctor of Philosophy: Alternate Entry
The alternate entry program is designed for the student who has no previous degrees in nursing, who desires a career as a nurse scientist, and who holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing. The program is fully approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. Alternate-entry PhD students may choose to complete a Master of Science in Nursing degree en route to the PhD if desired.
Factors considered in the admission decision include at least a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing; satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test, with attention given to the relative balance between verbal and quantitative scores; a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; information derived from academic and professional references; professional background; congruence of the student’s research goals with the expertise of the nursing faculty; a satisfactory interview; and proficiency in the English language. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Prerequisite courses in upper-division statistics and the natural and behavioral sciences must also be completed prior to enrollment. Of the required prerequisites, the courses in anatomy, chemistry, and microbiology must be completed prior to application. All students must be fully compliant with program requirements, including clearance of a background check from the Board of Nursing prior to beginning the alternate entry pre-licensure summer courses. All pre-licensure summer courses must be completed with a grade of at least C to progress in the alternate entry curriculum.
Practicing nurses and nursing students are held to a high standard of competencies in order to perform responsible safe care.Successful completion of the nursing program requires that students demonstrate ability to effectively and safely perform several essential skills. Students considering this major must meet the required standards. For more information please view Professional and Technical Standards for Nursing Practice (PDF) .
The alternate-entry PhD student is eligible to take the licensure examination to become a registered nurse (NCLEX-RN) in the state of Texas after completing thirty-eight semester hours of foundation courses. The student must pass Nursing 290S in order to enroll in the first semester of courses following the foundation courses. With the exception of supporting courses, the student must be a registered nurse in order to enroll in graduate nursing courses following the foundation year. The student must pass a qualifying examination before entering candidacy for the doctoral degree. Students must complete at least 101 semester hours of coursework.
Program components are: (1) accelerated foundation courses in all major clinical areas of nursing; (2) master’s level bridge courses, which provide advanced theoretical and research knowledge and a deeper understanding of professional issues; (3) doctoral core courses focused on advanced theoretical, analytical, and research method skills; (4) seminars and related supporting courses in a focused area of study; (5) research practicum courses; and (6) dissertation courses.
Preparation for Advanced Practice Certification
Preparation for advanced practice includes completion of didactic and clinical hours necessary to take the national certification exam in a specialty area. Post-master's students who already hold a master's degree in a program accredited by the National League for Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education may also complete didactic and clinical hours necessary to take the national certification exam in a specialty area. Upon completion of the advanced practice coursework, one of the following will appear on the student's transcript: family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner, family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist.
Factors considered in the admission decision include a grade point average of at least 3.00 in upper-division and graduate coursework; satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations general test (post-master's students are not required to take the Graduate Record Examinations); information derived from academic and professional references; professional background and goals; and proficiency in the English language. An interview may also be required. The composite picture presented by these factors is an important part of the admission review and decision.
Dual Degree Program
The School of Nursing offers the following dual degree program in cooperation with the McCombs School of Business. More information is available from the graduate adviser in each program.
| Field(s) of Study | Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Business administration | Master of Business Administration |
Legal Requirements
In the interest of public safety, there are legal restrictions on enrollment in some nursing courses and on eligibility for RN licensure. Factors that may make an individual ineligible for licensure in Texas include prior denial of a license by a licensing authority; disciplinary action by a licensing/certifying authority; conviction for a crime other than a minor traffic violation; diagnosis/treatment/hospitalization in the past five years for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder; addiction or treatment for addiction to alcohol or any other drug during the previous five years; and having been issued an order concerning eligibility for examination or licensure or having received a proposal of ineligibility.
To avoid delay in course enrollment, delay or denial of licensure, or possible disciplinary action and criminal prosecution for later discovery of falsified records, those with a history of any of the factors listed above are strongly urged to apply for a determination of eligibility for licensure. Request for a determination should be made as early as possible, prior to or upon enrolling in the nursing program. Such a determination, called a Declaratory Order, is issued by the Board of Nursing. Issuance of a Declaratory Order takes a minimum of three to six months. More information is available on the Texas Board of Nursing Web site at http://www.bon.state.tx.us/ .
Compliance
Students must provide documentation confirming completion of compliance requirements prior to participating in clinical nursing courses. Log in to the School of Nursing intranet site for more information.
- Medical clearance requirements— immunizations.
- Criminal background check— required of alternate entry students and registered nurses who received initial licensure prior to 2003. Students with concerns about eligibility are urged to seek official determination from the Texas Board of Nursing (http://www.bon.state.tx.us/ ) six months in advance of beginning clinical courses to allow sufficient time for Texas Board of Nursing approval.
- Drug screen— a clear drug screen to be completed one month prior to the first day of class in the first semester of a student's program.
- CPR certification (Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers, offered by the American Heart Association).
- Basic first aid certification for alternate entry students only (Heartsaver First Aid, offered by the American Heart Association through Emergency Medical Services).
- Professional liability insurance (purchased each year through the School of Nursing).
- Completion of School of Nursing orientation training modules.
- Completion of School of Nursing scholastic dishonesty and professional integrity and honor code forms.
- Licensure as a registered nurse in Texas (except for alternate-entry students in foundation courses).
- Employment background check.