Graduation
Special Requirements of the School
All students must fulfill the General Requirements for graduation. Students in the School of Nursing must also fulfill the following requirements:
- All University students must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 to graduate. In the School of Nursing, students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the coursework used to fulfill the upper-division requirement.
- A candidate must complete the prescribed curriculum and must meet all other requirements of the School of Nursing.
- A student must supply the School of Nursing with transcripts of courses taken outside the school as the courses are completed.
Degree Audit
A degree audit is prepared when the student begins the junior year of nursing courses. The student is then notified of the courses he or she must take and the requirements he or she must fulfill to receive the degree. The degree audit is normally done according to the catalog in effect when the student was admitted to the School of Nursing, but the student may choose to have it done according to any catalog under which he or she is eligible to graduate. Rules on graduation under a particular catalog are given in Graduation Under a Particular Catalog .
In advising and in registering students, the dean and advisers try to prevent errors. Avoidance of errors is the main purpose of the degree audit, but it remains the responsibility of the student to fulfill all catalog requirements.
Graduation Application Form
In the long-session semester or summer session in which the degree is to be awarded, the candidate must be registered at the University and must file a Graduation Application Form in the School of Nursing Office of Student Affairs. The form must be filed by the deadline to apply for an undergraduate degree, which is given in the official academic calendar.
Licensure as a Professional Nurse
Each student seeking licensure as a professional nurse must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The Texas Board of Nursing, which determines eligibility to take the NCLEX, has identified certain circumstances that may render a candidate ineligible for state licensure as a registered nurse. A student’s answers to the following questions may determine eligibility.
- Have you been convicted, adjudged guilty by a court, plead guilty, no contest or nolo contendere to any crime in any state, territory, or country, whether or not a sentence was imposed, including any pending criminal charges or unresolved arrests (excluding minor traffic violations)? This includes expunged offenses and deferred adjudications with or without prejudice of guilt. Please note that DUIs, DWIs, and PIs must be reported and are not considered minor traffic violations. (One-time minor in possession (MIP) or minor in consumption (MIC) violations do not need to be disclosed. However, if you have two or more MIPs or MICs, you must answer “yes” to this question.)
- Do you have any criminal charges pending, including unresolved arrests?
- Has any licensing authority refused to issue you a license or ever revoked, annulled, canceled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, or refused to renew a professional license, certificate, or multistate privilege held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded, or otherwise disciplined you?
- Within the past five years have you been addicted to and/or treated for use of alcohol or any other drug?
- Within the past five years have you been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or borderline personality disorder?
Criminal background checks, including fingerprinting, are a required part of the application process for licensure in Texas. Students who have concerns about this requirement are encouraged to seek confirmation of their eligibility for licensure prior to considering a career in nursing. Consult the Texas Board of Nursing Web site at http://www.bon.state.tx.us/ or call (512) 305-7400 for further information.