BSN Program Overview
Application Deadline for Prospective Freshman: December 1 for fall admission
Application Deadline for Prospective Transfers: March 1 for fall admission
Length of Program: 4 years
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Part-Time Study Available? NO
Distance Learning Available? NO
Rankings
UT Austin School of Nursing Ranked #5 in Best Value BSN Programs
(Value Colleges 2019)
Ranked #31 among all schools in Best Nursing Schools: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs
(U.S. News & World Report 2024)
About the BSN
Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) offers students a dynamic course of study that is both theoretical and practical. The program prepares graduates to work in a wide variety of clinical settings and provides the necessary foundation for masters and doctoral degrees in nursing. Graduates of the BSN program will be prepared to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
BSN coursework emphasizes critical thinking and clinical judgment, integration of knowledge from nursing, biological and behavioral sciences, and the humanities in the planning, implementing, and evaluating of nursing care, application of research findings to demonstrate evidence-based nursing practice, and nursing leadership, and offers a variety of hospital and community settings for clinical experiences. Admission into the BSN program is highly competitive.
Once admitted into the program, BSN students are designated by the semester in which they are enrolled. Students in the first semester of their junior year are referred to as J1s, in the second semester of their junior year as J2s, in the first semester of their senior year as S1s, and in the second semester of their senior year as S2s.
Admission Requirements
Freshmen Admission
Prospective UT-Austin freshmen students should visit the Office of Admissions for information on procedures and requirements. Select Nursing as your first choice major and submit responses to the following short answer prompts:
- Discuss the factors that have influenced your desire to pursue a career in Nursing; and
- How have your academic and extracurricular activities prepared you to pursue a degree in Nursing?
Internal Transfer Admission
Current UT-Austin students interested in changing majors to Nursing should visit the Internal Transfer for more information about and the admission and application process.
Internal transfer rules into the School of Nursing are consistent with the Internal Transfer policies at the University of Texas at Austin. Acceptance is competitive and, on a space, available basis.
External Transfer Admission
External transfer applicants are prospective students who have already started their studies at another college or university and desire to apply to UT-Austin. To apply, visit the Office of Admissions.
Select Nursing as your first choice major and submit appropriate essays and required documents as directed by the March 1 deadline. No exams such as the HESI or TEAS are required.
There are three pre-requisite courses needed: Biology, Chemistry, and Statistics. These are introductory level courses, not requiring labs. Beyond those three courses, it is recommended to take as many courses from the freshman year and sophomore first semester of the BSN degree plan (PDF).
To confirm if your courses transfer from another Texas institution, please use the Automated Transfer Equivalency System.
Acceptance is competitive and, on a space, available basis. The School of Nursing offers only fall admission to external transfer applicants. The BSN degree program is direct entry, with no additional application prior to upper division course work.
Honors Program Admission
The Undergraduate Nursing Honors Program is designed to enhance the educational experience of highly motivated nursing students who are interested in undergraduate research and the development of scholarship. Admission to the Honors Program in the School of Nursing is initiated during the second semester of the freshmen year. Freshmen students who have achieved a 3.45 GPA or better during the first semester will be eligible to apply.
Visit the Honors Program for more information about and the admission, application process, and degree plan.
Direct questions to the Office of Student Services at the School of Nursing at (512) 232-4780 or ss@nursing.utexas.edu.
BSN Resources
BSN Objectives
- Demonstrate clinical judgment using knowledge from nursing, biological and behavioral sciences, and the humanities to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care.
- Apply critical thinking and clinical judgment to safely meet the healthcare needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations in a variety of settings.
- Exhibit personal responsibility and accountability for practicing nursing according to professional, ethical, and legal practice standards.
- Participate in nursing and inter-professional efforts that contribute to the delivery of high quality, safe, person-centered, and culturally sensitive healthcare to individuals, families, communities, and populations.
- Demonstrate self-care practices for continued personal and professional growth.
- Critically apply research findings to demonstrate evidence-based nursing practice.
- Analyze effects of health policy and healthcare financing on individuals, families, communities, and populations.
- Use information and communication technologies, and informatics to contribute to the delivery of safe and efficient healthcare.
- Demonstrate leadership skills to advance the profession of nursing and promote continuous improvement of healthcare delivery.