Application Eligibility and Admission Requirements


  1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing.
  2. Meet UTRGV School of Nursing Technical Standards policy.
  3. Complete 6 semester credit hours of United States history and government or political science, including the Constitutions of the United States and Texas.
  4. Achieve a 75% or higher on the required components of the HESI A2 Exam (Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Math, Anatomy and Physiology, and Critical Thinking.)
  5. If not completed through the first bachelor’s degree, complete all BSN prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C” in each course. BSN prerequisites include:
  • BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods or MATH 1343 Introduction to Biostatistics
  • ANTH 2351 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or
  • SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology
  • CLSC 2429 Clinical Microbiology in Health Care
  • CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I Lab
  • PSYC 2301 General Psychology
  • PSYC 2314 Developmental Psychology: Lifespan  

See Roadmap for 63 total required hours for prerequisite courses, including core.

Important 2nd Degree Application Reminders: 

  • Complete a UTRGV application via Apply Texas or have a current UTRGV application before submitting a BSN application via NursingCAS.  See the steps to apply under When and How to Apply.
  • All applicants must read the HESI FAQS for UTRGV School of Nursing’s HESI requirements.  For example,
    • There is a 3-week waiting period before you can retest for HESI.  Applicants should plan accordingly if they need to retest while the application cycle is still open.  
    • HESI scores must be submitted before the cycle closes as late HESI scores are not accepted. 
    • The HESI exam may not be taken more than twice in an academic year (September 1 through August 31)

Important Official Transcript Requirements:  

  1. Applicants must submit all official transcripts from the institutions where they earned their BSN required prerequisites and core courses to UTRGV Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation before the cycle closes.   If the Official Transcript that you submitted to UTRGV Undergraduate Admissions has transfer credits that are required for any of the 63 credit hours for BSN Program, including your core, that transcript cannot be used for evaluation or for determining if you met the BSN program requirements.

  2. 2nd degree BSN applicants must also send NursingCAS their Official Transcripts for all colleges and universities that they have attended.   Electronic submission is recommended. Applicants must adhere to the deadline and follow transcript submission instructions on NursingCAS.  Your application cannot be Verified by NursingCAS until your transcripts are submitted.  

**Meeting application requirements does not guarantee admission to the Second Degree BSN Program** 

Students will be evaluated for admission based on space-availability after being rank-ordered using the total points obtained from the following criteria:

  1. GPA for Science Courses - 40%
    • BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I
    • BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II
    • CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I and CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Lab I
    • CLSC 2429 Clinical Microbiology
  2. GPA for Strategic Courses - 20%
    • MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods or MATH 1343 Introduction to Biostatistics
    • PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology
    • PSYC 2314 Psychology of Lifespan
    • SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology or ANTH 2351 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  3. HESI A2 Cumulative Score (includes Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Math, Anatomy, and Physiology) - 20%
  4. HESI A2 Critical Thinking Score - 20%

Important Note:

The above are application-required criteria and must be completed when an application is submitted. Applications will be marked incomplete if they are missing one or more of the above requirements and will not be considered or ranked.   

  1. If a course(s) above is in progress when your application is submitted but will be completed before the committee reviews applications, we will provide a courtesy secondary review of your unofficial transcript(s) you provide to the School of Nursing.  Official Transcripts must also be submitted to Undergraduate Admissions for Official evaluation.  These transcripts must be submitted before the UAPG meets to select candidates. The scheduled date for emailing decision letters can be found under 'When and How to Apply.' The Committee typically meets one to two weeks before the letters are emailed. Please note that all dates are subject to change and a courtesy secondary review is not guaranteed.
  2. Applications will not be ranked or considered if all required and valid HESI Scores are not uploaded to the application system by the cycle closing date.  HESI scores submitted after the cycle closing date, expired scores (over one year from the application submission), HESI exam(s) taken more than twice in an academic year, and/or HESI Exam retests taken less than the three-week waiting period are not valid. HESI exam must be taken on-site at UTRGV, a university, or at Prometric in person or via distance testing at home (follow HESI Distance Testing instructions on UTRGV Testing Center’s website). 
      • A 75% or higher is required for the components of the HESI Admission Assessment Exam (the minimum score for Critical Thinking is 750 out of a possible 1000 points).
      • Upload your Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Math, Anatomy and Physiology, and Critical Thinking scores to your application before the cycle closes. Late HESI scores are not accepted after the cycle closing date. 
      • All HESI components (Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Math, Anatomy, and Physiology) must be taken over again in one sitting if an applicant would like to attempt to improve their Cumulative score. The Critical Thinking portion is not necessary to obtain a new Cumulative score. The Cumulative score does not include the Critical Thinking score.  

    Applicants must read the HESI FAQS for requirements and additional information.

  1. Possess a Bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than nursing
  2. Be admitted to UTRGV.
  3. Be selected by the Undergraduate Admission, Progression & Graduation (APG) Committee for admission to the School of Nursing BSN Program.
  4. Maintain a minimum of 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale in all prerequisite courses.
  5. Complete all BSN prerequisites with a minimum grade of "C" in each course.
  6. Students must complete 63 hours towards the degree to be officially admitted to the program.
  7. Core Category 090-Integrative/Experiential Learning Option - 3 SCHs
  8. HRPT 2303 Medical Terminology
  9. NUTR 2351 Introduction to Clinical Nutrition

 See Roadmap for 63 total required hours for prerequisite courses, including core.

Note:  Applicant must submit all official transcripts from the institutions where they earned their BSN required prerequisites and core courses to Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation.   If the official transcript that you submitted to UTRGV Undergraduate Admissions has transfer credits that are required for any of the 63 credit hours for BSN Program, including your core, that transcript cannot be used for evaluation or for determining if you met the BSN program requirements.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Please Contact our School of Nursing Offices for more information

School of Nursing Offices

Brownsville campus:
BLHSB 2.720
Phone: 956-882-5070
Fax: 956-882-6827

 

 

 

 

Edinburg campus:
EHABE 2.201
Phone: 956-665-3491
Fax: 956-665-2878