Nursing Education Department

Welcome to the Nursing Education Department at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi!

Aligned with the CONHS vision and mission, we are dedicated to excellence in undergraduate nursing education, offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Our vibrant community of students, faculty, and staff thrives in an inclusive and evidence-based teaching environment. We provide the cutting-edge resources and support needed to ensure students are "day one ready." Our classrooms are equipped with advanced technology for active learning, while our online courses benefit from the Digital Learning & Academic Innovations office. Additionally, our state-of-the-art Simulation and Clinical Learning Center offers immersive, hands-on experiences that prepare students for real-world healthcare settings.

We invite you to explore our programs and consider joining us in shaping the future of healthcare. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions—we are here to support you.

Warm regards,

Catherine Harrel MSN, RNC-OB, CHSE
Clinical Assistant Professor
Interim Department Chair of Nursing Education
BSN Program Coordinator

The Nursing Program provides a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through traditional or eLine tracks for the individual who wishes to earn the BSN degree while preparing to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Tracks of Study

Traditional BSN
Traditional (face-to-face) BSN track is the pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing program designed for pre-nursing students who have completed all the prerequisites necessary to earn their BSN degree while preparing to become a RN. 

 

eLine BSN
eLine BSN track is the pre-licensure nursing program designed for individuals aiming to earn a BSN degree and prepare to become a RN. While the coursework of this track is primarily online, all clinical components must be completed within the Corpus Christi area, as assigned by the program. Students are required to travel to the Corpus Christi multiple times each semester, at their own expense, to fulfill clinical course requirements. The duration of each visit will depend on the specific clinical experience requirements for the course, ranging between 90-135 hours per clinical course. 

• Freshmen and sophomores enrolled as pre-nursing students are highly encouraged to complete the University Core Curriculum Program (42 semester hours) and required Nursing Support Courses prior to admission to the BSN program. See detailed courses here.
  • However, pre-nursing students can apply for the nursing program and be conditionally admitted upon successful completion of those courses.
• Prior to course registration, pre-nursing students should contact their academic advisor for assistance with degree planning and to obtain additional information on core curriculum and support courses, including their recommended course sequence.
• If students experience registration issues (or other problems), please email your assigned academic advisor with your student ID and a screenshot of the error message for troubleshooting.

• Application deadlines (Due 10:59 pm CST) for entry into the nursing program (across all BSN tracks) for each semester are as follows.

•  Dates may be subject to change.
• The college reserves the right to defer admission because of low enrollment. Students will be notified and given options if a selected track is not offered.

Eligibility Requirements for Admission to the BSN Program

Freshman Students
Freshman students generally declare a pre-nursing major as their intended program of study. To become a pre-nursing student, please apply here.

Transfer Students and Post-Baccalaureate Students

• Transfer students and post-baccalaureate students must satisfy current state core curriculum requirements.

Applying for Pre-Licensure Option

• The GPA in the last 60 credit hours is calculated automatically at the time of application. This calculation includes undergraduate coursework completed within the most recent 60 credit hours, regardless of the institution where the courses were taken.
• The science GPA includes all science courses listed on degree plan. The highest grade earned in each required science course, no matter where completed, will be considered. If a course is repeated at the same institution where it was originally completed, only the highest grade earned at that institution will be used in the calculation of both the Science GPA and the last 60-hour GPA. For pre-licensure BSN students, science courses must be a letter grade and may not be older than (5) five years.
• For admissions purposes: entrance exam scores and coursework in Health Alterations (NURS 2322) and Use of Pharmacology Principles (NURS 3300) are valid for two (2) years.
• Entrance exams include:

• • HESI A2 Reading -Comprehension score of HESI A2
  • HESI A2 Critical Thinking -Critical Thinking section of HESI A2
  • HESI A2 Composite - Cumulative HESI score

Effective September 1, 2026, the HESI A2 examination will continue to be accepted for admissions applications through the Summer 2027 term. Beginning with the Fall 2027 application cycle, the TEAS examination will be the only entrance exam accepted for admission.  Students applying to the Fall 2027 cohort who have HESI A2 scores dated prior to September 1, 2026 will be permitted to submit their HESI A2 scores in place of TEAS scores.

No “D” or “F” grades will be accepted for credit. 

All NURS courses for admission must be taken at TAMU-CC.

Acceptance into the nursing program is highly competitive.

Minimum requirements for application to be considered for the program:
o          GPA (last 60 hours): 2.65
o          Science GPA: 2.65
o          HESI A2 Reading: 75
o          HESI A2 Critical Thinking: 700
o          HESI A2 Composite: 70
 

Starting Fall 2027, the following TEAS minimum scores will replace the above HESI scores.

• TEAS Total Score: 60
• TEAS Individual Reading Score: 77

All admission requirements are subject to change. Students are required to monitor CONHS website for any changes.

Step 1. Application

• Pre-nursing students in TAMU-CC can complete an online application at Nursing CAS. You can only apply for one track in the nursing program. 
• Transfer nursing students. Transfer students from another nursing school, who have completed some nursing courses, must apply to both Nursing CAS and TAMUCC transfer. Please note that admission to the University DOES NOT constitute admission to the nursing program. These transfer nursing students may request that a review of their coursework be completed for possible equivalency, or they may repeat the course(s) in question. To initiate the equivalency review of the course(s), students should provide nursing course descriptions from the college catalog and the course syllabi, including the course objectives, outlines, and textbooks used, from the transferring institution. A letter from the Dean or Director of the previous nursing program confirming good standing and eligibility to return is also required. Any student who needs to validate courses should schedule a meeting with the nursing academic advisor.
• Transfer pre-nursing students and post-baccalaureate students in other majors. Transfer pre-nursing students from other universities, or if students already have a bachelor's degree in other fields and are interested in getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in TAMU-CC, they must apply here and consult with an academic advisor for assistance with degree planning and course transfers.

Step 2. HESI A2 Exam 

Please check this website consistently for any updates.

• All applicants must complete the HESI A2CT Exam and upload their final scores to their Nursing CAS application.

To register for the HESI A2: 

• 1. Schedule the HESI A2CT exam. Instructions are here.
  2. Select the exam type: Admissions Assessment Exam with Critical Thinking (A2CT).
  3. Take the HESI A2CT exam.
  4. Download the final HESI scores. Instructions are provided in:
     1. HESI Scores Instructions  OR
     2. How do I register for my HESI Distance Testing exam with my department ID?
  5. Upload the final HESI scores to the Nursing CAS application by the due date.
  6. For additional information or questions regarding the HESI A2CT exam, please visit Elsevier's HESI Support Page.

Practice tests and resources to prepare for the Nursing program entrance exams are available online, including websites such as NurseHub.com

Step 3. Post Application

• Students will be notified of their admission review results via email. The admission to the nursing program is conditional upon the submission of a background check, urine drug screenings, and proof of vaccination status.

• The Texas Board of Nursing (TBON) requires disclosure of any criminal history or disciplinary action, as well as an FBI background check, before granting licensure. To ensure client safety and fulfill the requirements of the TBON and its affiliated clinical agencies, students must complete the background check and be declared eligible by the TBON to take the licensing exam prior to being accepted into the program. See the TBON web site http://www.bne.state.tx.usfor the statutes and rules regulating licensure

• Program Completion Requirements
• Immunization Requirements
• Insurance Requirements
• Policies, Progression, Retention, and Dismissal

• Texas A & M University Corpus Christi makes every effort to ensure state licensure or certification information is current; however, state requirements may change. If you are a prospective or current student planning to pursue professional licensure in a state other than Texas, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program.
• Texas A & M University -Corpus Christi BSN graduates can be licensed in all U.S. states except for the following states or territories.
  • California
  • S. Virgin Islands
  • Puerto Rico

• National licensing boards
  • National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)is an independent, not-for-profit organization through which nursing regulatory bodies act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting public health, safety and welfare, including the development of nursing licensure examinations. 
  • The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States and Canada. 

• State licensing boards 
  • The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)allows a nurse to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in the home state and other compact states. Please refer to the other states’ boards of nursing for specific requirements to practice.

• For more information on professional licensure requirements in the field, please contact CONHS at conhs@tamucc.edu.

 

TX Board of Nursing Rule 217.8 information page: https://www.bon.texas.gov/lawful_presence.asp.html

(a) An applicant for licensure or licensure renewal must submit official documentary evidence or information to establish authorization to be legally employed in the United States under federal law before the Board may issue or renew a license. The Board accepts the following identification documents:

(1) an unexpired driver's license or state identification certificate that complies with REAL ID issued by a state or territory of the United States, unless the driver's license is marked "Limited Term" or "Temporary";

(2) an unexpired driver's license or state identification certificate that does not comply with REAL ID issued by one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming;

(3) a United States birth certificate accompanied by an unexpired driver's license or state identification certificate that does not comply with REAL ID, issued by a state not listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection;

(A) For purposes of this section, birth certificate is defined as an original birth certificate issued by the appropriate vital statistics agency of a U.S. State, a U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia indicating birth in the U.S.; or

(B) An original United States government-issued document indicating birth of a child born abroad to a United States Citizen, including a Consular Report of Birth or Department of State Certification of Birth issued to U.S. Citizens born abroad (FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545);

(4) a valid passport;

(A) For purposes of this section, a valid passport is defined as an unexpired passport or passport card issued by the United States government; or

(B) an unexpired passport issued by the government of another country accompanied by a current permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security;

(5) an unexpired license to carry a handgun issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety under Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H;

(6) Permanent Resident Card that does not expire before the license sought expires;

(7) US Certificate of Naturalization (N-550; N-570);

(8) US Certificate of Citizenship (N-560; N-561); or

(9) Form I-94 reflecting a departure date after the expiration of the license sought unless the Form I-94 reflects the bearer only has Parole status.

(b) Certification of Eligibility.

(1) The Board may proceed with all aspects of the application review process, including administration of required examinations (such as the NCLEX or the Jurisprudence Exam), and making determinations of good professional character, pending receipt of the documentation required by subsection (a) of this section.

(2) The Board may issue a written certification of eligibility or similar preliminary determination confirming that the applicant meets all licensure requirements, except for demonstrating legal authorization to be employed in the United States.

(3) The final license or licensure renewal shall not be issued until the applicant submits information sufficient for the Board to verify that the applicant possesses the necessary documentation establishing legal right to work in the United States in accordance with federal law.

Licensure:
Registered Nurse (RN) 
Texas Board of Nursing (TBON)

Certifications:
Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
National League of Nursing (NLN)

Professional Organizations:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
American Nurses Association (ANA)
American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL)
National League for Nursing
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 
Texas Nurses Association (TNA)

CONHS Student Handbook