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,

Shuhong Luo, EdD, MSN, MBA, RN
Associate Professor
Department Chair of Nursing Education

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

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.

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

• GPA in the last 60 hours - Last 60 hours of coursework completed at the time of nursing application. This includes any course, regardless of where they were taken.
  
• Science GPA- Science courses listed on degree plan, which include Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, General Chemistry, and Microbiology. For Pre-Licensure BSN students, science courses may not be older than 7 years at the time of application
• HESI A2 Reading -Comprehension score of HESI A2
• HESI A2 Critical Thinking -Critical Thinking section of HESI A2
• HESI A2 Composite - Cumulative HESI score

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

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

Minimum requirements for admission to be considered for the program:
o          GPA (last 60 hours): 2.4
o          Science GPA: 2.25
o          HESI A2 Reading: 68
o          HESI A2 Critical Thinking: 670
o          HESI A2 Composite: 61.14
 
However, acceptance into the nursing program is highly competitive. Applicants with no more than two total retakes across all prerequisite courses are considered as highly competitive. Below are the average scores for the recently accepted cohorts.acceptance into the nursing program can be highly competitive. The following are the average scores for the recently accepted cohorts.
o          GPA (last 60 hours): 3.48
o          Science GPA: 3.54
o          HESI A2 Reading: 87.25
o          HESI A2 Critical Thinking: 876
o          HESI A2 Composite: 84.2

Step 1. Application

• Pre-nursing students in TAMUCC 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 TAMUCC, 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.

• 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

• 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.

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