The primary focus of the second degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is healthcare in diverse settings. The graduate will utilize scientific inquiry, evidence-based practice and nursing leadership concepts.The curriculum will provide graduates with strong critical thinking skills, leadership and management skills, and the ability to incorporate research findings and information from other disciplines into nursing practice. In addition, graduates will be ready to enter graduate degree programs with majors in administration, education, clinical nurse leadership, and advance practice nursing roles.

The following requirements apply to all candidates for the Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree:

All bachelor’s degrees from the University of Houston require completion of the Texas Core Curriculum before the August 1 application deadline. All students applying to the Second Degree BSN program must meet the credit hour requirements for all ten of the categories. Students may refer to the Transfer of College Credits page for additional information. Core Requirements may change from time to time, so students should stay in regular communication with their advisor. Applicants must satisfy all Texas Core Curriculum requirements for an undergraduate degree in addition to the track requirements below

Summary of Required Core Hours by Component Area and Nursing Curriculum:

• Lower Division:
  • 3 semester hours of Statistics
  • 3 semester hours of Nutrition.
  • 8 semester hours of Human Anatomy and Physiology.
  • 3 semester hours of Chemistry (may take Introductory Chemistry or General Chemistry).
  • 4 semester hours of Microbiology.
  • 6 semester hours of Psychology (PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology, and PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development).
  • 3 semester hours of Sociology (SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology).
• The following 60 semester hours of Upper Division curriculum will be completed by admitted students in the Second Degree BSN Program: 60 semester hours of Nursing core (Nursing Professional Role I, Nursing Professional Role II, Nursing Professional Role III, Pharmacology for Collaborative Nursing Practice, Reading and Interpreting Scientific Literature, Introduction to Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Nursing Process for Symptom Management, Nursing Process for Collaborative Practice I, Nursing Process for Collaborative Practice II, Clinical Nursing Practice I, Clinical Nursing Practice II, Clinical Nursing Practice III, Nursing Research, and a Nursing elective).

If a student successfully completes the core curriculum at an institution of higher education, that block of courses may be transferred to any other institution of higher education and must be substituted for the receiving institution’s core curriculum. A student shall receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution unless the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved a larger core curriculum at that institution.

Requirements for Undergraduate Second Degree BSN Admission

1. Applicants must complete an online application through NursingCAS.
2. Applicants must submit official transcript(s) from EACH college or university attended, sent directly from each institution completed to NursingCAS before August 1. (For timely and accurate processing, students should ensure that all official documents have been submitted to NursingCAS at least 6 weeks prior to the deadline date.) Mailing address is:
   
   NursingCAS
   P.O. Box 9201
   Watertown, MA 02471
3. Applicants to the second degree BSN program must have graduated from an accredited baccalaureate degree program. The baccalaureate degree must have been completed prior to the August 1 deadline.
4. Applicants to the second degree BSN program must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in natural and behavioral sciences is expected.
5. Applicants to the second degree BSN program must have completed all prerequisite course work and submitted transcripts prior to the deadline date of August 1. No in-progress courses will be accepted.
6. Schedule a time and complete the TEAS VII nursing entrance exam. Register for the exam at ATI. Maximum two (2) attempts. Request test results sent directly to UH Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing. In addition, the exam results will be uploaded into the NursingCAS application. Applicants to the second degree BSN program must pass the school approved pre-admission test. The Gessner College of Nursing is accepting (TEAS VII) as the school approved pre-admission test. Once completed, the scores will need to be uploaded into the NursingCAS application.
7. Applicants to the second degree BSN must complete a release of social security number form to the College of Nursing office or by fax 713-743-1164.
8. Applicants must satisfy the College of Nursing Policy for Clinical Readiness Requirements.