Program Overview
Concordia University Texas offers an Accelerated BSN track for students who want to enter nursing without spending years in a traditional prelicensure pathway. The program can be completed in as few as 16 months of professional nursing study, which makes it a strong option for career changers and transfer students.
Concordia reported a 97.18% NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate in 2024, which is one of the most compelling outcomes in the information provided.
The ABSN uses a blended format rather than a fully online one, so students complete nursing theory online while also attending in-person labs and clinicals.
Students can choose between ABSN learning sites in Austin or Dallas, both of which use high-tech facilities for skills work and simulation.
The school also highlights a Christ-centered learning model that weaves in leadership, service, ethics, and mission-based learning throughout the nursing track.
ABSN Admission Summary
Concordia Texas designed this ABSN track for students with prior college experience who want a direct and structured route into nursing. Admissions counselors play a large role in the process, and the school uses a guided enrollment model to help applicants map out prerequisites and target a start date.
- Start dates: Three entry points each year in January, May, and August
- Application timing: Applications are generally due about two months before the start of classes
- Minimum GPA: Applicants need a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite natural science courses
- Transfer applicants: Transfer students must meet pre-nursing degree requirements and hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Second-degree students: Students with a completed prior degree must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA on the conferred degree
- Entrance exam: Applicants must take the ATI TEAS within three years of enrollment and score at least 67%; only two attempts are allowed within a 365-day period
- Essay requirement: Students must submit a nursing admissions essay that meets scoring standards
- Official transcripts: Applicants must send transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- Participation requirements after acceptance: Students must complete American Heart Association BLS CPR certification, criminal background screening, drug screening, University and Texas Board of Nursing background checks, and immunization and health compliance requirements
- Transfer note: Prior nursing coursework beyond prerequisite courses is not transferable into the ABSN track curriculum
Prerequisite Courses
Before entering the ABSN track, students must complete all required prerequisites with a grade of C or better while maintaining the required GPAs. Concordia also offers these prerequisites online, which can make the transition into the nursing track easier for students who still need coursework.
Required ABSN prerequisites include:
- Chemistry I with Lab
- Microbiology with Lab
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
- Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
- Nutrition
- Introduction to Statistics
- Lifespan Development
- Medical Spanish for Healthcare Professionals or an approved 3-credit Spanish course
- Introduction to Psychology
Concordia also requires distinctive courses in New Testament, Old Testament, Life and Leadership, and Leadership Theory and Practice. The two leadership-focused courses may be taken as corequisites during the first two semesters of the ABSN track.
Students without a previous bachelor’s degree must also complete additional core coursework in writing, communication, fine arts, history, government, and literature.
Curriculum
The ABSN program uses a blended learning approach that combines online coursework, skills labs, and in-person clinical rotations. Students engage in foundational nursing concepts online, participate in hands-on simulation labs at Concordia’s learning centers in Austin and Dallas, and complete clinical rotations at healthcare facilities within these regions.
This model ensures a comprehensive educational experience that prepares graduates for diverse nursing roles.
Semester 1
NUR 3325 Adult Health I Skills
The Adult Health I Skills course allows the application of the knowledge, principles, concepts, and attitudes necessary to perform a health assessment and provide basic care for persons experiencing low to moderate acuity health problems. The course focuses on the ability of the student to accurately and safely perform the skills in accordance with current practice.
NUR 3535 Adult Health I Theory
This course teaches the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in the provision of nursing care for adults with low to moderate-acuity health problems and behavioral health problems.
NUR 3336 Adult Health I Practicum
This course is a practicum in the clinical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide safe, high-quality patient-centered care for adults experiencing low- to moderateacuity medical-surgical health problems and behavioral health problems.
NUR 3336S Adult Health I Simulation (Companion to Practicum)
This course is a practicum in the clinical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide safe, high-quality patient-centered care for adults experiencing low- to moderateacuity medical-surgical health problems and behavioral health problems. Pre-Requisites: Successful completion of Pre-Nursing requirements and ad
NUR 3330 Professionalism in Nursing
This course is an introduction to the philosophy and theory of nursing, the nursing process, critical thinking, clinical judgment and professionalism. The course enculturates the nursing student into professional behaviors, norms, comportment, and practice via: ethical and legal principles, regulatory agencies and professional organizations, Interdisciplinary relationships, bedside leadership/management, and roles of professional nurses. Pre-Requisites: Successful completion of Pre-Nursing requirements a
NUR 3250 Pharmacology for Nurses
Semester 2
NUR 3365 Adult Health II Theory
This course teaches the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in the provision of patientcentered nursing care for adults with complex health problems. Emphasis is placed on application of the nursing process and critical thinking utilizing research-based nursing practice in the context of patient centered care for health restoration, health promotion and health maintenance.
NUR 3386 Adult Health II Practicum
This course teaches the clinical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide safe, high-quality patient-centered care for adults experiencing low- to moderate-acuity medical-surgical and/or behavioral health problems.
NUR 3386S Adult Health II Simulation (Companion to Practicum)
NUR 3366 Adult Health II Skills
This skills course teaches the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the application of advanced skills required to care for persons experiencing complex health problems. The course focuses on accuracy and safety of skill demonstration.
NUR 3251 Pharmacology for Nurses II
This course is intended to develop the student’s ability to critically think by identifying medications for use in treating, whether for cure or maintenance, specific disease processes. The student will be able to identify the correct medication, indications and side effects, research findings and evidence-based nursing practice regarding class, safety, efficacy, and monitoring of medications will be utilized. Additionally, major classifications of drugs; pharmacology and toxicology activity; clinical applications, and the role of the nurse in assessment, intervention, and patient education will be discussed.
NUR 3320 Maternal Newborn Theory
This course provides relevant instructional learning experiences of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in the provision of quality, patient-centered nursing care to meet the physiological and psychological needs of the childbearing family during the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn period in a variety of settings.
NUR 3126 Maternal Newborn Practicum
This course teaches students the application of the nursing process to provide quality, patient centered nursing care to meet the physiological and psychological needs of the childbearing family in the hospital setting and during patient scenarios.
NUR 3126S Maternal Newborn Simulation (Companion to Practicum) Total 15 credits
Semester 3
NUR 4386 Adult Health III Practicum
This course teaches the clinical application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide safe, high-quality patient-centered care for adults experiencing moderate-acuity medical surgical and/or behavioral health problems. This course fulfills the Technology requirement of the Concordia Common Experience curriculum.
NUR 4386S Adult Health III Simulation (Companion to Practicum)
NUR 4357 Nursing Leadership and Management
This course teaches the leadership and management principles applicable to the professional nurse as a Member of the Profession, Provider of Patient-Centered Care, Patient Safety Advocate and Member of the Health Care Team. Emphasis is placed on the knowledge, judgment, skills and professional values of a nurse leader within a legal/ethical framework.
NUR 4385 Adult Health III Theory
This course teaches the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in the provision of patientcentered nursing care for adults with complex physical and mental health problems. Emphasis is placed on the application of the nursing process and critical thinking utilizing research-based nursing practice in the context of patient centered care for health restoration, health promotion and health maintenance.
NUR 4332 Child & Family Nursing Theory
This course develops the student’s ability to provide family-centered care to children, adolescents, and their families and to participate in strategies to improve the safety and quality of care. Students will incorporate into nursing care the concepts of cognition and behavioral health in order to enhance their ability to promote high-quality, safe, family-centered nursing care to children, adolescents, and their families within a variety of healthcare settings.
NUR 4132 Child & Family Nursing Practicum
This course incorporates concepts of physical and behavioral health in order to enhance their ability to promote high-quality, safe, family-centered nursing care to pediatric clients and their families within a variety of healthcare settings.
LDR 4101 Leadership and Career Capstone
Semester 4
NUR 4160 Community and Global Health Practicum
This course teaches the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in the provision of care for clients with health problems in the community setting.
NUR 4360 Community and Global Health Theory
This course teaches the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary in the provision of care for clients with health problems in the community setting.
NUR 4280 Transition to Practice
This course addresses role change from student to practicing registered nurse including team strategies for patient safety as well as concepts related to the nursing jurisprudence examination.
NUR 4370 Capstone Practicum
This course focuses on demonstration of quality and safety when providing care to multiple patients with complex health needs involving multi-system failure. Additionally, leadership, supervision and delegation strategies are emphasized.
NUR 4295 NCLEX Preparation and Review
This course reviews key nursing content with separate, comprehensive units on medical-surgical, child health, childbearing and women’s health, and
NUR 4310 Nursing Research
This course provides an introduction to nursing research and research utilization through evidence-based practice in the clinical practice of nursing. Students will use critical thinking to apply research directly to patient care while learning to formulate clinical questions, search for and identify best evidence, and appraise that evidence for rigor and applicability to clinical problems. Basic principles of scientific inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research methods and research ethics are introduced in the context of clinically relevant research and translated to evidence-based practice.
NUR 4389 Adult Health IV Theory
NUR 4389 Adult Health Nursing IV Theory
This course builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to provide patient-centered care nursing care for adults with complex physiologic, psychosocial conditions, and multisystem failure. Emphasis is placed on application of the nursing process and clinical reasoning using evidence-based nursing practice in the context of patient-centered care for health restoration, promotion and maintenance.
More information about the curriculum here.
Clinicals and Skills Labs
Students complete hundreds of hours of clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities in the Austin and Dallas areas.
Clinical experiences may include acute care, adult health, intensive care, long-term care, mental health, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Students first observe and then work alongside practicing nurses and clinical faculty as they build direct-care skills.
Before entering those settings, students complete skills and simulation labs in high-tech nursing facilities using manikins and mock patient-care scenarios. Those labs are designed to help students practice technical tasks, respond to acute situations, and enter clinical placements with more confidence.
Tuition
Concordia Texas lists tuition for the 2026–2027 ABSN track at $17,800 per semester, and because the track requires four terms, the estimated program tuition is $71,200.
This amount does not include prerequisite coursework, testing, or other required fees. Students who need prerequisite classes through Concordia pay $550 per credit hour for those courses.
The school also offers a $10,000 Nursing Workforce Development Scholarship for newly admitted ABSN students, which is distributed in installments across the 16-month program. That scholarship can reduce the net tuition burden for eligible students.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate nursing program at Concordia University Texas is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university is also regionally accredited by SACSCOC, and the nursing program holds approval from the Texas Board of Nursing. Together, these recognitions show that the ABSN track meets state, regional, and national standards for nursing education.
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