Program Overview
The University of St. Thomas in Houston offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program that allows students with a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree to transition into nursing in about 12 months. The program follows a three-semester full-time structure and requires students to complete 58 credit hours of nursing coursework.
Students complete theory courses online while attending in-person labs and clinical rotations in the Houston area.
This hybrid design gives students flexibility in learning while still providing hands-on clinical training.
The ABSN program is delivered through the Carol and Odis Peavy School of Nursing, which emphasizes a holistic nursing philosophy rooted in the mission and values of the university.
The program also offers three start dates each year, which allows students to begin their nursing education sooner than traditional programs.
ABSN Admission Summary
The University of St. Thomas ABSN program is designed for motivated students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or have completed significant college coursework. The admissions process begins with a conversation with an admissions advisor who helps applicants review transcripts and develop an academic plan.
Admission requirements include:
- A non-nursing bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or at least 60 transferable college credits
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Science prerequisite GPA of 3.0
- A minimum score of 80% on each section of the HESI Admission Assessment exam, or 78% on all sections of the TEAS exam
- Completion of the admissions interview process
- Submission of official transcripts, resume, and admissions essay
Applicants must also complete four core nursing prerequisites before enrollment and earn a grade of B or higher in each course. The school also requires completion of clinical compliance requirements such as vaccinations, background checks, CPR certification, and health screenings before beginning the program.
Because the ABSN program uses rolling admissions, students can apply at any time and select a start date in January, May, or August.
Prerequisite Courses
Before starting the accelerated nursing sequence, applicants must complete foundational science and math courses that prepare them for advanced nursing study. These courses must be completed within five years of enrollment and require a grade of B or higher.
Required prerequisite courses include:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- Microbiology
- College Algebra or Statistics
Students may complete these courses through the University of St. Thomas or through another accredited college or university. Admissions advisors review transcripts and help applicants determine which courses transfer.
Curriculum
Spanning 58 credit hours across three full-time semesters, the program combines didactic (online), lab, and clinical components to provide a holistic nursing education.
Semester I
NURS 3370 – Pharmacology I Emphasizes integration and application of pharmacologic concepts to nursing practice, providing a foundation of pharmacologic principles to guide students in analysis and evaluation of selected disease processes and related treatment. Develops understanding of drug actions and therapeutic interventions for holistic nursing care.
NURS 3372 – Pathophysiology Emphasizes integration and application of common pathophysiologic concepts encountered in nursing practice, providing a foundation of pathophysiological principles to guide students in analysis and evaluation of selected disease processes. Builds understanding of disease mechanisms for evidence-based nursing interventions.
NURS 2372 – Health Assessment Introduces knowledge and skills needed for holistic assessment of individual patients with focus on basic health assessment component of nursing process to identify and document health status. Develops physical assessment skills for patients of all ages and emphasizes skill development in interviewing to collect holistic health history with 3 credit hours.
NURS 3270 – Clinical Inquiry/EBP Introduces basic concepts related to nursing research process, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement initiatives to promote holistic nursing. Emphasizes appraisal and application of nursing research evidence in theory-guided holistic evidence-based practice environments for informed clinical decision-making.
NURS 4670 – Foundations of Holistic Nursing Practice Introduces foundation concepts, processes, and skills for providing holistic nursing care to individuals experiencing health alterations. Grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a healing ministry focused on body, mind, and spirit. Uses conceptual framework from nursing science, life, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, theology, and philosophy for clinical reasoning and healing process support with 6 credit hours.
NURS 3371 – The Art and Science of Holistic Nursing Introduces complementary nature of nursing art and science through exploration of healing philosophy and framework for nursing practice. Emphasizes nursing theory as vehicle for exploring relationships between central concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing and relevance of nursing theory to holistic nursing practice with 3 credit hours.
Semester II
NURS 3672 – Holistic Nursing: Care of Adults/Older Adults Focuses on adult care experiencing health alterations from holistic nursing perspective, grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a healing ministry focused on body, mind, and spirit. Uses conceptual framework from nursing science, life, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, theology, and philosophy for clinical reasoning in providing nursing care and healing process support for adults and families experiencing wellness-illness continuum alterations with 6 credit hours.
NURS 3573 – Holistic Nursing: Care of the Childbearing Family Focuses on childbearing family care from holistic nursing perspective, grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a caring ministry. Uses conceptual framework from nursing science, life, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, theology, and philosophy for clinical reasoning in providing family-centered holistic nursing care for women and families throughout childbearing process with 5 credit hours.
NURS 3574 – Holistic Nursing: Care of Children and Families Focuses on child in family care from holistic nursing perspective, grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a caring ministry. Uses developmental and nursing theories as theoretical foundations for clinical reasoning in providing nursing care to children from infancy through adolescence with 5 credit hours.
NURS 4371 – Holistic Nursing: Foundation for Clinical Leadership Focuses on knowledge, skills, and abilities for baccalaureate-prepared nurses to provide clinical leadership in creating conditions and relationships that facilitate healing. Emphasizes effective clinical management of patient populations, nursing service systems, quality and safety functions, policy implementation, and practice advocacy with 3 credit hours.
Semester III
NURS 4572 – Holistic Nursing: Behavioral Health Focuses on care of individuals experiencing emotional/behavioral health alterations from holistic nursing perspective, grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a healing ministry focused on body, mind, and spirit. Uses conceptual framework from nursing science, life, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, theology, and philosophy for clinical reasoning in providing nursing care and healing process support for individuals and families experiencing emotional/behavioral health alterations along wellness-illness continuum with 5 credit hours.
NURS 4673 – Holistic Nursing: Care of the Critically Ill Focuses on care of individuals experiencing critical/life-threatening health alterations from holistic nursing perspective, grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a healing ministry focused on body, mind, and spirit. Uses conceptual framework from nursing science, life, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, theology, and philosophy for clinical reasoning in providing nursing care and healing process support for individuals across lifespan experiencing critical illness and their families with 6 credit hours.
NURS 3375 – Holistic Nursing: Caring for the Community Introduces community as focus for nursing care, grounded in university philosophy that nursing is a healing ministry. Emphasizes application of holistic nursing process to assessment of health needs of culturally diverse communities and interventions designed to promote community healing, particularly for vulnerable populations with 3 credit hours.
NURS 4574 – Transition to Holistic Nursing Practice Provides nursing students opportunity to refine competencies in holistic nursing care delivery in chosen clinical setting with clinical preceptor guidance. Students apply holistic nursing principles to assess clinical setting as healing environment and propose plan for enhancing setting’s healing potential for transition to professional practice.
This comprehensive curriculum ensures that graduates are prepared to deliver patient-centered care in a variety of healthcare environments.
More curriculum details available here.
Clinicals and Hands-On Training
Hands-on training is a major component of the UST accelerated nursing program. Students participate in skills labs, simulation labs, and clinical rotations throughout the program.
Skills labs take place at UST learning sites in Houston, Sugar Land, and Shenandoah, where students practice procedures such as:
- Head-to-toe patient assessment
- Nasogastric tube insertion
- Blood pressure and vital sign monitoring
- Wound care and dressing changes
Simulation labs use high-fidelity manikins and mock patient scenarios. These exercises allow students to build confidence and refine clinical decision-making in a controlled environment.
Clinical rotations occur at healthcare facilities throughout the Houston metropolitan area, including hospitals and specialty care settings. Students rotate through several nursing specialties such as:
- Adult health
- Community health
- Mental health
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
Clinical placements begin early in the program and continue through the final semester.
Tuition
The estimated total cost of the University of St. Thomas ABSN program is approximately $66,815, which includes tuition and program fees. This estimate is based on 58 credit hours at $1,100 per credit and $3,015 in program fees.
Additional expenses may include textbooks, uniforms, equipment, and other course-related supplies. For example, textbooks may cost approximately $900 to $1,400 per semester, while students may also pay fees for health screenings, licensing exams, and certification requirements. However, these costs vary by student and are not included in the base tuition estimate.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of St. Thomas holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), which authorizes the institution to award undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of St. Thomas is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing. These approvals confirm that the program meets professional standards for nursing education and prepares graduates for RN licensure.
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