Program Overview
The University of Texas at Arlington offers an accelerated online Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathway through its College of Nursing and Health Innovation. The upper-division nursing portion includes 51 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 15 months, which makes it a fast option for students who have already finished the required foundation and prerequisite coursework.
UTA states that its graduation rate and first-time NCLEX pass rate both exceed 90%, which is a strong outcome for a competitive prelicensure nursing program.
Admission is competitive, and the school notes that acceptance into the upper-division nursing program depends on ranking and seat availability rather than simple completion of minimum requirements.
ABSN Admission Summary
UTA’s accelerated online BSN requires students to complete a large set of lower-division and preparatory coursework before beginning the upper-division nursing sequence. Applicants need solid academics, completed science prerequisites, TEAS testing, and full documentation by the stated deadline, so this is a program that rewards early planning.
- Minimum GPA: Applicants must have at least a 2.75 overall prerequisite GPA and a 2.75 GPA in the required science courses. UTA also makes clear that higher GPAs are more competitive.
- Transfer credits: Students entering the AO pathway must complete 70 credit hours across 22 lower-division courses before starting upper-division nursing courses. Applicants with at least 24 transfer credit hours may qualify under the transfer-based admissions pathway.
- Science requirements: Students must complete 16 credit hours of natural sciences by the application deadline, and all five natural science requirements must be finished with a grade of C or better.
- TEAS exam: Applicants must take the TEAS and score at least 58.7%, which is the proficient range, in Reading, Math, Science, and English/Language Usage. Scores remain valid for two years.
- Application materials: The university requires an online application, official transcripts, and any required supporting records such as test scores. Students should allow about four weeks for university admission processing.
- Program deadlines: UTA lists January 15 for fall admission consideration and June 1 for spring admission consideration for the BSN application. The content you provided also lists a current apply date of March 6, 2026 and a class start date of March 30, 2026.
- English proficiency: TOEFL is required for applicants whose first language is not English unless they hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
- Residency and visa limits: The program is currently open only to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and individuals with a valid U.S. work visa.
- Clinical compliance items: Accepted students must complete immunizations, CPR certification, health insurance verification, drug screening, and criminal background checks.
- Other standards: Students must meet UTA’s core performance standards for nursing practice, including communication, cognitive, motor, sensory, and professional behavior requirements, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Prerequisite Courses
Before starting junior-level nursing coursework, AO BSN students must finish all foundation courses, nursing preparatory courses, and upper-division electives. Several courses must be completed with a grade of C or better, and some nursing preparatory coursework must be taken at UTA unless preapproved.
Key prerequisite and foundation areas include:
- Communication: ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302
- Government: POLS 2311 and POLS 2312
- Sciences: BIOL 2457, BIOL 2458, CHEM 1451, and BIOL 2460
- Math: MATH 1301 or MATH 1308
- Behavioral science: PSYC 1315 and PSYC 3310
- History: HIST 1301 and HIST 1302
- Sociology/Core option: SOCI 1311 or approved equivalent
- Nutrition: HEED 1301
- Nursing preparatory courses: NURS 3364 and NURS 3366
- Upper-division electives: Two approved 3000/4000-level courses
NURS 3366 Pathophysiologic Processes must be completed within three years of application, and the upper-division elective must be finished before the student begins the AO nursing sequence.
Curriculum
With over 51 credit hours, the curriculum covers essential areas such as foundational nursing, health assessment, pharmacology, and mental health care.
Classwork inlcudes:
NURS 2200 Concepts in Professional Nursing A foundational course introducing students to core professional nursing concepts including theoretical, philosophical, ethical, and legal frameworks. Emphasizes professional development through teamwork, communication, decision-making, and reflective practice skills. Campus-based delivery only with 16-week duration and 2 credit hours.
NURS 2300 Introduction to Professional and Clinical Concepts in Nursing Combines professional nursing concept introduction with academic success strategies. Covers nursing’s foundational dimensions while developing essential professional skills including teamwork, communication, and reflective practice. Offered in multiple formats (16-week, 8-week, and 5-week) with no prerequisites and 3 credit hours.
NURS 3365 Pharmacology in Nursing Practice Explores current pharmacological concepts and their application in nursing practice. Students learn drug actions, side effects across major classifications, and nursing roles in drug therapy. Must be completed within three years of nursing program acceptance. Available in 16-week and 14-week formats for 3 credit hours.
NURS 3366 Pathophysiologic Processes: Implications for Nursing Examines pathophysiological changes and their effects across the lifespan as foundations for nursing interventions. Focuses on disease processes and their interactions to inform therapeutic nursing practice. Must be taken within three years of program acceptance, offered in 16-week and 14-week formats for 3 credit hours.
NURS 2232 Learning Professional Nursing and Life Skills Develops essential student success strategies including time management, test-taking techniques, and effective study methods. Required for students who fail upper-division nursing courses. Supports academic success in the BSN Prelicensure program through skill-building and remediation for 2 credit hours.
NURS 3320 Holistic Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Provides theory and hands-on practice in comprehensive health assessment for individuals and families throughout the lifespan. Emphasizes normal findings and holistic assessment approaches. Coordinated with clinical foundations coursework for 3 credit hours across 16-week or 14-week terms.
NURS 3333 Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Focuses on health promotion and disease prevention strategies to optimize individual, family, and population wellness. Emphasizes the nurse’s role in health promotion while examining how nursing wellness impacts patient safety. Core course for BSN Prelicensure students worth 3 credit hours.
NURS 3632 Clinical Nursing Foundations Introduces basic therapeutic nursing interventions with individuals and families across diverse healthcare settings. Utilizes the nursing process framework to develop fundamental clinical skills. Coordinated with health assessment coursework and worth 6 credit hours reflecting significant clinical component.
NURS 3261 Nursing of Older Adults Addresses aging concepts, societal impacts, and gerontologic nursing principles. Includes clinical application across the continuum of care in various settings. Shorter intensive format (8-week or 5-week) focusing specifically on older adult nursing care for 2 credit hours.
NURS 3321 Nursing Research Introduces fundamental research concepts, processes, and applications in nursing practice. Develops understanding of the nurse’s role in evidence-based decision-making and clinical practice. Short-term intensive course (8-week or 5-week) worth 3 credit hours building research literacy.
NURS 3381 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing of Individuals, Families, and Groups Applies nursing process to psychiatric mental health conditions with emphasis on critical thinking and therapeutic interventions. Develops communication and interpersonal skills essential for mental health nursing practice. Comprehensive course spanning 16 weeks or 12 weeks for 3 credit hours.
NURS 3661 Nursing of Adults Applies nursing process to medical-surgical problems affecting adult patients. Emphasizes critical thinking, therapeutic interventions, and effective communication across diverse healthcare settings. Major clinical course worth 6 credit hours reflecting extensive theory and clinical integration.
NURS 4199 Role Development in Professional Nursing Seminar Addresses professional nursing role development and integration of professional comportment concepts. Capstone-style seminar supporting transition to professional practice. Brief 1 credit hour course taken during senior year to consolidate professional identity development.
NURS 4331 Nursing of Children and Adolescents Provides comprehensive nursing care knowledge for infants, children, adolescents, and their families. Combines theoretical learning with clinical application across diverse pediatric settings. Intensive 8-week or 7-week format worth 3 credit hours during senior year.
NURS 4341 Nursing of the Childbearing Family Applies nursing process to care during the childbearing experience, emphasizing critical thinking and therapeutic interventions. Focuses on individuals and families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods. Intensive format (8-week or 7-week) for 3 credit hours.
NURS 4581 Nursing of Adults with Complex Needs Develops advanced skills in caring for adults with complex health conditions using critical thinking and therapeutic interventions. Emphasizes quality of life promotion and diverse nursing roles. Major senior-level course worth 5 credit hours reflecting advanced practice complexity.
NURS 4323 Health Policy, Legal Aspects and Informatics in Nursing Introduces legal, ethical, and policy concepts essential for professional nursing practice. Covers healthcare policy development, legal frameworks, informatics, and socioeconomic issues affecting healthcare delivery. Intensive 5-week course worth 3 credit hours preparing for professional transition.
NURS 4351 BSN Nursing Leadership and Management Explores organizational strategies, leadership theories, and healthcare trends affecting nursing decision-making. Develops management skills needed by professional nurses across diverse practice settings. Senior-level course (8-week or 6-week) worth 3 credit hours focusing on leadership development.
NURS 4462 Population and Community Health Nursing Integrates nursing theory with public health science to assess healthcare needs of populations, communities, and society. Develops population-focused nursing competencies beyond individual patient care. Comprehensive course worth 4 credit hours emphasizing community health approaches.
NURS 4350 Capstone: Transition to Professional Nursing Synthesizes knowledge from the entire curriculum through concentrated clinical practicum experience. Focuses on enacting the professional nurse role in real-world settings. Final course worth 3 credit hours spanning 16 weeks or 9 weeks depending on program format.
More information about the curriculum here.
The online format allows flexibility, with students receiving clinical experience at partner hospitals throughout Texas, ensuring they are well-prepared for licensure and practice.
Clinicals and Hands-On Training
UTA delivers didactic coursework online, but the program still includes required supervised clinical experiences in healthcare settings. Students are assigned to partner clinical sites in Texas metropolitan areas, and many receive a large share of their clinical hours within healthcare partner facilities.
Clinical learning takes place in hospitals as well as community settings such as schools, home health agencies, nursing homes, and day care centers.
The school also uses the Smart Hospital simulation environment, where computerized patient simulators help students practice safe care in a controlled setting.
Clinical orientation is mandatory, and students may need to attend clinicals during evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, or university breaks. To pass any clinical nursing course, students must pass both the didactic and clinical components.
Tuition
UTA lists the total tuition for the upper-division online BSN at $21,675, with a rate of $425 per credit hour for the 51-credit nursing sequence.
This figure covers upper-division nursing coursework only, so students should expect separate costs tied to prerequisite work completed before entry. UTA also offers a tuition guarantee for students who enroll and complete the program without interruption.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), ensuring that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in diverse healthcare settings.
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