Program Overview
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at UT Health San Antonio allows students with a prior bachelor’s degree to earn a BSN in approximately 15 months of continuous full-time study. The program runs through four intensive semesters and prepares graduates for entry into professional nursing practice.
Students complete coursework, clinical rotations, and laboratory training at the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing campus and affiliated healthcare sites in the San Antonio region.
Students progress through the final four semesters of the traditional BSN plan and build practical skills through hands-on clinical experiences.
The program also offers opportunities for distinction in research and clinical service, which allows motivated students to deepen their academic and professional engagement.
Faculty recommend that students avoid outside employment because the program follows a fast-paced and intensive schedule.
ABSN Admission Summary
The UT Health San Antonio ABSN program admits applicants who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and who have completed most prerequisite coursework before applying. Admission is competitive and requires completion of several academic and application steps through the NursingCAS system.
Key admission requirements include:
- Application deadline: January 2 for summer entry
- Bachelor’s degree: From a regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum prerequisite GPA: 3.0
- Prerequisite completion: At least 51 of 60 prerequisite credit hours completed prior to admission
- Application platform: NursingCAS centralized application system
- Application fee: $45 School of Nursing fee (plus NursingCAS fee)
- Online interview: Embedded interview component within NursingCAS
- Official transcripts: Required from all previously attended institutions
- Additional documentation: Letter of good standing if previously enrolled in a nursing program
- International applicants: May need foreign transcript evaluation and TOEFL scores
Applicants must submit all materials before the deadline to be considered for admission.
Curriculum
The ABSN curriculum runs across four accelerated semesters and combines classroom learning with clinical practice and laboratory training. Students progress from foundational nursing knowledge into specialized care areas and leadership preparation.
Core nursing classes include:
NURS 3370 Pathophysiology
This course explores disease processes across the lifespan, emphasizing interpretation of assessment data and identification of acute and chronic health risks. Students build clinical reasoning and judgment. Admission to the Accelerated B.S.N. Track is required.
NURS 3303 Concepts of Professional Nursing
Students examine the role of the professional nurse, focusing on clinical decision-making, lifelong learning, and self-care. Emphasis is placed on multidimensional care and professional judgment. Admission to the Accelerated or Traditional B.S.N. Track is required.
NURS 3272 Health Assessment and Promotion: Theoretical Foundations
This course presents theoretical principles for conducting health assessments across the lifespan. Topics include individual and family health promotion. Corequisite: NURS 3273; Admission to the Accelerated B.S.N. Track is required.
NURS 3273 Health Assessment and Promotion: Clinical Application
Students apply health assessment theory in a simulated setting with a focus on adult and geriatric populations. Activities include physical assessments and data interpretation. Corequisite: NURS 3272; Admission to the Accelerated B.S.N. Track is required.
NURS 3330 Foundations of Clinical Nursing Practice – Theoretical Foundations
Introduces scientific concepts for patient-centered care in various settings using a holistic framework. Students develop foundational nursing knowledge. Admission to the Accelerated or Traditional B.S.N. Track is required.
NURS 3371 Foundations of Nursing Care: Clinical Applications
Students gain initial clinical competencies through simulation or direct care experiences. Emphasis is on safe, effective patient care. Corequisite: NURS 3330; Admission to the Accelerated B.S.N. Track is required.
NURS 3374 Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Covers research methods, data interpretation, and evidence-based practice in nursing. Students learn to evaluate studies and implement findings into patient care. Ethical considerations are addressed throughout.
NURS 3365 Pharmacology
Students explore pharmacological principles, drug classifications, and safe medication administration. Focus areas include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical judgment. Successful completion of 5th semester is required.
NURS 3207 Care of Childbearing Families: Theoretical Foundations
Covers nursing care from pre-conception through postpartum and neonatal periods. Emphasis is placed on assessment, risk analysis, and maternal-child health. Corequisite: NURS 3208; Completion of 5th semester required.
NURS 3208 Care of Childbearing Families: Clinical Application
Applies theoretical knowledge in clinical settings to care for childbearing families. Activities include assessment and care of pregnant and neonatal patients. Corequisite: NURS 3207.
NURS 3322 Care of the Adult I: Theoretical Foundations
Focuses on chronic disease management through theory-based practice and clinical reasoning. Topics include health promotion and ethical patient care. Corequisite: NURS 3323; Completion of 5th semester required.
NURS 3323 Care of the Adult I: Clinical Application
Provides clinical practice in managing chronic conditions across healthcare settings. Students deliver holistic care and engage in interprofessional collaboration. Corequisite: NURS 3322.
NURS 4274 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: Theoretical Foundations
Students explore psychiatric nursing principles, treatment approaches, and mental health promotion. Topics include psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and interpersonal theories. Corequisite: NURS 4206; Completion of 6th semester required.
NURS 4206 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: Clinical Application
Provides hands-on experience in mental health care delivery across the lifespan. Emphasizes therapeutic communication, care planning, and ethical practice. Corequisite: NURS 4274.
NURS 4210 Child and Family Health: Theoretical Foundations
Covers health promotion, disease management, and injury prevention in pediatric populations. Students apply nursing assessments and interventions across settings. Completion of 6th semester is required.
NURS 4211 Child and Family Health: Clinical Application
Students deliver care to children and families using theoretical principles. Emphasis is placed on interpreting data and applying best practices. Corequisite: NURS 4210.
NURS 4315 Care of the Adult 2: Theoretical Foundations
Focuses on managing acutely and critically ill adults in hospital settings. The course builds theoretical knowledge of complex conditions. Prerequisites: NURS 4311 and NURS 4314.
NURS 4316 Care of the Adult 2: Clinical Application
Students practice critical care nursing in clinical environments. Emphasis is on clinical reasoning, data analysis, and collaborative care. Corequisite: NURS 4315.
NURS 4327 Population Focused Health: Theoretical Foundations
Prepares students to address community health through public health science and nursing. Students design and evaluate interventions to reduce disparities. Corequisite: NURS 4227; Completion of 7th semester required.
NURS 4227. Population Focused Health: Clinical Applications
Students implement population health strategies in clinical settings. Focus includes prevention, community collaboration, and addressing social determinants. Corequisite: NURS 4327.
NURS 4329 Leadership and Management: Theoretical Foundations
Teaches leadership and management principles to improve patient outcomes. Emphasis is on theory-based leadership in healthcare settings. Completion of 7th semester required.
NURS 4230 Leadership and Management: Clinical Application
Students apply leadership concepts in clinical environments. Activities include managing care delivery and team collaboration. Corequisite: NURS 4329.
NURS 4423 Clinical Immersion
Provides a capstone clinical experience where students integrate prior learning. Emphasizes role transition and teamwork with healthcare professionals. Completion of 7th semester is required.
More information about the curriculum here.
Time Limit
All coursework in the Accelerated BSN track must be completed within four years from the start of the program, ensuring students meet degree requirements in a timely manner.
Clinical Training
Clinical education forms a central component of the ABSN program. Students participate in supervised clinical rotations throughout each semester of the program.
Clinical placements occur through a network of healthcare affiliates in San Antonio and surrounding communities. Students gain experience in hospitals, community health settings, and specialty clinical environments.
Hands-on learning takes place through several formats:
- Clinical rotations with partner healthcare organizations
- Nursing skills laboratories on campus
- Simulation-based training sessions
- A final clinical immersion experience that strengthens real-world nursing practice skills
These experiences allow students to apply classroom knowledge directly in patient care settings.
Tuition and Estimated Cost
Estimated resident tuition for the program is approximately $14,240, based on the published tuition rates across three academic terms. When required fees, books, and other academic charges are included, the estimated direct academic cost is about $21,809 for the full program.
Non-resident tuition is higher and may total approximately $44,792 in tuition alone depending on residency status.
See the official tuition page for more details.
These estimates include tuition and mandatory academic costs but exclude living expenses such as housing, transportation, and personal expenses.
Accreditation
The UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing holds accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
This accreditation confirms that the program meets national quality standards for nursing education and prepares graduates for professional nursing licensure and practice.
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