Degree Plan

Major Requirements: 
The Traditional BSN pathway includes 54 credits and is designed to be completed in four semesters or 2 years of full-time study. 

General Education Requirements: 
All majors require 44 hours of general education curriculum, in addition to their major courses. 

View and download the full degree plan for our Traditional BSN major (PDF)

Students will be designated BSN-PRE NURS major while they complete their general education and prerequisite coursework. Application to the Traditional BSN program occurs in the semester prior to beginning nursing coursework. Once admitted to the program, the student will be designated as BSN-PROF NURS.

Competencies
A competency-based approach is used to foster development of critical thinking and clinical reasoning by supporting students’ ability to define, analyze and create correlation among individual presentation, health data and aspects of social determinants of health. The competencies are based from three areas of professional nursing education:  Texas Board of Nursing “Differentiated Essential Competencies of Graduates of Texas Nursing Programs” (DECs, 2021), American Association of Colleges of Nursing “The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education” (AACN, 2021), and “Quality Safety Education for Nurses” (QSEN, 2008).  

The competencies are introduced, reinforced and evaluated throughout the curriculum using exemplars or case examples that a nurse will experience in their practice. One way our nursing students will demonstrate competency is through the use of our Simulation Learning and Resource Center. For example, a high-quality, standardized simulation scenario is created for a patient presenting with abdominal pain incorporating the integration of actors or simulated patients where appropriate. The exercise includes a pre-briefing and a debriefing (feedback and self-reflection) as well as assessment of learning outcomes. In this example, the student would be evaluated on their ability to complete a focused health history. Clinical skills evaluated would include inspection, auscultation, palpation and percussion of the abdomen as well as accurate documentation. Variations of the scenario may require students to demonstrate competency in patient communication or inter-professional communication as well. Students and faculty will engage in active learning strategies designed to emphasize application of material rather than memorization.
 

Application Process and Deadlines:
All BSN candidates must first apply and be accepted to St. Edward’s University before applying to the Department of Nursing. If you are already a current student, this step is complete.  

• Candidates who are first-time freshmen must apply to the university through the standard First-Year Students admission process and indicate Pre-Nursing as their major.
• Candidates who are applying from a community college or university and do not hold an RN License may apply to the university following the typical Transfer admission process and indicate Pre-Nursing as their major.

We do not require TEAS, HESI, or other nursing entrance exams as part of the application.

Once students have met the general education requirements and prerequisite Nursing coursework, students will then be required to apply to the Department of Nursing as an upper-division student to proceed with the BSN degree. Students must have earned a grade of “C” or better for prerequisite coursework in a maximum of two attempts per course, and have a minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.5 to be considered for admission.

St. Edward’s University School of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, has adopted a rolling admissions policy. Applications submitted within the application window will be reviewed and admission decisions will be made on a continuous basis. Applicants can expect an admission decision one month from submitting a completed application. Only complete applications will be reviewed and considered. Students are encouraged to apply early in the application window. If the department reaches capacity for enrollment prior to the application deadline, subsequent qualified applicants may be deferred to the next academic term.  

The application for Fall 2026 Traditional BSN track will open in early January. Students must apply and be accepted to the university, indicating Pre-Nursing as their major. After completing all required general education and prerequisite coursework, students apply to the Department of Nursing.

Once accepted at the department level, Pre-Nursing students will then be designated as Traditional BSN candidates. Application occurs the semester prior to matriculation, which is typically the spring of the student’s sophomore year, with status change occurring fall of the junior year.

Students may apply to begin Nursing coursework in the fall. 

At St. Edward’s, our faculty are outstanding scholars, practitioners, teachers and mentors who bring energy and enthusiasm to our vibrant learning community. They take pride in getting to know you, helping you achieve your goals and celebrating your successes.

View a list of our faculty members and their contact information on the Department of Nursing webpage.

Degree Plan

Major Requirements: 
The Accelerated BSN curriculum includes 51 credits and is designed to be completed in 3 semesters (13 months) of full-time study.

General Education Requirements: 
All majors require completion of 44 hours of the St. Edward’s general education curriculum or the Texas core curriculum, in addition to the nursing prerequisites. Because ABSN degree candidates are typically adding a second degree, these credits may already be fulfilled. Check with your admission counselor to ensure your General Education requirements are complete.

View and download the full degree plan for our ABSN major (PDF)

Application Process

Application Process and Deadlines:
ABSN admission is only offered for the fall semester.

We do not require TEAS, HESI, or other nursing entrance exams as part of the application.

Applicants must first apply to the university via the St. Edward's University application. Once admitted to the university, students will then be required to apply to the Department of Nursing. 

Applications are NOW open for Fall 2026. Application deadline is Dec. 31, 2025. Students must have earned a “C” or better for prerequisite coursework in a maximum of two (2) attempts per course, and have a minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.5 to be considered for admission. Students may apply with general education or prerequisite coursework in progress. However, all coursework must be completed prior to the start of nursing coursework.

St. Edward’s University School of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, has adopted a rolling admissions policy. Applications submitted within the application window will be reviewed and admission decisions will be made on a continuous basis. Applicants can expect an admission decision within one month of submitting a completed application. Complete applications include department application, essays, resume and official transcripts. Only complete applications will be reviewed and considered. Students are encouraged to apply early in the application window. If the department reaches capacity for enrollment prior to the application deadline, subsequent qualified applicants may be deferred to the next academic term.

Scholarships
The Accelerated BSN is a post-baccalaureate program. Students in this program do not qualify for academic or merit-based scholarships at St. Edward’s University. However, students may seek outside scholarships. 

FAFSA
When completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, be sure to list your year in college as 5th year/other undergraduate. As a student seeking your second bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans.

At St. Edward’s, our faculty are outstanding scholars, practitioners, teachers and mentors who bring energy and enthusiasm to our vibrant learning community. They take pride in getting to know you, helping you achieve your goals and celebrating your successes.

View a list of our faculty members and their contact information on the Department of Nursing webpage.