Accelerated BSN Program
Laura Opton, DHSc, RN, CNE
Professor, Associate Dean/Department
Chair
Irene Salinas, DNP, RN
Assistant Professor, Accelerated BSN Program Director
Deborah Sikes, DNP, RN, CNE
Associate Professor, Director of Veteran Education Initiatives for Non-Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Program Overview
The Accelerated BSN course of study is derived
from the mission of the TTUHSC School of
Nursing to create a fast-track for individuals
desiring an intense, fast-paced entrance into
a career path of professional nursing. The
Accelerated BSN model of education instills in
graduates a commitment to nursing excellence
in the provision of care to individuals, families,
communities, and populations with complex
health care needs in structured and unstructured
settings for present and emerging healthcare
arenas, as well as provide a foundation for future
graduate education.
The Accelerated BSN offers two tracks which
include the Second Degree BSN and the Veteran
to BSN (VBSN). Students in an accelerated track
(Second Degree BSN or VBSN) are admitted in
the spring semester and enrolled in the same
courses outlined in the degree plan. All course
requirements are completed in three consecutive
semesters over a 12 month period. Didactic
courses are delivered in a structured online format
and clinical instruction is preceptor based with
live faculty guidance and oversight.
Students in both tracks are enrolled in the same
courses. There are some distinct differences in the
tracks in terms of certain admission requirements
and eligibility to earn prior learning credit. These
differences are provided in the specific track
overviews.
Under the guidance of the Associate Dean/
Department Chair for Non-Traditional
Undergraduate Program, applicants are reviewed
by the Accelerated BSN Program Admission
and Progressions Committee and are evaluated
individually and holistically. No single attribute
is considered in arriving at an admission
decision. Acceptance into an accelerated track
is based upon a competitive ranking process
for selection using a point award system of
academic and nonacademic requirements and
considerations. The actual number of students
offered admission is dependent upon a variety
of institutional elements such as financial
resources, classroom space, and available clinical
experiences. Administration reserves the right to
adjust the number of offers based upon availability
of institutional resources.
Second Degree BSN Overview
The Second Degree BSN is for students with a
previous baccalaureate degree. This 12-month
web-based track offers clinical instruction and
course reviews in Abilene, Amarillo, Austin,
Dallas, Lubbock, Odessa, and San Antonio.
Students must have completed a minimum of
55 credit hours of prerequisite courses prior to
enrollment in the first nursing course with a grade
of “C” or higher prior to admission. A total of 61
hours of nursing courses will be completed while
in the accelerated course of study which will total
116 credit hours.
Veteran to BSN Overview
The Accelerated Veteran to BSN Track began in
Spring 2016. Students in the VBSN Track follow
the same curriculum and train at the same clinical
sites as Second Degree BSN students including
Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Dallas, Lubbock,
Odessa, and San Antonio. The goal is to provide
veterans with military medical experience, and
who may or may not have a prior bachelor’s
degree, an educational option to begin a career
path in professional nursing. To be eligible for
admission consideration, the applicant must be a
veteran and can demonstrate recent health care experience in the last 3 years.
The track is open to veterans from all branches
of the service and is designed to build on the
prior healthcare education and experience of the
student. Direct assessment of prior knowledge
through the Competency Assessment Placement
(CAP) Battery is an option for students in
this track for basic foundational nursing
knowledge, health assessment, pharmacology,
and management. Success in any or all CAP
eligible courses will allow the student to earn
prior learning credit toward the accelerated
upper division nursing courses. The Veteran to
BSN students are required to complete 59 hours
of non-nursing courses and 61 hours of nursing
courses during the entire track, totaling 120 credit
hours required by the State of Texas to earn a
bachelor’s degree.
Application Dates
Fall
| No Admission
|
Spring
| May 1 - July 15
|
Summer
| No Admission
|
Admissions Requirements
Second Degree BSN Admission Requirements
All applicants to the Second Degree BSN track
must complete an online application as directed
on the Second Degree BSN website. All applicants
must meet requirements listed below for
admission consideration:
Second Degree BSN Academic Requirements
- Previous Bachelor’s Degree in Science or Arts
(BA or BS) from an accredited college or
university;
- Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or
higher;
- Science GPA of 3.0 or higher in courses
including Chemistry, Anatomy and
Physiology I & II, Microbiology, and
Pathophysiology;
- Prior to admission offer, applicants must have
either completed all 55 credit hours (SCH)
of lower-division general education courses
as outlined in the School of Nursing Catalog
and posted on the SON Second Degree BSN
website or have completed at least 40 credit
hours (SCHs) of non-nursing prerequisites
with proof of enrollment for the remaining
prerequisites. Prior to admission offer,
applicants must have completed at least three
of the five required science classes, which
include Pathophysiology, Microbiology,
Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and
Physiology II, and Chemistry. All prerequisites
must be completed prior to the first day of
class.
- All general education requirements (core
curriculum) and prerequisites must be
documented on official transcript prior to the
first day of class;
- Submission of TEAS V (or most current
version of the Test of Essential Academic
Skills) scores no later than the application
close date; TEAS V requirements are outlined
below:
- Proficient level or higher required in
all the following areas: Reading, Math,
Science, English and Language Usage;
- Preference will be given to applicants
whose TEAS scores are at the exemplary
level;
- Score for the TEAS exam older than
one year prior to application submission
deadline will not be accepted;
- Students applying for admission can take the TEAS no more than two (2) times per year (both attempts must occur within the one year period prior to application submission deadline). If two sets of scores are submitted the scores will be averaged for the sections in which the student did not meet the Proficient level on the first attempt. Averaged scores must meet Proficiency level in each category.
- Completion of a medical terminology course
(can be for credit or certificate of completion);
- Completion of certified nursing assistant
training. Preference for those certified at time
of admission consideration.
- Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)
certification prior to first day of class
Second Degree BSN Non-Academic Admission
Considerations
The order of the following considerations does
not indicate any given priority of consideration in
the admission decision. All factors are considered
relevant.
- Rationale for interest in nursing as a
professional career choice
- Work history and experience
- Permanent resident of TTUHSC service area
- First generation college student
- One page resume
- Prior enrollment at Texas Tech University
- Diversity of experience, including proficiency
in other languages, knowledge of other
cultures, and/or study abroad
- Military service and/or training
- A face-to-face interview – Based upon
fulfillment of all eligibility requirements as
outlined in the School of Nursing Catalog and
posted on the SON website, a determination
will be made on an offer of an interview. For
those invited for an interview, an essay will be
required. Professional attire is expected for the
interview.
Veteran to BSN Admissions Requirements
All applicants to the Veteran to BSN track must
complete an online application as directed on
the School of Nursing website. All applicants must
meet requirements listed below for admission
consideration. Joint service transcripts (JST)
may be submitted to Texas College Credit for
Heroes website and evaluation for consideration
of possible awarding of lower division credit.
For a JST evaluation go to www. collegecreditforheroes.org/.
Veteran to BSN Academic Requirement
- Health Care Specialist Rating (i.e. medic, corpsman, vocational/practical nurse) while in the service. Health Care Specialist Rating (i.e. medic, corpsman, vocational/practical nurse) while in the service. Veteran applicants must submit a DD214 to provide proof of health care training in the military prior to application deadline. Active duty, reservists, and veterans are required to submit either a Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force Transcripts. To order your DD214 go to the following link: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
- Prior to admission offer, applicants must have
either completed all 59 credit hours (SCH) of
lower-division general education courses as
outlined in the School of Nursing Catalog and
posted on the SON VBSN website or have
completed at least 40 credit hours (SCHs)
of non-nursing prerequisites with proof of
enrollment for the remaining prerequisites.
Prior to admission offer, applicants must
have completed at least three of the five
required sciences classes, which include
Pathophysiology, Microbiology, Anatomy
and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology
II, and Chemistry. All prerequisites must be
completed prior to the first day of classes;
- Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.5;
preference for overall cumulative GPA of 3.0
or higher;
- Preference for science GPA of 3.0 or higher in
core courses including Chemistry, Anatomy
and Physiology I & II, Microbiology, and
Pathophysiology;
- Submission of TEAS V (or most current
version of the Test of Essential Academic
Skills) scores no later than the application
close date; TEAS V requirements are outlined
below:
- Proficient level or higher required in
all the following areas: Reading, Math,
Science, English and Language Usage;
- Preference will be given to applicants
whose TEAS scores are at the exemplary
level;
- Scores for the TEAS V exam older than
one year prior to application submissions
deadline will not be accepted; and
- The TEAS exam can be taken no more than two (2) times per year (both attempts must occur within the one year period prior to application submission deadline). If two sets of scores are submitted the scores will be averaged for the sections in which the student did not meet the Proficient level on the first attempt. Averaged scores must meet Proficiency level in each category.
Veteran to BSN Non-Academic Admission
Considerations
The order of the following considerations does
not indicate any given priority of consideration in
the admission decision. All factors are considered
relevant.
- Documentation of recent health care
experience (within the past three years), either
in the military or as a healthcare professional;
- Submission of current American Heart
Association Basic Life Support (BLS)
certification prior to first day of class;
- Rationale for interest in nursing as a
professional career choice;
- Work history and experience;
- Permanent resident of a TTUHSC service area;
- Status as a Texas resident or documented willingness to relocate;
- Active reservists must provide signed letter from reserve commanding officer indicating allowance to participate in program with completion to two-week annual training prior to and after VBSN track;
- First generation college student;
- One page resume;
- Prior enrollment at Texas Tech University;
- Diversity of experience, including proficiency
in other languages, knowledge of other
cultures, and/or study abroad;
- A face-to-face interview – Based upon
fulfillment of all eligibility requirements as
outlined in the School of Nursing Catalog and
posted on the SON website, a determination
will be made on an offer of an interview. For
those invited for an interview, an essay will be
required. Professional attire is expected for the
interview.
Additional Considerations for
Prospective Students
NCLEX-RN Examination Eligibility
See NCLEX-RN Examination Eligibility under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.
Tuition for Repeated or Excessive Undergraduate
Hours
See Tuition for Repeated or Excessive Undergraduate Hours under the Financial Information section of this catalog.
Computer Requirements
See Computer Requirements under the Student Information section of this catalog.
Criminal Background Checks
See Criminal Background Check Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.
Drug Screening
Drug screenings may be necessary if required by
the clinical institution site. The cost of all drug
screens are the responsibility of the student. See Drug Screening Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.
Immunizations
See Immunization Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog.
Provisional Admission
Provisional admission is an option for Accelerated
VBSN active duty members seeking verification
for officer promotion purposes. Provisional
admission will only be provided with proof of
meeting all prerequisite requirements with the
exception of interview results.
Conditional Admission
If the requirements for full admission are not
met, conditional admission may be available. The
student is required to comply with “conditions”
stated in the letter of admission offer prior to
the first day of class for the semester the student
is applying for. Failing to do so will result in
retraction of the offer. Examples of conditional
admission are as follows but not limited to:
- Baccalaureate degree completion confirmation
(Student graduating in current semester and
verification is not available until the end of
the semester. Applicable to the Accelerated
Second Degree BSN only.)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
certification confirmation (Student will not
have verification until after admission process
is over but before the semester of admission
begins. Applicable to the Accelerated Second
Degree BSN only.)
- Basic Life Support (CPR/AED) training and
medical terminology completion confirmation
- Prerequisite course(s) completion confirmation (student will not have
verification until after admission process is
over but before the semester of admission
begins)
Readmission
All requests for readmission must be made
no later than two (2) months prior to the first
day of the semester in which readmission is
requested. The Accelerated BSN Program Council
is responsible for overseeing all readmission
requests via the Admissions and Progressions
Committee. A student who left in good standing
and seeking readmission shall complete and
submit a readmission application showing the
expected entry point to the program’s student
affairs coordinator. The coordinator will notify
the chair of the Admissions and Progressions
Committee of the request for readmission along
with providing the most current transcript, and
a summary of the circumstances of the student’s
withdrawal, if known.
A student who left with a record not in good
standing must complete
and submit a readmission application to the
program’s admissions coordinator along with a
letter explaining the circumstances resulting in
the withdrawal/dismissal and the plan to improve
or correct performance if offered readmission.
The program’s student affairs coordinator will
forward the application, the letter, and any
available academic records including the most
recent transcript to the chair of the Admissions
and Progressions Committee. The Admissions
and Progressions Committee shall review all such
requests and may take one of the following actions
regarding readmission of a student:
- eligible and admit,
- eligible pending space availability in nursing
courses and in sequence to date of action in
relation to other readmission applicants,
- not eligible.
The Admissions and Progressions Committee may
assign requirements to be met as a condition of
enrollment, i.e. readmission on a part-time degree
plan.
Veterans who are unable to complete a semester
due to having been called to active duty may be
“readmitted and re-enrolled as a student without
penalty or redetermination of admission eligibility
within two years following release from the state
or federal active military service. If student does
not seek readmission within two years of active
service, the student will be required to complete
admissions process to determine eligibility”. (See
TTUHSC Operating Policy 77.16, Miltary Service
for additional considerations.)
Transfer Admission/Transfer of Credit
- Applicants requesting admission to either ABSN track must submit a letter from each School of Nursing attended from the dean or department chair outlining the student’s academic standing.
- Applicants must submit original copies of official college transcripts from all institutions in which the student has enrolled. These transcripts will be reviewed and course work evaluated by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and/or Department Chair. Final determination regarding applicability of completed course work toward degree requirements lies with the Associate Dean/Department Chair.
- Course equivalencies for transfer credit are assessed based upon the catalog course description and/or the course syllabus. Generally, courses of equivalent course content completed with the grade of “C” or higher at any accredited educational institution can be accepted for transfer credit toward degree requirements. Applicants might also be required to take a standardized content mastery exam prior to awarding of credit.
- Transcripts will be accepted from educational institutions accredited by regional and professional accrediting agencies approve by the US Department of Education. Transcripts will be accepted for transfer credit toward degree requirements.
- Applicants are encouraged to meet with the School of Nursing Student Affairs Coordinator for the appropriate program to discuss applicability of transfer credit for degree purposes.
- Applicants must submit and receive Associate Dean/Department Chair approval for any transfer credit course prior to the first day of enrollment in the program.
- Requests for transfer course credits will not be considered after the first day of enrollment.
- A maximum of 35 credits from another school of nursing may be accepted via transfer.
*Veteran to BSN student may be required to meet additional criteria specific to military service.
Special Student Enrollment
Under certain circumstances, it may be
appropriate for an individual to seek admission
as a special non-degree seeking student. This
admission is for the purpose of taking a limited
number of courses for one semester only. It is not
an avenue for seeking a degree. The individual
must receive approval from the Accelerated BSN
Admissions and Progressions Committee for
enrollment.
Enrollment without Credit/Course Audit
Students who wish to audit a course for no
grade must obtain approval from the Associate
Dean/Department Chair. Students who audit a
course will not be listed on the class roll, and no
notation of the audit will be made on the student’s
transcript. Students who are enrolled for 12
semester credit hours or more may audit a course
without paying an additional fee.
Accelerated BSN Program
Prerequisite Course Requirements
The prerequisite course requirements listed below
should be completed with a grade of “C” or higher
in each course prior to enrollment in the first
nursing course. These requirements as detailed
in the table below include a total of 55 semester
credit hours (Second Degree BSN) or 59 semester
credit hours (Veteran to BSN) and can be taken
at any regionally accredited college or university.
A maximum of 15 credit hours can be earned via
credit by examination.
The prerequisite courses listed in the following
table for the Accelerated BSN Program also
incorporates the 42 hours of the Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center Core
Curriculum for undergraduate nursing degrees. See Core Curriculum Requirements under the Eligibility Requirements section of this catalog to review the Texas Core Curriculum
requirements.
Important Information about Prerequisite
Course Requirements
- Pass/Fail grades are not accepted for credit
toward degree requirements.
- Applicants may choose to request grades
for all non-nursing courses greater than
10 years old not be considered in the GPA
for admission. If this option is selected,
the credits excluded are not eligible for
prerequisite course consideration and must be
retaken for credit. The applicant must have at
least 34 credit hours within the past 10 years
to use this option.
- Grades earned at all schools attended are
calculated in the admission grade point
average. The quality points and semester
credit hours used to calculate the cumulative
grade point average for admission to the
School of Nursing are taken from the official
transcripts submitted during the application
process.
The School of Nursing accepts courses completed
via classroom, internet, correspondence, CLEP
(College Level Examination Program), or
advanced placement examination for which credit
with the grade of “C” or higher has been awarded
and posted on an official transcript from an
accredited college or university when determining
completion of prerequisite non-nursing course
requirements. All general education courses must
be completed prior to beginning the nursing
curriculum.
Accelerated BSN Program Prerequisite Coursework Table
| HOURS
|
Pathophysiology (ZOOL 3303 or equivalent)
| 3
|
Microbiology w/lab (BIOL 2420 or BIOL 2421)
| 4
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/lab (BIOL 2401)
| 4
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab (BIOL 2402)
| 4
|
Chemistry w/lab (CHEM 1305/1105 or CHEM 1406/CHEM 1411)
| 4
|
General Psychology (PSY 2301)
| 3
|
Life Span Human Development (PSY 2314)
| 3
|
Statistics (MATH 1342, 1442, 2342 or 2442)
| 3
|
Science of Nutrition (BIOL 1322 or HECO 1322)
| 3
|
History of the United States to 1877 (HIST 1301)
| 3
|
History of the United States since 1877 (HIST 1302)
| 3
|
American Government Organization (GOVT 2305 or POLS 1301)
| 3
|
American Public Policy (GOVT 2306 or POLS 2302)
| 3
|
English Composition I (ENGL 1301)
| 3
|
English Composition II (ENGL 1302)
| 3
|
Any Texas core approved course in Creative Arts
| 3
|
Any Texas core approved course in Language, Philosophy, or Culture
| 3
|
Elective* (Veteran to BSN)
| 4
|
TOTALSecond Degree BSN
| 55
|
TOTAL Veteran to BSN
| 59
|
- *Elective is only required for Veteran to BSN applicants.
- Course numbers listed are based on the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS).
Check with your academic institution to verify the course number corresponds with the TCCNS
number.
- Students must complete 3 credit hours of math to meet core curriculum requirements. Students
who take math statistics will simultaneously meet the requirements for the nursing prerequisite
and the core curriculum. Students, who take any other statistics course as the nursing prerequisite,
must also take an upper level mathematics course in order to meet the core curriculum
requirement.
- All courses are considered prerequisite to admission and beginning first semester of nursing
course work.
|
Offer of Admission
Offers of admission will be made electronically
by the Accelerated BSN Programs Admissions
and Progressions Committee approximately
eight weeks following the application deadline.
Applicants are required to respond to the offer of
admission no later than the deadline stated in the
letter offering admission by returning a $175 nonrefundable
placement guarantee/orientation fee,
as well as a signed response form accepting the
offer. Failure to respond by the deadline results in
withdrawal of the offer of admission.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
No second bachelor’s degree is conferred until
the candidate has completed at least 24 semester
hours—exclusive of credit by examination—in
addition to the courses counted toward the first
bachelor’s degree. A second bachelor’s degree
sought by a student who did not complete the core
curriculum at a public Texas institution of higher
education must include the Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center required core curriculum.
Degree Requirements for Students
Admitted to an Accelerated
Program
Graduation under a Particular Catalog
A student is expected to complete the degree
requirements set forth in the School of Nursing
Catalog in effect at the time the student enters
the chosen degree or area of study. Only with
the specific approval of the Non-Traditional
Undergraduate Associate Dean/Department Chair
may a different Catalog be selected. Students,
in all cases are prohibited from completing the
requirements set forth in a catalog more than
seven years old. The School of Nursing Catalog
is published at least biennially and its provisions
are applicable during the following academic year
(September 1 through August 31).
Minimum Academic Requirements
A student must earn a 2.0 in each course in the
required curriculum and maintain an overall
semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater.
The School of Nursing Student Handbook
provides further details regarding academic and
graduation expectations.
Maintaining Minimum Academic Requirements
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA for each semester and
overall cumulative
- A minimum grade of “C” in all nursing
(degree required) courses is required.
- Students earning an overall cumulative
GPA or a semester GPA less than a 2.0 in
the semester of graduation are ineligible for
graduation
Academic Dismissal
- Any student who is unsuccessful (achieves
a grade of “D” or “F” or “WF”) in any single
course will be dismissed from the School of
Nursing and the University.
Comprehensive Exams
In the Accelerated BSN Programs the
comprehensive exams are included in the overall
assessment of student knowledge in NURS 4391 -
Synthesis of Nursing Knowledge.
Residence Credit
The minimum actual residence credit required
of each undergraduate student is 30 hours at
TTUHSC, including the final 15 hours in nursing
courses taken for a grade. The remaining hours
may include transfer credit and correspondence
course work. Residence credit as used here
means credit for work done while enrolled in and
attending classes at TTUHSC and should not be
confused with “residence” in the State of Texas for
tuition purposes.
Semester Credit Hours and Course Loads
The semester credit hour is the unit of measure
for credit purposes. Didactic (lecture) hours are
measured on a one-to-one basis; clinical hours are
measured on a one-to-three basis. Approximately
two hours in preparation for each hour of lecture
or recitation and an appropriate amount of time
for preparation for clinical activity is required.
The Accelerated BSN Programs enrollment in
12 or more credit hours per semester (6 or more
credit hours in each summer session, or 12 or
more credit hours in a full summer session)
constitutes full-time enrollment. The number
of semester credit hours a student may carry
(course load) is regulated by the Non-Traditional
Undergraduate Associate Dean/Department
Chair. In determining course load, the Non-
Traditional Undergraduate Associate Dean/
Department Chair takes into account the quality
of prior scholastic work performed and the types
of courses involved.
The Second Degree BSN students are required to
complete 55 hours of non-nursing courses and
61 hours of nursing courses during the entire
program, totaling 116 credit hours.
The Veteran to BSN students are required to
complete 59 hours of non-nursing courses and
61 hours of nursing courses during the entire
program, totaling 120 credit hours.
Accelerated BSN Program Degree
Plan
The degree plans are approved by the faculty and
is provided to the student as part of an online
student affairs orientation. The program’s student
affairs coordinator will work with students to
revise a degree plan based on a student’s ability to
successfully progress through the Curriculum. A
revised degree plan needs to be approved by the
Non-Traditional Undergraduate Associate
Dean/Department Chair. Course enrollment may
be limited based on available resources, including
but not limited to, availability of clinical sites
within the community. When necessary, methods
for limiting enrollment will be determined by the
Non-Traditional Undergraduate Associate
Dean/Department Chair.
All pre/co-requisites and any designated
conditions/criteria for previous courses apply
throughout the curriculum. All general education
courses should be completed prior to beginning
the nursing curriculum.
