The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing

Program Length & Format

• Average program duration: 15 months
• 60 credits over four semesters
• full-time only
• on campus with some online and hybrid courses
• Admit terms: Fall, Spring, Summer

Admission Requirements

• Minimum prerequisite coursework: 60 credit hours of undergraduate prerequisites required for admission eligibility
• Application may be considered with at least 48 prerequisite credits completed by the application deadline, including at least 16 credits in Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry, and Microbiology
• All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the start of class if admitted
• Must reside in the state of Texas before the first day of class

Entrance Exams

• Applicants who completed prerequisites at other institutions must submit either the HESI A2 or the TEAS exam
• Exam scores must be from tests taken within two years of enrollment
• TEAS recommended minimum score: 60% (scores reported monthly)
• Applicants may take standardized exams no more than twice in total; combinations allowed (two HESI, two TEAS, or one HESI and one TEAS); the last attempt is used as the official score
• When registering for TEAS, select "Cizik School of Nursing" and use Department ID 198326

Prerequisites

• Total prerequisite credit requirement: 60 credit hours
• Application eligibility: at least 48 prerequisite credits completed by deadline, with minimum 16 science credits (Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry, Microbiology)
• Key science course credits: Anatomy & Physiology lecture & lab (8 credits); Microbiology lecture & lab (4 credits); General Chemistry lecture & lab (4 credits) — General Chemistry requirement effective Spring 2025
• Additional prerequisites include: English composition sequence (6 credits), statistics (3 credits), psychology, sociology, U.S. history, government, nutrition, lifespan growth and development, visual/performing arts, and electives
• No time limit on prerequisite course age

Deadlines

• Spring 2026 application deadline: September 15, 2025; decision notification: November 15, 2025
• Summer 2026 application deadline: January 15, 2026; decision notification: April 15, 2026
• Fall 2026 application deadline: March 15, 2026; decision notification: June 15, 2026
• Spring 2027 application deadline: September 1, 2026; decision notification: November 16, 2026

Application

• Application platform: Nursing Centralized Application System (NCAS)
• Required items submitted to NCAS: application, personal statement, résumé, official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended
• NCAS requires names and email addresses for three references; NCAS sends reference forms to referees
• NCAS charges an application fee
• Applicants with coursework outside the U.S. must submit official foreign transcripts and course-by-course evaluations

Selection Process

• Applications reviewed after the application deadline; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission
• Students who complete Cizik School of Nursing’s Pre-Nursing pathway with a grade of B or better in each required course may apply for direct admission without entrance exams
• Application status and decision notifications posted in ApplyUTH and communicated by email and mail

Cost & Financial Aid

• Supplemental financial aid available to make tuition and required fees free for full-time BSN students with gross adjusted income under $100,000 annually
• NCAS charges an application fee 

Clinical & Simulation Lab

• Clinical requirement: 900 hours of clinical experience
• Clinical hours begin in the first semester
• Curriculum sequence: nursing theory in first three semesters; full-time clinically intensive fourth semester
• Clinical locations include Texas Medical Center and sites throughout the Houston area; simulation laboratories used to complement clinical instruction

Credit Transfer

• Applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended by the application deadline
• CLEP/IB/AP credit accepted for most courses if reflected on a college transcript; CLEP/IB/AP not accepted for science courses
• Online courses accepted if taken from a regionally accredited institution
• UTHealth Registrar uses highest graded electives on transcript to calculate prerequisite GPA; certain course types are not accepted as electives (nursing, physical education/kinesiology/fitness, vocational/technical, remedial, graduate-level)

International Students

• International applicants must submit TOEFL scores if applicable; TOEFL must be taken within the past two years
• Applicants with foreign coursework must submit official foreign transcripts and course-by-course evaluations
• School does not sponsor F-1 visas
• Students must reside in Texas before the first day of class

Contacts

• Program mailing address: Cizik School of Nursing, 6901 Bertner Ave., Houston, Texas 77030; UCT 2250, PO Box 20036, Houston, TX 77225-0036
• Enrollment assistance: enrollment coaches available (phone and email contact not specified in source)