Associate Degree in Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN)

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The ADN to BSN program is designed for registered nurses with an Associate Degree or Diploma in Nursing who want to advance in the profession. The completion of a bachelor's degree in Nursing is the gateway to graduate-level education and advanced practice nursing roles.

The ADN-BSN program is flexible in order to accommodate the working nurse’s schedule:

Prerequisites can be taken at a university or community college
Prerequisites can be taken through correspondence, extension, or distance education with prior approval
Credit-by-exam and transfer credit are available for some previous nursing coursework
Full-time or part-time enrollment is available
Most upper-division courses are scheduled on two consecutive days
Six credit hours of graduate coursework may be taken in the final semester of the ADN-BSN program and reserved for a graduate degree

The ADN-BSN program consists of a minimum of 54 prerequisite credit hours, 35 credit-by-exam credit hours or Field of Study transfer credit, and 33 upper-division credit hours (see ADN-BSN Degree Plan PDF - To view PDF file, download Adobe Reader). Students must be formally admitted to the University of Texas at Austin and the ADN-BSN program in order to complete the required upper-division coursework and, ultimately, the BSN degree. For more information on applying to the University and the School of Nursing, please visit the ADN-BSN Admissions page.

Prospective students are encouraged to meet with the ADN-BSN advisor prior to applying to the program. To schedule an appointment, please call the Student Affairs Office at 512-232-4780. Interested persons may also directly contact the student advisor, Cindy Zimmerman.

Prerequisite Course Requirements
Professional Nursing Courses
Credit-by-Exam Courses
Upper-Division Courses
UT Austin and ACC Articulation Agreement

Prerequisite Course Requirements

The School of Nursing is currently in the process of updating prerequisite course requirements for the ADN-BSN program. Please contact the student advisor Cindy Zimmerman for further information.

A number of the ADN-BSN prerequisites are common to many ADN programs and thus may be transferred in to the School of Nursing through the completion of Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) tests. A maximum of 21 prerequisite credit hours may be earned by satisfactory scores on these exams.

Prerequisite courses for ADN-BSN program
Courses	Credit Hours
Chemistry*	3
Biology	3
Nutrition	3
Math	3
Microbiology	3
Pharmacology	3
Anatomy & Physiology	8
English	6
Government*	6
US History*	6
Psychology	3
Growth & Development	3
Statistics*	3
Visual Performing Arts Elective	3

*Course not typically required in ADN programs

Please note that these prerequisites are satisfied by specific pre-approved courses only. For more information on these specific courses, including course numbers, please see the ADN-BSN Degree Plan (PDF - To view PDF file, download Adobe Reader).

Professional Nursing Courses

Credit for previous enrollment in nursing courses may be earned through either credit by exam using the National League for Nursing Mobility Exams or through Field of Study, the transfer of Associate Degree nursing courses as upper division credits as approved by the Texas Higher Coordinating Board. For specific information about which option, credit by exam or Field of Study, is the best for the individual student, contact ADN-BSN advisor Cindy Zimmerman.

Credit-by-Exam Courses

Credit for previous enrollment in nursing courses may be earned through the National League of Nursing (NLN) Acceleration Challenge Examinations (ACE II), also called the Mobility Exams. A maximum of 35 credit hours may be earned by satisfactory scores on the NLN Mobility Exams.

Please note: Mobility exams are offered twice a year in July and November. Students must register for exams 6 weeks prior to the exam date.

The NLN Mobility Exams and their equivalent courses in the School of Nursing are:

Care of the Adult Client (exam title)
Courses	Credit Hours
Adult Health Nursing I	3
Adult Health Nursing I (Practicum)	3
Adult Health Nursing II	4
Adult Health Nursing II (Practicum)	3
Clinical Nursing Skills I (Practicum)	1
Clinical Nursing Skills II (Practicum)	1
Health Assessment Skills	2

Care of the Client During Childbearing (exam title)
Courses	Credit Hours
Nursing Care of Childbearing Families	2
Nursing Care of Childbearing Families (Practicum)	3

Care of the Child (exam title)
Courses	Credit Hours
Nursing Care of Children & Families	2
Nursing Care of Children & Families (Practicum)	3

Care of the Client with a Mental Disorder (exam title)
Courses	Credit Hours
Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan I	2
Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan II	3
Problems in Mental Health Nursing (Practicum)	3

Upper-Division Courses

In order to begin the upper-division sequence, students must first be formally admitted to the University and the ADN-BSN program, and have completed the prerequisite and credit-by-exam courses. A minimum of 33 upper-division credit hours must be successfully completed in order to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN).

The upper-division courses are:
Courses	Credit Hours
Transition to Professional Nursing	3
Conceptual Foundations-RN	3
Leadership & Management of Nursing Care	3
Clinical Care Management (Practicum)	3
Conceptual Bases of Aging	2
Nursing research	2
Public Health Nursing	2
Public Health Nursing (Practicum)	3
Genetics in Health Care	3
Spanish for Healthcare Professionals	3

Two of the following courses:
Courses	Credit Hours
Global Health	3
Specialized Topics in Nursing	3
Women’s Reproductive Health	3
Ethics of Health Care	3
Independent Study-RN	3
Approved Substitute	3

For more detailed information on the upper-division courses in the ADN-BSN program, please see the ADN-BSN Degree Plan (PDF - To view PDF file, download Adobe Reader).

UT Austin and ACC Articulation Agreement

An articulation agreement has been developed to help smooth the transition for students from Austin Community College (ACC) with an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing who are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. An articulation agreement matches the coursework between the two schools. The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and Austin Community College (ACC) Associate of Applied Science degree programs have established this partnership to address a critical workforce need for nursing professionals at all levels and support the educational goals of participants while serving the unmet health care needs of the Central Texas Region.

The students who complete the traditional Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program at ACC who have a least a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in their last semester of course work, and meet all of the University’s admission requirements, including the University’s general education requirements (24 hours), will be admitted to the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the UT-Austin School of Nursing. Credit hours earned at ACC will be accepted to meet General Education credit requirements (up to 30 hours) and Field of Study nursing course credits (up to 35 hours). The remaining upper-division course requirements in Nursing (33 hours) can be completed in 2 semesters or scheduled to be completed in 3 semesters (1 calendar year) or scheduled longer if part time study is preferred.

Prospective students for the ADN to BSN program should contact the ADN-BSN academic advisor at the School of Nursing for an individualized review of transcripts and assistance with admission and program planning.