Frequently Asked Questions

The Pre-Nursing program is a lower-level specific track that students take in order to apply to the School of Nursing. Courses in Pre-Nursing include some of the Texas Core Curriculum plus Nursing Prerequisite Courses (1 1/2 years). The Pre-Nursing program resides in the College of Health Sciences and provides advisement for all students desiring to be a nurse.

The Nursing program is an upper-level track (2 1/2 years) that prepares students to take the NCLEX exam to become a bachelor-prepared Registered Nurse. Courses in Nursing include a multitude of varied clinical experiences as well as didactic courses. The Nursing program is in the School of Nursing in the College of Health Sciences.

See Apply Now link for details.

See Apply Now link for details.

After your SHSU application has been processed you will receive an email from Undergraduate Admissions which will give you the information required to check the status of your application and any transfer credits. This can take up to 10-14 working days.

Acceptance and denial emails will be via SHSU email only within 45 days of the application closing.

Yes, but applications are not transferable to the next admission period. You must resubmit complete applications for acceptance to both SHSU and the School of Nursing if you wish to be considered for admission at a later date. However, if you continue enrollment at SHSU, you will not need to reapply to the university. Documentation of additional coursework that has been completed must also be updated when re-application is made.

An overall GPA of 3.0 is required to apply to the nursing program. However, admission to the nursing program is highly competitive and the cutoff GPA is currently higher than a 3.0 and is dependent on the applicant pool per semester.

A grade of "D" transfers as credit, however, you will need to retake the course prior to application and receive a grade of "C" or higher, if applying to the nursing program.

The prerequisites are required by the University in fulfillment of the Texas Core Curriculum and pre-nursing prerequisite requirements (59 hours). See the BSN Curriculum Plan.

Beginning with the Fall 2025 application, students are required to complete the TX core and all prerequisites before starting the program.

Yes. Science courses (biology and chemistry) will not be accepted for credit if they are 7 years or older (no expiration for LVN-BSN and RN-BSN). A student cannot have more than two (2) graded attempts for a science (lab-science) course within the past 7 years. A third graded attempt in a science course disqualifies a student from applying. This does not pertain to courses being re-taken due to expiration.

Yes, you can take the prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university. The official transcripts will be evaluated by the SHSU Undergraduate Admissions Office for equivalency to the prerequisite courses required for admission to the School of Nursing. Coursework from other nursing programs are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

The SHSU Office of Admissions evaluates all transcripts when you apply to the University. Please refer to the Transfer Equivalency Guide for additional information.

You will earn bonus points by completing credit hours at SHSU, students who have certifications in CNA, CMA, EMT, and Paramedics (with 6 months experience), students who complete MATH 1370-Biomedical Statistics (with a grade of C or higher), veterans, or current military, and students who already have a bachelor's/master's degree.

The TEAS entrance exam is offered at, and can be taken at, any of the various testing centers on college and university campuses. For information regarding the TEAS exam schedule at the SHSU Testing Center, click here.

TEAS 7 must be taken within two years of application deadline.The TEAS overall score must be a 70 and each subject area must be a 55 in order to apply. Reading and Math sub-scores will be used at a higher rate than other subject areas. Students will submit one TEAS Individual Performance Profile during the application period to the School of Nursing (pre-licensure BSN and LVN-BSN).

Yes, if you are an international student or if English is not your first language, you should take the TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score to be accepted is 84. For more information, contact Admissions for International Students.

International students must have the appropriate visa to be admitted to SHSU, and then to the Nursing program.

Some clinical settings require proof of citizenship or official residency status from nursing students.  If a student does not have required documentation to establish sufficient proof of citizenship or official residency status (e.g., driver's license, passport, visa, employment authorization documentation, Texas identification card), it is very likely they will not be able to complete necessary clinical coursework.  Students who do not complete clinical coursework will be unable to complete the BSN, resulting in the potential loss of significant time and money. Contact GEC@shsu.edu with additional questions.

No, SHSU School of Nursing does not require letters of recommendation.

The pre-licensure BSN nursing program at SHSU follows specific coursework per semester. For students starting the Nursing program Fall 2025 and after, all 5 semesters will be considered full-time. The LVN-to-BSN program is designed to follow the same schedule as pre-licensure students. The RN-to-BSN program has both full-time and part-time tracks and is 100% online.

Yes, you will need reliable transportation to class and to clinical sites.

Starting in Fall 2025, students will enroll in clinical courses during the first semester of the Nursing program. Clinical courses will be included as part of the Nursing curriculum in all semesters. Nursing students must successfully pass clinical courses along with co-requisite theory classes in order to progress through the program.

Students may add a minor, however, students need to be aware that nursing school is a rigorous program and includes off campus clinical courses. Students enrolled in the SHSU School of Nursing are not permitted to pursue a second major.

Nursing students must comply with the Texas Health Services Immunization requirements for students enrolled in clinical courses in institutions of higher education.

BSN students are supplied with liability insurance by SHSU.

Yes, you must show proof of personal healthcare insurance at the beginning of each semester. Many of our clinical agencies require proof of personal healthcare insurance. SHSU offers a student health insurance plan.

Yes, students are required to complete criminal background screening after admission to the program. A criminal background check will be done on every applicant who is accepted into the Nursing Program. Instructions for the criminal background check will be included in the letter of acceptance into the program. You will also be asked to complete fingerprint scanning as part of the criminal background check, after you are accepted into the program.

Yes, students are required to comply with drug testing as part of their continued enrollment in our program. Students are also subject to random drug testing in SHSU's Nursing Program and while at most clinical agencies.

The Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Course covering the adult, infant, child, and two-man CPR (two-year Hospital Level Provider coverage) is required. All new BSN students must complete BLS classes prior to enrollment and obtain a copy of your BLS card. Classes must be taken through the American Heart Association. 

Yes, there are residence halls available on the main campus in Huntsville, TX (not at SHSU-The Woodlands Center). For additional information on housing, click here for.

Yes, financial aid is available for nursing students. SHSU Office of Financial Aid

You can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application online. For more information on financial aid, please call 936-294-1774.

Yes. Scholarships are offered to students in the nursing program. Assistance is also available through Financial Aid, including other scholarships, loans, and grants outside of SHSU. Information on University scholarships may be obtained from Scholarships4Kats or email the School of Nursing. You must complete the current academic year FAFSA application to be considered for Nursing scholarships.

No, not at this time. However, students must pass standardized tests that are administered throughout the Nursing program. There is also a comprehensive exam administered during the last semester of the program designed to prepare the student to sit for the NCLEX-RN. That exam is a requirement of a course in the last semester; it is not an exit exam.

No, traditional BSN and LVN-BSN students follow the same coursework. However, LVN students are admitted separately from traditional BSN applicants.