Nursing

two nursing students in lab

Texas Lutheran University offers dynamic and comprehensive pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, preparing students for nursing careers through flexible campus-based, hybrid, and online formats.

With multiple pathways tailored to students’ education and experience, TLU offers the traditional BSN program on the residential campus. Students who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or who have earned 64 qualifying college credits can pursue the Accelerated BSN program in a hybrid format which can be completed in 16 months. Additionally, students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree may enter the direct-entry MSN program, which can be completed in as few as 20 months. Both the BSN and MSN include 900 or more hours of hands-on experience offered through labs, simulations, and real-world clinical placements to ensure that graduates are confident, competent, and career ready.

The Department of Nursing has approval from the Texas Board of Nursing to offer the BSN and direct-entry MSN nursing degrees. Both the baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing at TLU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The curriculum prepares graduates for nursing careers, and BSN and MSN graduates have excellent NCLEX-RN pass and employment rates.

There’s Never Been a More Urgent Call

CCNE accreditation logo.

Nurses care. Nurses heal. Nurses listen. Nurses are there when we’re at our most vulnerable—when we’re sick and scared and unsure what to do next.

But that’s just the beginning. Nurses teach entire communities how to protect their health. They conduct medical research. They shape health care policy. They run hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and clinics. They advocate for their patients and their patients’ rights.

Nurses do everything they’re called to do. And at Texas Lutheran University, nurses begin their journey toward changing the world.

Both the baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Texas Lutheran University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). 

Nursing Options at TLU

Learn More

  1. Apply and gain admission to TLU at apply.tlu.edu/apply
  2. Complete prerequisite courses prior to entry into the Nursing Program.
  3. Complete the TLU Nursing application. Go to apply.tlu.edu/apply, start a new application, select the year you are applying for, and select “Nursing” on the second drop-down option.
  4. Provide three reference evaluation forms completed by health care supervisors or faculty who are familiar with your performance.
  5. Earn at least a “C” in each prerequisite course with an overall minimum 3.0 prerequisite GPA on a 4.0 scale. All science courses must be completed within the last seven years prior to the application deadline.
  6. Earn an overall score of 70 percent or higher on all sections of the TEAS® (Test for Essential Academic Skills) exam within the last 12 months.
  7. Prior to beginning the program, admitted students must complete health requirements, including the Texas Board of Nursing Mandatory Background Check and Drug Screening. If you are a current TLU student, you can apply to the Nursing Program at apply.tlu.edu/apply, start a new application, select the year you are applying for, and select “Nursing” on the second drop-down option.

Fall Nursing Application Deadlines: Priority Deadline is January 30 and Late Decision Deadline is March 31

Spring Nursing Application Deadlines: Priority Deadline is August 15 and Late Decision Deadline is October 31

General Education Courses (33 credit hours to include)

  • COMP 131 English Composition I (3 credit hours)
  • COMP 132 English Composition II (3 credit hours)
  • FREX 134 Exploring the Arts and Sciences (3 credit hours)
  • MATH 133 College Algebra (3 credit hours)
  • THEO 133 Introduction to Theology (3 credit hours)
  • SPAN 131 Spanish Language and Culture I (3 credit hours)
  • HUMANITIES electives (6 credit hours)
  • ARTS electives (3 credit hours)

Supporting Courses/Prerequisites (40 credit hours to include)

  • BIOL 245 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credit hours)
  • BIOL 246 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credit hours)
  • BIOL 233 Pathophysiology (3 credit hours)
  • BIOL 235 Principles of Nutrition (3 credit hours)
  • BIOL 242 Microbiology (4 credit hours)
  • CHEM 147 Principles of Chemistry (4 credit hours)
  • PSYC 131 Intro to Psychology (3 credit hours)
  • PSYC 236 Developmental Psychology (3 credit hours)
  • COMM 374 Professional Speaking (3 credit hours)
  • SOCI 130 Introduction to Sociology (3 credit hours)
  • STAT 374 Statistics (3 credit hours)

View the BSN Degree Plan

Nursing Courses Plan of Study (60 credit hours to include)

Semester 1 (15 credit hours)

  • NURS 330 Age-Span Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Assessment (4 credit hours)
  • NURS 332 Fundamental Nursing Concepts & Practice (5 credit hours)
  • NURS 334 Evidence-Based Professional Nursing I (3 credit hours)
  • NURS 338 Nursing Pharmacology (3 credit hours)

Semester 2 (15 credit hours)

  • NURS 340 Complex Nursing Concepts & Practice I (7 credit hours)
  • NURS 342 Behavioral Health/Psychiatric Nursing (5 credit hours)
  • NURS 344 Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice (3 credit hours)

Semester 3 (15 credit hours)

  • NURS 430 Nursing of Childbearing Families (5 credit hours)
  • NURS 432 Complex Nursing Concepts & Practice II (7 credit hours)
  • NURS 434 Leadership & Management of Nursing Care (3 credit hours)

Semester 4 (15 credit hours)

  • NURS 440 Community Health Nursing (5 credit hours)
  • NURS 442 Evidence-Based Professional Nursing II (3 credit hours)
  • NURS 443 Capstone – Nursing Leadership Practicum (7 credit hours)

View the ABSN Degree Plan

What is the TEAS® Exam?

The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) by ATI is used by many nursing programs to determine an applicant’s readiness for admission. The exam consists of academic content in general college coursework. The applicant must enroll and take the examination during the exam window. A minimum score of proficient is required for admission into the nursing program. Test sections include reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, mathematics, biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology.

ATI—the creator of the ATI TEAS Exam—is partnering with Proctorio to virtually proctor the TEAS Exam, allowing you to take it from nearly anywhere with a strong internet connection. Proctorio is a remote proctoring platform that uses machine learning to proctor students from wherever they may be. The remote proctored ATI TEAS Exam offers a variety of secure exam settings including video, audio, and screen recording designed to maintain the integrity of the assessment and ensure uncompromised exam results.

Please visit www.atitesting.com to view available dates and register for the TEAS.

We offer generous academic scholarships for transfer students who plan to enroll as full-time students. Our scholarships are awarded based on cumulative GPA from all institutions attended. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for TLU scholarships and institutional aid.

Students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa at a community college are eligible to receive $3,000 per year on top of any TLU academic scholarship.

Renewal of transfer academic scholarships is based on continued full-time enrollment and a cumulative 2.00 GPA earned at TLU. All transfer scholarships are renewable for six semesters.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

You may be eligible for additional scholarships or grants offered through the TLU Nursing Program. Contact Student Financial Services at studentfinancialservices@tlu.edu or 830-372-8010 for more information.

If you are interested in TLU’s Accelerated Transfer Nursing Program, please refer to the page below for more information. 

Accelerated Transfer Nursing Program

 TLU-Traditional BSN TLU-Accelerated BSNTLU-Accelerated BSNTLU-Direct Entry MSNTLU-Direct Entry MSN
 SeguinNew BraunfelsHoustonNew BraunfelsHouston
StateBachelor of Science  in Nursing Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing Master of Science in NursingMaster of Science in Nursing
AlabamaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
AlaskaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
ArizonaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
ArkansasMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
CaliforniaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
ColoradoMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
ConnecticutMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
DelawareMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
District of ColumbiaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
FloridaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
GeorgiaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
HawaiiMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
IdahoMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
IllinoisMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
IndianaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
IowaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
KansasMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
KentuckyMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
LouisianaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MaineMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MarylandMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MassachusettsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MichiganMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MinnesotaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MississippiMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MissouriMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
MontanaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
NebraskaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
NevadaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
New HampshireMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
New JerseyMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
New MexicoMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
New YorkMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
North CarolinaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
North DakotaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
OhioMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
OklahomaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
OregonMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
PennsylvaniaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
Rhode IslandMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
South CarolinaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
South DakotaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
TennesseeMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
TexasMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
UtahMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
VermontMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
VirginiaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
WashingtonMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
West VirginiaMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
WisconsinMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements
WyomingMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets RequirementsMeets Requirements

TLU Nursing by the Numbers

More the 90% first-time NCLEX pass rate

25–30 students is the average class size in the program

900 hours of hands-on training, simulation, and clinical experience

>95% of nursing students are employed within 12 month of graduation

A TLU nursing graduate ringing the bell on graduation night.

What to Expect as a TLU Nursing Student

Most of your nursing education happens during your junior and senior years—i.e., the 60 credit hours that constitute the BSN program. Here’s what makes earning your nursing degree at TLU unique.

Small Class Size

Our nursing classes are as small as possible. With an average class size of 30, you’ll get more hands-on experience in the field and more one-on-one time with our faculty.

Even Smaller Clinical Groups

You will be assigned to a clinical group of 6–10 fellow nursing students. With clinical groups this small, you’ll have more direct interaction with your instructors.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Nursing is constantly evolving. That’s why you’ll practice your skills in TLU’s modern, cutting-edge simulation labs—allowing you to step immediately into your career upon graduation.

Real-World Experience

We believe in hands-on learning. And because TLU sits in the middle of one of the country’s fastest-growing regions, you’ll have the opportunity to study in hospitals and clinics across Central Texas. Our students complete their clinicals at top health care providers in Comal, Bexar, and Guadalupe counties with hospitals like Christus Santa Rosa, Methodist Hospital, University Hospital, Resolute New Braunfels, and Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.

Career-Ready at Graduation

More than 90 percent of TLU nursing students pass the NCLEX-RN exam on the first attempt, and more than 95 percent are employed within six months of graduation. Since 2016, TLU’s Cumulative NCLEX pass rate is 92 percent and the NCLEX pass rates for 2021 are 91.67 percent, putting TLU in the top 30 percent of reporting universities in Texas. More than 95 percent of students are employed upon graduation and the program offers numerous internship and residency opportunities for senior nursing students or graduates.

Research

Every student at TLU can choose to work with a professor to conduct undergraduate research. As a nursing student, you’ll have the chance to explore—and even transform—critical issues in healthcare and medicine.

Accreditation

The nursing program at Texas Lutheran University is approved by the Texas Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Our nursing graduates are poised to move quickly into their careers after graduation.

Careers in Nursing

There are dozens of careers in the nursing field. Here are a few of the most common and in-demand careers you can pursue when you graduate from TLU:

  • Medical-surgical acute care
  • Geriatrics
  • Surgery
  • Behavioral and mental health
  • Pediatrics
  • OB-GYN
  • Emergency room nursing
  • Intensive care (ICU)
  • Intermediate care (IMC)
  • Community health settings
  • Home Health Nurse
  • Pediatric Nurse

Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered nurses work as part of the interprofessional team, often in hospitals, clinics, and other health settings. RNs conduct a wide range of important tasks—including administering medication and therapies, monitoring patient progress, and educating patients and their families. When you think of a “nurse,” you most often think of registered nurses.

A TLU student nurse practices a procedure on a mannequin