Baylor University Nursing Program: Requirements and Curriculum Overview
Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) offers various paths to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, catering to different student backgrounds and needs. Whether you are a pre-nursing student, a transfer student, or a second-degree seeker, understanding the program requirements and curriculum is crucial for a successful application and academic journey. The faculty believes nursing is a service to humanity and is motivated by love for God and society.
Pre-Nursing Program at Waco Campus
For students entering Baylor as freshmen, the journey to the BSN program begins at the Waco campus with the Pre-Nursing program. This program is divided into two stages: Pre-Nursing 1 (PNU1) and Pre-Nursing 2 (PNU2).
Pre-Nursing 1 (PNU1)
All new students interested in nursing must initially register as PNU1 majors. To progress from PNU1 to PNU2, students must fulfill the following lower division requirements:
- Completion of at least two of the four required lower division science courses with a science GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- Completion of NUR 1101, New Student Experience, with a grade of “C” or higher or successful completion of an equivalent course.
- Completion of the HESI A2 Math and English Composite sections of the nursing admission exam with a grade of 80 or higher in each category.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
A student may remain in the PNU1 major for a maximum of three academic semesters.
Pre-Nursing 2 (PNU2)
It is strongly recommended that students be classified as PNU2 to apply for admission to LHSON. A student may remain in the PNU2 major for a maximum of three academic semesters. Baylor University students wishing to apply to LHSON must be in good standing; classified as a PNU2; and must meet the following admission criteria based on your catalog year:
Read also: Baylor's Notable Alumni
- 43 of the 59 prerequisite course hours completed
- 2 of the 4 prerequisite science courses completed (8 hours) with a minimum science GPA of 2.75
- 3.0 minimum GPA of completed prerequisite courses
- 2.5 minimum cumulative Baylor GPA
- HESI A2 Exam requirements: English Composite score of 80 or above and Math score of 80 or above.
Formal application to the School of Nursing is required through NursingCas. Application deadlines for the Traditional Program are January 15th for fall admission and July 15th for spring admission. Acceptance to the School of Nursing is term specific. Students are not granted automatic deferment of acceptance.
Pre-Nursing students may repeat a required lower division course only once. Pre-Nursing students may repeat no more than two required lower division courses. Courses with a grade of “C” or higher may not be repeated to raise either the cumulative or Pre-Nursing GPA.
Prerequisite Courses for Pre-Nursing Students
There are 59 hours of required courses a student must complete prior to starting our program. However, a student only needs 43 of the 59 hours of prerequisite courses completed (including 2 of the 4 science courses) in order to apply. A student must successfully complete all prerequisite courses during the full academic semester prior to admission. For example, for fall admission courses must be completed by the end of the preceding spring semester. The minimum grade point average to be considered for admission is a 3.0 in the prerequisite courses.
A minimum grade of “C" (not “C-") is mandatory in each required lower division course. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all completed required lower division courses. The overall cumulative GPA must be a 2.5 or higher and science GPA must be a 2.75 or higher for admission to the program. Applicants may only repeat a required lower division course one time. Only the most recently completed course grade will count for admissions purposes. Students who fail the same required lower division course twice are not eligible to apply.
The prerequisite courses include:
Read also: Avoiding Med School Application Mistakes
- Science Courses: Intro to Chemistry (CHE 1300/1100), Human Anatomy & Physiology of Motion and Innervation (BIO 2401 or HED 2420), Human Anatomy & Physiology of Metabolism & Processing (BIO 2402 or HED 2421), and Intro to Microbiology (BIO 2302/2102). Beginning with the Fall 2025 entering class, students who have completed BIO 2401 or HED 2420 may not take the other equivalent course to improve their Nursing Science GPA. The same policy applies to BIO 2402 and HED 2421. BIO 2401 is considered equivalent to HED 2420, and BIO 2402 is considered equivalent to HED 2421.
- English Courses: English I (ENGL 1310 or 1302), English II (ENGL 2310 or 1304), and English Literature (ENGL Lit 23XX). ENG 2301 (British Literature), ENG 2306 (World Literature), Great Texts (2000-level or higher), or upper-level foreign language course may be taken.
- Political Science: PSC 1387 The US Constitution. Students must complete both Local/State Government and Federal Government courses prior to enrolling at Baylor University to receive credit for PSC 1387. If both components are not completed before enrollment, the student must take PSC 1387 at Baylor and cannot fulfill the requirement with transfer credit for only one of the two.
- Religion Courses: REL 1310 The Christian Scriptures and REL 1350 Christian Heritage.
- History: History Elective (1300, 1305, 1307, 2365, or 2366). Must be course equivalent to HIS 1300, 1305, 1307, 2356 or 2366. Note: HIS 1300 is preferred.
- Nutrition: NUTR 2351 Nutrition.
- Statistics: STA 1380 Statistics. May be in a discipline other than mathematics if the course is judged as equivalent to STA 1380 at Baylor.
- Psychology: PSY 1305 Psychological Science and PSY 3341 A Survey of Human Growth & Development. Course must cover entire life span.
- Sociology: SOC 1305 Intro to Sociology.
- A Communication course and a Fine Arts Course or completion of a foreign language through the second semester level. Spanish language is strongly recommended because of the demographics of the area. Students must take one language through second level proficiency. Second degree students should seek advice from School of Nursing advisors prior to registering for a foreign language.
Transfer Student Admission to the Dallas Campus
Transfer students interested in applying to the Dallas campus from other accredited colleges and universities are eligible each year to apply for the spring cohort that starts in January. Please note there is not a fall start for Transfer students. To be considered for admission, students must demonstrate successful completion of prerequisite courses and pass an entrance exam.
Minimum Application Requirements for Transfer Students
- 44 of the 61 prerequisite course hours completed
- 2 of the 4 prerequisite science courses completed (8 hours)
- 3.0 minimum GPA of completed prerequisite courses
- 2.75 science GPA
- 2.75 overall cumulative GPA
- HESI A2 Exam requirement: English Composite score of 80 or above and Math score of 80 or above
Prerequisite Course Information for Transfer Students
There are 61 hours of required courses a student must complete prior to starting our program. However, a student only needs 44 of the 61 hours of prerequisite courses completed (including 2 of the 4 science courses) in order to apply. A student must successfully complete all prerequisite courses prior to starting the BSN program. The minimum grade point average to be considered for admission is a 3.0 in the prerequisite courses.
The prerequisite courses for transfer students include:
- Microbiology
- Anatomy & Physiology I
- Anatomy & Physiology II
- Chemistry
- English Composition I
- English Composition II
- English Literature: May be met by a course in American, British, or World Literature, or by an upper-level (that is, above the intermediate level) literature course in modern foreign languages or in classical languages.
- Federal Government
- State & Local Government: *Not required for post-baccalaureate applicants
- Bible-based Religion: Two courses (6 hours) are required to satisfy the religion requirements. Transfer students can take world religion for one requirement however the second requirement must be a bible based religion course. We will also accept Old Testament and New Testament.
- World Religion
- History course: Must be a course in World History, Western Civilization, a survey course in American History, or History of the American Woman.
- Nutrition course
- Statistics course
- Intro to Psychology
- Developmental Psychology: Course must cover entire life span.
- Intro to Sociology
- 2 semesters of same Foreign Language (Spanish recommended) OR 1 semester of Communications elective and 1 semester of Fine Arts elective: If taking Spanish as your language, must complete through equivalent of Baylor's SPA 1402/1412. Please use the transfer course equivalency tool to verify.
Second Degree Seeking (Post-Baccalaureate) Students
Second degree seeking (post baccalaureate) students interested in applying to the Dallas campus from other accredited colleges and universities are eligible each year to apply for our traditional two year spring cohort that starts in January. In order to be considered for admission, students must demonstrate successful completion of prerequisite courses and pass an entrance exam.
Minimum Application Requirements (Post Bacc Students)
- 33 of the 52 prerequisite course hours completed
- 2 of the 4 prerequisite science courses completed (8 hours)
- 3.0 minimum GPA of completed prerequisite courses
- 2.75 science GPA
- HESI A2 Exam requirements: English Composite score of 80 or above and Math score of 80 or above
Prerequisite Course Information (Post Bacc Students)
There are 52 hours of required courses a Second degree seeking (post-baccalaureate) student must complete prior to starting our program. However, a student only needs 33 of the 52 hours of prerequisite courses completed (including 2 of the 4 science courses) in order to apply. A student must successfully complete all prerequisite courses prior to starting the BSN program. The minimum grade point average to be considered for admission is a 3.0 in the prerequisite courses.
Read also: Affording Baylor University
The prerequisite courses for Post-Baccalaureate students include:
- Microbiology
- Anatomy & Physiology I
- Anatomy & Physiology II
- Chemistry
- English Composition I
- English Composition II
- English Literature: May be met by a course in American, British, or World Literature, or by an upper-level (that is, above the intermediate level) literature course in modern foreign languages or in classical languages.
- Federal Government
- Bible-based Religion: Two courses (6 hours) are required to satisfy the religion requirements. Transfer students can take world religion for one requirement however the second requirement must be a bible based religion course. We will also accept Old Testament and New Testament.
- World Religion
- History course: Must be a course in World History, Western Civilization, a survey course in American History, or History of the American Woman.
- Nutrition course
- Statistics course
- Intro to Psychology
- Developmental Psychology: Course must cover entire life span.
- Intro to Sociology
General Policies for Transfer Credit and Coursework
Several general policies apply to college work taken prior to transferring to Baylor:
- To determine whether a course will transfer into Baylor University from another college or university, please refer to the Equivalent Course Tool.
- The most recent grade earned in a course will be used to calculate prerequisite GPA. However, any grade earned below a "C" will be factored into GPA but will require an applicant to retake the course in order to achieve a passing grade.
- If a science or foreign language course is offered with separate lecture and lab, both portions must be completed. It is recommended that separate lecture and lab portions be completed through the same university or college.
- Credit by examination secured through another college or university by a student transferring to Baylor University will be accepted only to the extent that the exam and scores are equivalent to what Baylor accepts. Scores received must meet the Baylor University minimum score requirements stated in the Credit By Examination brochure in effect in the year that the student entered college as a freshmen.
HESI A2 Exam
The HESI A2 exam is a crucial component of the application process for all pathways. The HESI A2 exam may only be taken once during each admission period. In the event a student has taken the exam more than once, the most recent exam will be counted. HESI A2 scores cannot be pieced together. Students are responsible for paying the fee associated with the required testing.
TOEFL Requirement
Students whose first/native language is not English, are required to take the TOEFL, regardless of US education, or years of residence. The Louise Herrington School of Nursing requires applicants to attain a minimum score of 560 on the paper based test, 220 on the computer based test, or 83 on the internet based test (IBT). The TOEFL score required by the Louise Herrington School of Nursing is higher than the minimum required by Baylor University.
Application Timeline and Deadline
The application is open January 15th, 2024, and will close August 1st, 2024. Transfer students must submit a completed Nursing School Application by July 15th, 2024 (with official transcripts and official HESI A2 exam scores) to be considered for admission for our Spring term.
BSN Curriculum at the Dallas Campus
The BSN curriculum at the Dallas campus is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional nursing practice. The curriculum spans several semesters and includes a variety of courses, clinical experiences, and professional development opportunities. The faculty believes that baccalaureate education in nursing is the basis for professional practice as a nurse generalist and should be equally accessible to generic students and to other students who have previous formal educational experience in nursing. The faculty believes specialization occurs at a graduate level of education in the refinement of existing skills, expansion of knowledge, and development of competencies in a specific area of nursing practice. The faculty believes that individuals learn in a variety of ways. Learning is a life-long process built upon previous knowledge and experience. Learning occurs in a variety of situations and settings and should become self-directed over time. The faculty believes that effective teaching employs a variety of strategies to foster independence, critical thinking, and self-discovery. The teacher as a facilitator strives to be innovative and flexible in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational experiences consistent with curriculum goals and objectives. The teacher as a scholar participates in endeavors to acquire, create, and use new knowledge.
Junior Year
First Semester (Dallas Campus)
- NUR 3200 Professional Nursing Practice: Introduction to Professional Nursing (2 Hours)
- NUR 3212 Professional Development: Foundations for Practice (2 Hours)
- NUR 3330 Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice (3 Hours)
- NUR 3314 Health Assessment (3 Hours)
- NUR 3316 Human Needs I (3 Hours)
- NUR 3420 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I (4 Hours)
Second Semester
- NUR 3225 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Patient with Medical Surgical Need (2 Hours)
- NUR 3226 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Patient with Mental Health Needs (2 Hours)
- NUR 3317 Human Needs II (3 Hours)
- NUR 3324 The Maturing Family (3 Hours)
- NUR 3328 Mental Health Nursing: Individuals, Groups, and Family (3 Hours)
- NUR 3421 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (4 Hours)
Senior Year
First Semester
- NUR 4225 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Childbearing Family (2 Hours)
- NUR 4226 Professional Nursing Practice: Care of the Childrearing Family (2 Hours)
- NUR 4334 The Childbearing Family (3 Hours)
- NUR 4339 The Childrearing Family (3 Hours)
- NUR 4341 Nursing Professional Development: Leadership and Management (3 Hours)
- NUR 4351 Professional Development: A Consumer of Research (3 Hours)
Second Semester
- NUR 4335 Professional Nursing Practice: Transition to Practice (3 Hours)
- NUR 4338 Analysis and Synthesis of Complex Human Needs (3 Hours)
- NUR 4345 Professional Nursing Practice: Population Health Nursing (3 Hours)
- NUR 4353 Community and Culture (3 Hours)
- NUR 43XX Nursing Elective (3 Hours) (see catalog for individual course listings)
The total hours required for the BSN program are 124.
Distance Accelerated BSN Program
Baylor University’s Distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program offered through the Louise Herrington School of Nursing is an immersive, accelerated online nursing program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. Graduates of Baylor University's Distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program are thriving in diverse healthcare settings across the country. *These figures have been compiled based on a survey of Baylor Distance ABSN graduates. Online Accelerated BSN degrees offer the fastest pathway to enter the profession of nursing. Registered nurses answer a calling to heal others and can work in a variety of healthcare settings. The nursing shortage in Texas is severe. According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, by 2032, Texas will have 57,000 unfilled positions for registered nurses. Online accelerated BSN degree programs are growing in popularity because nurses are needed more than ever. The demand for registered nurses in Texas is skyrocketing. An aging baby boomer population needs more care, seasoned RNs are retiring, and healthcare reform is expanding access to services. This has created an unprecedented need for skilled nurses. Through the Louise Herrington School of Nursing’s Distance ABSN program - an immersive, accelerated BSN online program designed for bachelor’s degree holders - you can prepare for a rewarding career in nursing in under 1 year.
Core Values and Beliefs
The faculty believes the aim of undergraduate and graduate education in nursing is to provide an opportunity for personal and professional development. Professional education includes a study of the arts, sciences and humanities and enhanced in a Christian setting beginning at the baccalaureate level. The faculty believes the individual, in constant interaction with the changing environment, responds as a unified whole to life situations. In addition, the individual impacts the environment and his/her own welfare through a personal relationship with the Creator. The faculty believes that health is a basic human condition which is uniquely perceived by individuals and groups. Health is a dynamic state of human functioning wherein clients exist with varying degrees of wellness and illness. The higher the level of human need fulfillment, the more optimal the state of wellness for the client. Individuals have the right to pursue that level of health perceived by them to be optimal, taking into account their social and cultural definitions of health. The faculty believes that professional nursing is the caring for individuals, families, groups, communities, and society through the diagnosis and treatment of the responses to actual or potential threats to health and through facilitating human need fulfillment. Professional nursing is a practice discipline which has evolved from a rich, unique heritage. It encompasses the arts, sciences, ethics, and politics. Nursing has a dynamic body of knowledge based on nursing research and on the application of theories and concepts from the physical and behavioral sciences and the humanities. Professional nursing utilizes the nursing process in a caring, interactive manner to promote optimal wellness.
tags: #baylor #university #nursing #program #requirements #and
