Pre-Nursing

Pre-Nursing at a Glance

Beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston will offer up to 27 hours of nursing science prerequisites for students seeking a BSN. Students who earn a grade of “B” or better in each required science course in the Pre-Nursing pathway will be eligible to apply for direct admission to the accelerated Pacesetter BSN program without taking nursing school entrance exams.*

• Admit terms: Fall only 
• Average Completion: Two semesters 
• Credit Requirement: 24 hours required (3 hour elective available)
• Educational Mode: On campus with some online and hybrid courses 
• Enrollment level: Full-time only 
• Estimated Tuition: Among the lowest in Texas (Scholarships and financial aid are not available for Pre-Nursing students at this time.) 

^*Students who complete Cizik School of Nursing’s Pre-nursing curriculum with a GPA lower than 3.0 are not eligible for direct admission or waiver of entrance exams. They may apply through the regular admissions process to the Pacesetter BSN program. 

Pre-Nursing Curriculum

• Semester 1

  Course	Credit hours
  Human Anatomy & Physiology I	4 credit hours
  Introduction to Statistics	3 credit hours
  Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan	3 credit hours
  Communication in Health Care Settings (elective)	3 credit hours

• Semester 2

  Course

  Credit hours

  Human Anatomy & Physiology II	4 credit hours
  Introduction to Nutrition	3 credit hours
  Ethics	3 credit hours
  Microbiology for Science Majors	4 credit hours
  TOTAL	24 or 27 (with elective) credit hours

Frequently Asked Questions

• If I enroll in the Pre-Nursing pathway at Cizik, will I still have to apply to the Pacesetter BSN program?

  Yes. All applicants, including those who qualify for direct admission, must complete an application for the Pacesetter BSN program via NCAS.

• When does this pathway admit new students?

  The Pre-nursing Pathway only admits for the Fall term.

• Is financial aid available for Pre-Nursing Pathway, including the Future Nurses Fund?

  The Pre-Nursing Pathway is nondegree seeking and is not eligible for financial aid or veterans benefits. Scholarships and access to the Future Nurses Fund are not available at this time.

• Does General Chemistry need to be completed to apply?

  Yes. General Chemistry with a lab (4 hours) must be completed with a grade by the application deadline to be considered for admission. This course cannot be in progress.

• Do you accept AP/test credits for English(s), General Chemistry, or Intro to Psychology?

  No. These specific classes must be taken at another higher education institution, and you must receive a “B” or better for admission to the Pre-nursing Pathway. In addition, you must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all prerequisite courses, and a grade of “C” or better in each prerequisite taken at accredited higher education institutions.

• If I complete the Pre-nursing Pathway at Cizik School of Nursing, am I automatically exempt from nursing school entrance exams?

  No. You must earn at least a “B” in all pre-nursing courses taken at Cizik School of Nursing and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all prerequisites to be exempt from nursing school entrance exams.

  Regardless of whether you qualify for direct admission to the Pacesetter BSN program, you must apply to it via NCAS, meet all admission requirements, and complete all pre-enrollment requirements.

• Do I have to take all of the courses listed in the Pre-Nursing Pathway curriculum at Cizik School of Nursing?

  To be eligible for possible exemption from entrance exams and to apply for direct admission to the Pacesetter BSN program, you must complete the full Pre-Nursing Pathway curriculum at Cizik School of Nursing. You must also meet all requirements for admission to the Pacesetter BSN program. Partial completion does not qualify a student for these benefits.

• If I have already taken courses that are part of the Pre-Nursing curriculum, am I still eligible to apply to the pathway?

  If you have already completed any of the courses offered in the Pre-Nursing Pathway, we recommend that you complete the rest of your BSN prerequisites at another accredited institution of higher education and instead apply to the Pacesetter accelerated BSN program.

• Can I transfer in with more than 30 credit hours and still qualify?

  We recommend that you complete the rest of your BSN prerequisites at another accredited institution of higher education and instead apply to the Pacesetter accelerated BSN program.

• Can I apply to the Pre-Nursing Pathway if I have taken the HESI/TEAs more than 2 times?

  The HESI/TEAs is not part of the admission requirements for the Pre-Nursing Pathway. However, attempts at the HESI/TEAs will be considered when applying to the BSN Pacesetter program. You must meet BSN admission requirements regardless of whether prerequisites are completed at Cizik School of Nursing or another institution.

• Do I need to submit any work experience, personal statements, or letters of recommendation?

  No, we do not require supplemental materials nor are they considered.