Beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston will offer 24 hours of nursing science prerequisites and a three-hour elective communication course 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.*
*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.
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 |
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 |
Yes. All applicants, including those who qualify for direct admission, must complete an application for the Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program via NCAS.
The Pre-nursing Pathway only admits for the Fall term.
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.
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.
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.
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 Accelerated BSN program, you must apply to it via NCAS, meet all admission requirements, and complete all pre-enrollment requirements.
To be eligible for possible exemption from entrance exams and to apply for direct admission to the Pacesetter Accelerated 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 Accelerated BSN program. Partial completion does not qualify a student for these benefits.
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.
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.
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 Pacesetter Accelerated BSN program. You must meet BSN admission requirements regardless of whether prerequisites are completed at Cizik School of Nursing or another institution.
No, we do not require supplemental materials nor are they considered.