Why Pursue the Nursing Pathway
Nursing continues to be one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States. It’s also consistently ranked among the nation’s most trusted and rewarding jobs. This program is meant to prepare you for a competitive application to nursing school, and whether your goal is to attend UT San Antonio’s School of Nursing or another nursing program in Texas, the Nursing Pathway provides you a strong foundation for success.
You’ll benefit from dedicated advising through University College and the Health Professions Office (HPO), helping you plan coursework, prepare nursing school applications and explore meaningful healthcare experiences.
Is the Nursing Pathway Right for You?
This pathway is designed for incoming freshmen who:
- Plan to pursue admission to a BSN program
- Want a structured academic plan and clear roadmap
- Are passionate about helping others
- Thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy problem-solving
- Are committed to academic excellence and lifelong learning
Your Path to Nursing Starts Here
Incoming Freshmen: Apply to UT San Antonio and select Nursing Pathway as your major. From your first semester, you’ll follow a structured academic plan designed to help you complete nursing prerequisites and prepare for competitive BSN applications. AP or Dual Credit earned prior to attending UT San Antonio is accepted and may count toward your pre-requisite coursework.
Admission Requirements
When you apply to UT San Antonio, you select the major you'd like to study. The choice of major will not impact if you get admitted to the University (all students must meet UT San Antonio's general admission requirements); however, some majors will require additional admission requirements to be able to declare the major your freshman year.
| Nursing Pathway: There are no additional admission requirements to enter the Nursing Pathway. Students must meet UT San Antonio’s general admission requirements. Participation in the Nursing Pathway does not guarantee admission to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Students will complete prerequisite coursework and must separately apply to a BSN program, where admission is competitive and based on the program’s selection criteria. |
Scholarships
Pro Tip: Even if you don't think you will qualify for financial aid, you should still submit the FAFSA! Information from the FAFSA could impact certain scholarships that are even merit-based.
UT San Antonio Scholarship Hub
Through one general scholarship application, you can automatically be considered for dozens of scholarships at UT San Antonio, including scholarships that are available for this major. In order to access all available scholarship applications on the UT San Antonio Scholarship Hub, you must be an admitted student. If you are a student applying for admission, but have not yet been admitted, you may sign in and complete the Scholarship Hub’s General Application as long as you have authenticated your myUTSA ID and Passphrase. Once you are admitted to UT San Antonio, please sign back in to the Scholarship Hub to see if there are any additional scholarship opportunities available for you to pursue.
the Scholarship Hub to see if there are any additional scholarship opportunities available for you to pursue. UT San Antonio Scholarship HubDistinguished Scholarship
UT San Antonio offers an automatic merit-based scholarship to incoming new freshman and transfer students who display exceptional scholastic achievement in high school by the priority deadline. Non-resident and international students awarded a Distinguished Scholarship for a minimum of $1,000 for the academic year will be granted a waiver for non-resident tuition if scholarship eligibility is maintained. This means out-of-state and international students could pay in-state tuition! For fall admitted freshmen, this scholarship is valued up to $20,000 for up to four years. For fall or spring admitted transfer students, this scholarship is valued up to $6,000 for up to two years. Renewal eligibility must be maintained and funding must be available.
Distinguished ScholarshipsUT San Antonio Bold Promise
Although not a scholarship, UT San Antonio is committed to cover tuition and mandatory fees 100% for eligible students who come from low and middle-income Texas families.
UT San Antonio Bold PromiseA Career with Purpose, Growth and Opportunity
Nursing continues to be one of the fastest-growing and most trusted professions in the United States. As healthcare needs increase across Texas and the nation, qualified nurses remain in high demand in hospitals, clinics, community health organizations and specialty healthcare settings. Beyond direct patient care, nursing can lead to opportunities in leadership, education, research, public health and advanced practice roles. For students who are passionate about helping others, nursing offers the chance to build a meaningful career while making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
Alternative Pathways
Admission to nursing school is highly competitive, and you may discover new interests or career goals as you progress through the Nursing Pathway. Fortunately, the foundational coursework completed in this program prepares you for a wide range of rewarding healthcare professions.
Alternative pathways include:
- Public Health
- Health Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Respiratory Care
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant
Frequently Asked Questions
A nursing degree can lead to opportunities across nearly every sector of the healthcare industry, including hospitals, ambulatory and outpatient care centers, public health agencies, home health organizations, military healthcare, long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, educational institutions, government agencies, research organizations and the biotechnology industry. The versatility of a nursing education allows professionals to work in direct patient care, leadership, education, research, community health and emerging areas of healthcare innovation, providing diverse career opportunities throughout their professional lives.
For most students, becoming a registered nurse takes approximately four years. Students in the Nursing Pathway spend their first two years at UT San Antonio completing the prerequisite courses required for admission into many Texas Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. After being admitted into a nursing school, students typically complete an additional two years of upper-division nursing coursework before earning their BSN and becoming eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Individual timelines may vary depending on transfer credit, course sequencing and admission into a nursing program.
The Nursing Pathway prepares students for success in nursing school by building a strong foundation in science, mathematics, communication and critical thinking. Students typically complete coursework in areas such as: Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, General Chemistry, Statistics, Nutrition, Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Medical Terminology and Core Curriculum. Beyond coursework, students develop valuable professional skills including: Critical thinking, Scientific reasoning, Communication, Teamwork, Ethical decision-making, Cultural competency, Professionalism and Leadership. Students are also encouraged to gain volunteer, clinical observation and healthcare experiences that strengthen nursing school applications.
The Nursing Pathway is designed to prepare students for admission into Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs across Texas.
After completing prerequisite coursework and meeting admission requirements, students may apply to nursing schools including at UT San Antonio and many other public and private institutions throughout the state.
The pathway also provides an excellent foundation for students interested in other healthcare professions should their career goals evolve during college.
The Honors Experience
Realize your full potential at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Honors College. Rooted in experiential learning, our classes and programs are hands-on, project-based, and customizable to fit your individual goals. Students in any majors can get invited to our Honors College. Turn your passions into marketable skills for the future!
Why Join Honors?
