St. Thomas University BSN Programs

St. Thomas University gives you multiple ways to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The programs fit different educational backgrounds and career goals. You can start your nursing career or advance your existing one with these flexible and rigorous education options.

The traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program takes four years. It includes St. Thomas University’s core curriculum along with specific pre-nursing and nursing major courses. This detailed approach prepares you for your original RN licensure and helps you enter the healthcare workforce successfully. The curriculum focuses on patient-centered nursing based on principles of healing and all-encompassing care.

Students with prior education can choose the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. This intensive option lets qualified students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree complete their nursing education in just 12 months. You’ll learn nursing theory through online coursework and apply these concepts during hands-on experiential learning. The ABSN program includes:

• Online courses that build your nursing theory foundation
• Skills and simulation labs with state-of-the-art equipment
• Clinical rotations at top Houston healthcare facilities

Licensed RNs can advance their education through the RN to BSN online program. This accelerated track takes as few as 12 months to complete and offers six start dates every year. Students need to complete 36 credit hours – 30 hours of nursing courses and 6 hours of university-required coursework. The curriculum enhances your existing knowledge and develops leadership skills for management roles.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has confirmed the quality of these programs. STU’s nursing students have achieved a 100% passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) through March 2025.

Each program track has specific admission requirements. The accelerated BSN program usually needs a minimum 3.0 GPA (including a 3.0 GPA for all prerequisite science courses) and passing scores on either the HESI or TEAS entrance exam. The RN to BSN program requires an active RN license and a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Students must meet additional requirements from healthcare organizations that host clinical rotations. These include criminal background checks, CPR certification, and specific immunizations. These detailed programs prepare you for excellence in nursing while working with your educational background and career goals.

Available Program Tracks

St. Thomas University offers multiple BSN program tracks that align with your educational background and career goals.

The Traditional 4-year BSN Program follows a detailed curriculum over four academic years, including one required summer semester. You’ll need 131 total credits, with 56 nursing credits and 570 clinical/lab hours. The first two years focus on foundational courses before you move to specialized nursing practice in your junior and senior years.

Students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can choose the Accelerated Second Degree BSN, a 12-month path to nursing licensure. This full-time program combines online coursework with hands-on experience through onsite skills labs and clinical rotations. You’ll be ready to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and start your nursing career after completion.

The RN to BSN Online Program helps licensed registered nurses advance their education in just 12 months. This relaxed program needs 36 credit hours—30 in nursing courses plus 6 hours of university-required coursework in Catholic Identity and Diversity. Each course runs for seven weeks during regular terms and six weeks in summer. You’ll build on your existing knowledge while developing leadership skills needed for management roles.

The Pathway to Nursing program creates a structured route as you begin your nursing experience. You start as a Natural Sciences: Health Sciences major and complete prerequisites while receiving tailored advising. This pathway gives you priority consideration for BSN admission and leads to an intensive two-year nursing curriculum within a four-year graduation timeline.

All but one of these programs need strong academic performance. The traditional and accelerated tracks typically need a minimum 3.0 GPA in prerequisite coursework. St. Thomas University’s diverse program options help you find the educational path that matches your needs.

Flexible Learning Formats

Flexible learning is the core of St. Thomas University’s nursing education approach. The institution has adaptable formats for all BSN pathways. These formats specifically help working professionals and students with busy schedules.

The ABSN program uses a sophisticated hybrid learning model that combines online flexibility with hands-on experience. You’ll complete nursing theory coursework online through an interactive e-learning platform. This digital environment lets you work at your own pace and review materials whenever needed. The online component reduces campus commutes by a lot and makes the program more available to students juggling multiple commitments.

The hybrid structure has three key parts:

• Online coursework – Complete theoretical foundations anywhere, anytime
• Hands-on skills and simulation labs – Apply knowledge using state-of-the-art equipment in mock patient scenarios
• Clinical rotations – Get real-life experience at top Houston healthcare facilities

ABSN students visit program sites in Shenandoah, Sugar Land, or the main campus in downtown Houston for in-person components. These locations provide the facilities needed to develop practical nursing skills under faculty guidance.

The RN to BSN program provides maximum flexibility as a 100% online program with six start dates each year. Students complete courses in seven weeks during regular terms and six weeks during summer terms. This accelerated format helps students finish in as few as 12 months.

The RN to BSN program, while fully online, has two practicum-based courses that need clinical experiences: Nursing Leadership and Community Health Nursing. Students can secure their own preceptors and clinical placements to maximize flexibility. This arrangement lets them schedule experiences around their work commitments.

Both programs feature asynchronous learning. Students can complete assignments and attend lectures based on their schedule instead of fixed class times.

Entry Criteria & Prerequisites

St. Thomas University’s BSN Programs have different admission requirements based on your educational background and career stage.

The RN to BSN online program keeps its requirements simple. You’ll need:

• A completed free application
• Transcripts from all accredited post-secondary institutions (unofficial transcripts work at first)
• Minimum 2.5 GPA or higher
• Active and unencumbered Florida or Georgia nursing license
• Residency in Florida or Georgia for clinicals

Your clinical rotations in the RN to BSN program need proof of current CPR certification from the American Heart Association, updated immunization records with yearly flu shots, and a passed Level II background check. You also need personal medical and hospital insurance.

The Accelerated BSN program sets different prerequisites. You need to transfer at least 60 credits or have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Your cumulative GPA should be 3.0 or higher, including a 3.0 GPA in all prerequisite science courses. You also need to pass either the HESI exam with 80% overall and in specific sections, or score 78% on all TEAS exam sections.

RN to BSN students get significant credit for their experience. Your RN license earns you 60 course credits in nursing right after enrollment – half of the 120 credits needed for the degree.

First-year students in the traditional BSN pathway must pass specific prerequisites with a C- or better. These include Human Biology, Mathematics, Nursing Chemistry, General Psychology, and Lifespan Psychology. The program also requires meeting technical standards in observation, communication, motor skills, and behavioral attributes. Qualified students with disabilities can get reasonable accommodations.

Each BSN track requires you to meet additional requirements from healthcare organizations that host clinical rotations. These include background checks, identity verification, and immunization records.

What Sets the BSN Programs Apart at St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University’s BSN programs excel in more ways than just flexible formats and multiple pathways. Their nursing programs have achieved remarkable results with 100% NCLEX pass rates through March 2025. These numbers prove the exceptional quality of education students receive.

Small class sizes and individual attention from experienced faculty members create a customized learning experience. Students thrive both academically and personally in this supportive environment.

The university’s state-of-the-art simulation labs are equipped with high-fidelity mannequins that mirror real patient scenarios. Students can practice their critical nursing skills in these advanced facilities before they step into clinical settings.

St. Thomas University’s strategic collaborations with Houston’s top healthcare facilities provide outstanding clinical placement opportunities. Students learn hands-on in healthcare settings of all types under expert guidance.

The curriculum combines Catholic values with modern nursing practice. This approach focuses on comprehensive patient care and ethical decision-making. Students learn to care for both their patients’ physical and spiritual well-being.

Quick completion times are a major advantage for students looking to advance their degrees quickly. The 12-month RN to BSN and ABSN options stand out here. Multiple start dates throughout the year mean students don’t have to wait long to begin their nursing education.

The mix of academic excellence, hands-on experience, and values-based education makes St. Thomas University’s nursing programs truly special.