- Pre-Professional Courses
- Q:I made a low grade in one of my courses, should I take it again? Which grade will the Admissions Committee look at?
- Admissions
- Q: If I do not get accepted, may I take a nursing elective?
- Q: If I am not accepted into the nursing program, what are my options?
- Q: If I am accepted, must I take the nursing courses as they appear on the degree plan?
- Q: Where can I find tuition and fees information for the University of Texas at El Paso?
- Traditional BSN
- Q: Will this semester’s grades be included in the GPAs presented to the committee for selection?
- Q: Can I apply if I have not completed all the prerequisites?
- Q: Am I allowed to work while in the Traditional Nursing Program?
- Accelerated BSN (Fast Track)
- Q: Am I allowed to work while in the Fast Track Nursing Program?
- Clinical and Health Clearances
- Q: What are the clinical & health clearance requirements for the nursing program? When should I start this process?
- Q: What is the deadline for Health & Clinical clearances?
- Q: When should I complete a background check?
Q: I made a low grade in one of my courses, should I take it again? Which grade will the Admissions Committee look at?
Answer: The Admissions Committee looks at the prerequisite science GPA. One course with a ‘C’ will not affect the GPA greatly. However, multiple ‘C’s or grades below ‘C’ are not acceptable. If you repeat a course in which you have made a ‘C’ or better, the committee will only consider the FIRST grade earned.
Q: If I do not get accepted, may I take a nursing elective?
Answer: No. You must be admitted to the upper division nursing classes in order to enroll in a nursing elective with the exception of NURS 3315 (Independent Study) which is designed for pre-nursing students.
Q: If I am not accepted into the nursing program, what are my options?
Answer: Apply again. You may reapply the following semester. We encourage you to continue taking classes while you are waiting. If you have no other courses to take for nursing school, you should start working on another bachelor’s degree [Plan B].
Complete another bachelor’s degree and look to apply to the accelerated BSN program (either at UTEP, Texas Tech or Western Governors University).
Apply to other nursing schools–locally (EPCC, Texas Tech or NMSU) or nationally/elsewhere in Texas. You may locate other accredited nursing programs on the Internet. You may look at http://www.nlnac.org for Associate Degrees (click on the Accredited Nursing Programs link) or at http://www.aacn.nche.edu for Bachelor’s degrees (click on the CCNE Accreditation link).
Q: If I am accepted, must I take the nursing courses as they appear on the degree plan?
Answer: Yes. The nursing curriculum is a closed curriculum. This means that you cannot take any nursing courses from a semester until you have successfully completed all of the courses from the previous semester
Q: Where can I find tuition and fees information for the University of Texas at El Paso?
Answer: The following web site has tuition and fee information: http://admin.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=34047
Q: Will this semester’s grades be included in the GPAs presented to the committee for selection?
Yes. The applicant pool is re-ranked after Fall or Spring grades are received by the School of Nursing Academic Advisor and Admissions Assistant. Updated GPAs and rankings are presented to the Admissions committee at that time.
Q: Can I apply if I have not completed all the prerequisites?
Answer: Yes, but only if you are enrolled in nursing prerequisite courses by the application deadline.
Q: Am I allowed to work while in the Traditional Nursing Program?
Answer: Yes. However, we encourage students not to work so that their fulltime energy and attention are focused on their nursing classes. Too many students have made the comment upon failing out of the nursing program that they had spent too much time working and not enough on their studies. Many hospitals offer student loan forgiveness upon employment and you are encouraged to follow up on that.
Q: Am I allowed to work while in the Fast Track Nursing Program?
Answer: The UTEP BSN Fast Track requires a full time commitment to class and clinicals. Time spent working reduces the amount of time available for studying and review which is vital for success in the program. All students are requested to sign an agreement not to work while in the program.
Clinical and Health Clearances
Q: What are the clinical & health clearance requirements for the nursing program? When should I start this process?
Answer:
CPR certification: Must be from the American Heart Association
City Wide Orientation: online
Health clearances: Physical, immunizations, and lab work. Details and forms will be distributed in the packet you will receive if you are selected to the nursing program. ALL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ARE PROCESSED THROUGH THE UTEP STUDENT HEALTH CENTER.
It is suggested that you start your clearance processes immediately upon notification of acceptance into the nursing program.
Q: What is the deadline for Health & Clinical clearances?
Answer: Please check the Clinical Compliance Office Website regularly for clearance deadlines. http://chs.utep.edu/complianceclearances/
Q: When should I complete a background check?
Answer : If you are accepted into the Nursing Program, you will be required to obtain a Criminal Background Check. More information on the Criminal Background Check can be found at the Clinical Compliance Office Website.
- Q: How do I register for classes?
- Q: When do classes start?
- Q: Can I register for courses before being formally admitted by the SON?
- Q: How do I activate my UTEP e-mail account?
- Q: Will I be required to travel during my program?
- Q: When is orientation?
- Q: Am I eligible for financial aid?
- Q: Are scholarships or loans available?
- Q: What are causes for dismissal from the graduate nursing program?
- Q: How and when do I apply for graduation?
Q: How do I register for classes?
Send an e-mail to Maria Galvan at mrgalvan@utep.edu to be cleared to register for courses. You can register through GOLDMINE on the My UTEP website (register for a username and password first). These courses are taken online at Blackboard.
Consult the Academic Calendars for a listing of UTEP semester start dates. The School of Nursing may create start dates that are not on the University Calendar but are listed when you register for classes.
Q: Can I register for courses before being formally admitted by the SON?
A: No. You must be admitted to a major to take classes.
Q: How do I activate my UTEP e-mail account?
If you have not activated your email account, go to My UTEP, “Sign On to My UTEP”, “Get your UTEP account here!” and submit the requested information. It may take up to 48 hours to activate your account. You must have an UTEP account to register for classes and this is the primary contact method for the school, faculty, and staff.
Q: Will I be required to travel during my program?
Nurse practitioner students have to come to UTEP’s campus a maximum of three times per semester during the last three semesters for a total of nine visits.
Due to the limited number of appropriate clinical placements, graduate students may be required to travel 200 miles or more to fulfill clinical requirements.
Students in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) concentration will be required to travel to Houston or another location for two weeks to precept at approved ACNP clinical sites.
The Nursing Systems Management major requires a residency to be completed outside your agency or current employer. You will be required to make arrangements for the residency and travel to the site to complete the hours required.
The School of Nursing offers orientation the weekend before fall semester starts. Attendance is mandatory for all majors. Additional orientation dates may be added as necessary. More detailed information will be send over the student listserv as dates approach. You are required to attend only once.
Q: When is orientation?
The School of Nursing offers orientation in August for those admitted to summer and fall term and in January for those admitted to spring term. Attendance is mandatory and you only have to attend once. More detailed information will be sent over the student listserv as dates approach. Topics covered include compliance, graduate policies, how to be successful in graduate school and a review of the technology you will be required to use.
Q: Am I eligible for financial aid?
Students admitted to a major are eligible for financial aid. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid. For complete information contact the financial aid office.
Q: Are scholarships or loans available?
Students in the Nurse Clinical Specialist with a concentration in Education major may be eligible for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) which can provide full- and part-time nurse-educator students with loans for tuitions and start up costs. After graduation, loan recipients may cancel up to 85% of the NFLP over a consecutive 4-year period while serving as full-time nurse faculty at a school of nursing. Applications are available through Financial Aid.
Students pursuing advanced nursing education may apply for the AENT Traineeship grant that provides funding for tuition, fees, books, and reasonable living expenses. Check your email accounts for the call for applications from the School of Nursing.
Q: What are causes for dismissal from the graduate nursing program?
1. Deviating from the plan of progression without discussing changes with your advisor may result in dismissal from the program. Military service, i.e. deployment, is the only acceptable reason for not meeting the demands of the program. In this case we expect ample notice from the student to the advisor and the course instructor.
2. Not fulfilling clinical obligations or declining a placement will result in dismissal from the major.
a. Changing clinical sites without permission of advisor and absence or tardiness to clinical sites is considered unsafe and unprofessional and may result in dismissal for all graduate students.
b. The clinical portion of the Nurse Practitioner major is rigorous and dependent on the good will of community preceptors. Students can expect to participate in clinicals full-time and may need to make personal and professional sacrifices to complete their degree. Students may be required to travel up to 200 miles one way for placements and may not decline placements due to travel.
Acute care nurse practitioner (ACNP) students are required to travel to Houston or another area to work with established ACNP preceptors during their second semester.
c. Students placed in practical settings for other majors are expected to understand and meet the demands of the placement and manage all personal and professional obligations. Not fulfilling these expectation may result is dismissal from the program.
3. Earning two “C”s will result in dismissal from the program. Earning an “F” in a course will result in dismissal from the program. You must petition for reinstatement. If you are a Nurse Practitioner major your clinical slot will not be held and you must reapply.
4. Unprofessional behavior, unbecoming behavior, scholastic dishonesty, or not adhering to the policies and procedures of UTEP and the SON will result in dismissal from the program. Also, the SON is required to report these behaviors to the Texas Board of Nursing.
Q: How and when do I apply for graduation?
Visit the Graduate School website for complete information and deadlines.
Forms for graduation include Application for Graduate Degree or Application for Graduate Certificate, and Plan of Progression
If you are a summer graduate you may participate in spring or fall commencement/hooding. You must submit your application for degree by the spring deadline to participate in spring commencement and notify Nursing that you will participate in spring hooding.
If you would like Nursing to obtain signatures and submit your application to the Graduate School on your behalf, turn in the completed application to Nursing at least a week before the Graduates School’s deadline.
Graduation ceremonies
The University hosts commencement in May and December. Search UTEP’s website for complete information.
School of Nursing Hooding Ceremony. Your family and friends are invited to attend the Hooding Ceremony honoring the advanced degree you have earned. The Hooding in the afternoon of the same day as commencement. For more information call 915-747-7273.
Note: If you do not find the answer you are looking for. You may find it on the FAQs for prospective students.
2011-06-16