Union University of Tennessee Nursing School Review

Union University (UU) of Tennessee is a private, four year institution that was founded in 1823. It is the oldest Southern Baptist college in the nation. There are more than 4200 students enrolled, and the student to faculty ratio is 11 to 1.

Union has a main campus in Jackson, and extension campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville. The campus has had over $120 million in renovations in the last decade, including on-campus housing that features private bedrooms for all residents. All housing also has internet and cable connections, and wireless internet access is available in the common areas and the Student Union.

Nursing Programs

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

This program is only available on the main campus in Jackson. The BSN curriculum trains students to care for patients in a variety of healthcare situations. Students complete 64 credit hours of core classes, and then 64 credit hours of nursing classes. The traditional BSN program takes eight semesters to complete.

To be eligible for the program, students meet two of the following three criteria: graduated in the top 50% of their high school class, scored a 22 on the ACT or a 1020 on the SAT, and have at least a 2.5 GPA in their core classes.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to RN

This program typically takes two years (four semesters) to complete. Students will be given college credit for previous nursing education and experience.

To be eligible to apply, students that still need to take general education courses will need to have a GPA of at least 2.3 and an ACT score of at least 20. Students that have already completed their general education requirements will need to have a cumulative GPA of 2.8, a science GPA of 2.8, and an ACT score of 20 or an SAT of 1030.

RN to BSN Completion

This program is specifically for Registered Nurses (RNs) who have graduated from an associate degree or diploma in nursing program. Students can take traditional classes at the Germantown campus, take all of the classes online, or take a hybrid version with some classes online and some in the classroom. This program usually takes 18 months to complete.

To be eligible, students must have a current RN license, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8, and must supply their college transcripts. Students will receive up to 72 credit hours for previous nursing education and experience. They will need to take at least 32 credit hours at Union University to be able to graduate with a BSN degree.

Accelerated BSN

This program is designed for students who have no nursing experience, but have a bachelor’s degree in another subject, or who previously completed the general education requirements but didn’t finish their degree program. The program takes about 15 months to complete. It is available at all campuses, and starts in the Fall at Jackson and Germantown, and in the Fall and in the Spring at Hendersonville.

Students that have a bachelor’s degree must complete Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and General Psychology. Students that don’t have a bachelor’s degree must complete all general education courses, be at least 24 years old, have an ACT score of at least 20, and have completed Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and General Psychology. All applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 for their last 60 credit hours of classes, supply official transcripts, have a grade of C or better for Social Science, Natural Science, English and Math classes, and take the TEAS exam during the interview process.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The MSN program provides specialty tracks in Administration, Education, Nurse Anesthesia, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Adult Nurse Practitioner.

To apply, students need to provide proof of RN licensure, BSN degree completion, and completion of Undergraduate Statistics. They will also need a personal statement about career goals and interest in nursing, transcripts, and letters of recommendation.

There are Post Master’s Certificates available for the above specialties, except for Nurse Anesthesia. To be eligible, students need to have an MSN degree.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The DNP program offers specialty tracks in Executive Leadership, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) with DNP.

To be eligible, students must have a master’s degree, but an MSN is preferred. They must also have a 3.0 GPA or better, an RN license or be eligible for one, complete an interview, have letters of professional or academic reference, and a statement outlining past work experience and community service that supports their goal of earning a DPN.

Blue Mountain/Union Dual Degree Program

Union University has an agreement with Blue Mountain College to offer a dual degree nursing program. This program lets students spend three years at Blue Mountain College earning a degree, and then transfer to Union University to the BSN program. They will finish their BSN degree in two years. During this time, selected courses at Union are transferred back to Blue Mountain, to allow them to finish their bachelor’s degree program there.

At the end of five years of study, students will earn a bachelor’s degree from each university.

Contact:
Union University
1050 Union University Drive,
Jackson, TN 38305