Discover Texas Lutheran University’s DEMSN Program

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  • 20-month program
  • New Braunfels, TX (near San Antonio)

Why Choose Texas Lutheran University’s DEMSN Program?

Learn boldly and live to inspire as a nurse with Texas Lutheran University (TLU). TLU’s 20-month Direct-Entry MSN program offers you a blend of online and on-campus coursework plus 990 hours of hands-on instruction in labs and clinical rotations.

Based at TLU’s New Braunfels campus northeast of San Antonio, this program offers you:

  • Two Nursing Degrees in One Program

    Earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing in less than two years of study.

  • Flexible Hybrid Instruction

    12 of 21 classes in this program include some level of online learning, offering you more flexibility as you complete this intensive degree.

  • Exceptional Clinical Preparation

    TLU’s DEMSN ensures you develop confidence in your competence with 990 hours of hands-on training in labs and in clinical rotations throughout Central Texas, including San Antonio, New Braunfels, and San Marcos.

  • Research Opportunities

    Gain direct experience conducting nursing research–and an understanding of how to apply findings in practice.

  • A Broad Range of Experience

    DEMSN students complete rotations in medical-surgical acute care, geriatrics, surgery, behavioral health, pediatrics, OB-GYN, emergency room nursing, intensive care units (ICU), intermediate care (IMC) and community health settings.

Program Structure

The 75-credit TLU DEMSN equips you to enter nursing with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in as few as 20 months of study. The program features:

  • Core Curriculum

    Including health science foundations, nursing administration, research and leadership, ethics, policy and more.

  • Clinical Training

    Learn essential patient care skills through simulated clinical experiences at TLU’s state-of-the-art simulation labs.

  • Clinical Practicum Experience

    Complete clinical rotations in a range of practice settings at facilities around San Antonio.

Courses

  • Pharmacology I
  • Age Span Health Assessment I
  • Comprehensive Pathophysiology
  • Evidence-Based Professional Nursing I
  • Fundamental Nursing Concepts
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Behavioral Health/ Psychiatric Nursing
  • Nursing Research I
  • Promoting Health in Older Adults
  • Complex Nursing Concepts and Practice I
  • Nursing Research II
  • Age Span Health Assessment II
  • Nursing of Childbearing Families
  • Complex Nursing Concepts and Practice II
  • Pharmacology II
  • Evidence-Based Professional Nursing II: Leadership, Theories, and Roles
  • Population and Community Health Nursing
  • Complex Nursing Concepts and Practice III
  • Quality Improvement and Safety in Healthcare
  • Power, Policy, and Politics in Nursing
  • Transition to Practice and Clinical Practicum

Admission Requirements

Application Requirements

TLU requires applicants to the DEMSN program to hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (or international equivalent) in any academic major other than nursing. Applicants must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Prerequisite Courses

TLU requires DEMSN applicants to have completed the following prerequisites with a 3.0 GPA or better within seven years of beginning the program:

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II
  • Microbiology
  • General Chemistry
  • Nutrition
  • Pathophysiology
  • Statistics
  • Developmental Psychology

You may have to take or re-take prerequisite courses prior to beginning Direct Entry MSN courses.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Texas Lutheran University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Texas Lutheran University DEMSN Program FAQ

How long is TLU’s DEMSN program?

The TLU DEMSN program takes as few as 20 months to complete.

How much does the TLU DEMSN program cost?

As of 2022-2023, tuition for the TLU DEMSN is $825 per credit hour. The total tuition cost for the 75-credit program is $61,875.

Additional fees may apply, and you will also need to purchase books and materials. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Tuition costs are subject to change.

Is a DEMSN at TLU worth it?

Yes. When you earn your Direct Entry MSN with Texas Lutheran University, you’re preparing to switch careers with a program that awards two degrees in just 20 months. Learn more about what a DEMSN can offer you here.

How much can you make with a Direct Entry MSN degree from TLU?

At the beginning of your nursing career, you can expect to earn a salary in line with that of registered nurses. In Texas, nursing salaries were as follows in May 2021*:

  • Median annual salary: $77,320
  • Lowest 10%: $59,780 or less
  • Highest 10%: $99,070 or more[1]

Salary varies by employer and by region. As a nurse with an MSN, it is possible you may be able to enter the profession with a higher starting salary than the median indicated here.

*The most recent year for which data is available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

[1] https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1141.00?st=TX&g=Go