A pre-nursing program is often the first step in becoming a nurse. This preparatory program offers students the opportunity to complete the basic foundation courses required for nursing school. These courses are typically general education courses in the sciences, such as psychology and anatomy. Pre-nursing programs prepare students for enrollment in entry-level nursing programs such as a Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN). By allowing students to experience the nursing field before fully committing to a four-year degree, pre-nursing programs are a great way to determine if a career as a nurse is right for you. Pre-nursing programs also help students meet the basic prerequisites needed for nursing school, accelerating their pathway toward a nursing degree.
While every university and college has different pre-nursing courses and requirements, most pre-nursing programs will have students take general classes in humanities and mathematics, as well as both natural and social sciences. At Towson University, our pre-nursing students take the following prerequisite in their freshman and sophomore years to apply to our nursing program:
First year:
- Writing for Liberal Education
- BIOL 191 Introductory Biology for Health Professions Lecture + LAB
- CHEM 121 Allied Health Chemistry I Lecture + LAB
- College Algebra
- Intro to Psychology
- Intro to Sociology
Second year:
- BIOL 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lecture + LAB
- Human Development
- Nutrition for Health Professionals
- Essentials of Microbiology
- BIOL 222 Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lecture + LAB
- Statistics