What Prerequisites Do I Need For A Nursing Degree?
Prerequisites are the vital building blocks of a nursing degree. Prerequisites provide nursing students with background knowledge and help prepare them for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Whether you intend to complete a two-year program, a four-year program, or longer, these courses are essential to your education.
Complete your prerequisites online
Interested in saving money on the way to becoming a nurse? Online courses offer an affordable and flexible path to a nursing degree. At Portage Learning, we specialize in online nursing prerequisites and offer the common courses required by nursing programs. The list below covers several popular nursing prerequisites:
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology courses provide a working knowledge of the body’s structure and function while emphasizing pathologies. These courses serve as introductions to lab assignments and basic terminology nursing students will need down the road.
Portage Course Equivalent: BIOD 151: Essential Human Anatomy & Physiology | W/Lab
Transferrable Credits : 4
Biology
General Biology or similar courses develop an understanding of the organization of life, taxonomy, cell structure, and basic biological concepts. Many of these courses also provide an introduction to laboratories.
Portage Course Equivalent: BIOD 101: Essential Biology | W/Lab
Transferrable Credits: 4
Chemistry
Chemistry introduces useful knowledge such as the scientific method, basic principles of chemistry, and cellular processes. For nursing students, chemistry courses also develop experience with chemical equations and analysis in laboratory settings.
Portage Course Equivalent: CHEM 103: General Chemistry | W/Lab
Transferrable Credits: 4
Developmental Psychology
Nursing students often use Developmental Psychology, or similar courses, as prerequisites because they cover human health and development physically, socio-emotionally, and cognitively. By taking Developmental Psychology, you will examine human growth from conception to death and the changes that come with aging.
Portage Course Equivalent: PSYC 140: Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology
Transferrable Credits: 3
English Composition
The ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and write logically are vital in the nursing field. Most associate and bachelor’s degree programs require an English composition course to help students develop those skills.
Portage Course Equivalent: ENGL 101: English Composition
Transferrable Credits: 3
Introduction to Statistics
This statistics course fits practically into a nursing skill set when it comes to making decisions, understanding data, sampling, and probability. An introductory statistics course will give you the tools to apply evidence and data when administering clinical care.
Portage Course Equivalent: MATH 110: Introduction to Statistics
Transferrable Credits: 3
Microbiology
Nursing programs often require microbiology courses because they focus on pathologies, viral composition, and microorganism identification. Nurses use each of these concepts daily to identify, prevent, or control disease.
Portage Course Equivalent: BIOD 171: Essential Microbiology | W/Lab
Transferrable Credits: 4
Nutrition
Nutrition courses offer theory and practical application for how food impacts general health. These courses also explore nutritional needs across the lifespan. As a nursing student, learning about nutrition can help you understand a patient’s needs and health-related behaviors.
Portage Course Equivalent: BIOD 121: Essentials in Nutrition
Transferrable Credits: 3
Interested in online courses?
Portage Learning offers a variety of self-directed, online courses you can take any time, from anywhere. Our courses transfer credits to more than 2,000 programs across the nation. After registering for a Portage Learning course, you have six months to start it, and then one year to complete the course once you’ve begun. Start your nursing prerequisites today by exploring our courses and seeing what’s right for you!
