RN-BSN - Prerequisites

Sixty semester hours of prerequisite coursework are required for students planning to apply for the RN-BSN degree program.  This coursework may be completed at any accredited college or university.  For students planning to apply to the RN-BSN program who have not earned a bachelor’s degree in another area, the courses below must be completed by the time you matriculate at the College of Nursing.

(Equivalencies at Trident Technical College and the College of Charleston)

Prerequisite Courses	Semester Hours
English Composition/Literature	6 sh
Lifespan Human Growth and Development	3 sh
Human Anatomy	4 sh
Human Physiology	4 sh
Microbiology	4 sh
Statistics	3 sh
Science elective	4 sh
Social Science and Humanities electives	15 sh
General electives	17 sh
Total:	60 sh

Prerequisite Coursework Minimum Content Requirements

English Composition/Literature
Six semester hours of course work that emphasizes expository and critical writing, and utilizes selected works of literature for analysis and composition topics.

Human Growth and Development
A three semester hour survey course of theory and research concerned with human growth and development from conception/birth through senescence and death. A course is child development will not fulfill this requirement. CLEP and Excelsior College exams taken after 2001 are acceptable.

Human Anatomy
A four semester hour survey course of the physical structure of human cells, tissues, and organs. This may be a stand-alone Human Anatomy course or it may be a combined Human Anatomy and Physiology course. If it is a stand-alone Human Anatomy course, a stand-alone Human Physiology course is also required. If it is a combined course, a second Human Anatomy and Physiology course is also required to meet the minimum course content requirements. It must include a lab component. Comparative anatomy and physiology courses do not meet the minimum course content requirements.

Human Physiology
A four semester hour survey course of the function and regulation of the human body and physiological integration of the organ systems to maintain homeostasis.  Course content should cover the major function of the major organs and organ systems of the body. This may be a stand-alone Human Physiology course or it may be a combined Human Anatomy and Physiology course. If it is a stand-alone Human Physiology course, a stand-alone Human Anatomy course is also required. If it is a combined course, a second Human Anatomy and Physiology course is also required to meet the minimum course content requirements. It must include a lab component. Comparative anatomy and physiology courses do not meet the minimum course content requirements.

Microbiology
A four semester hour survey course of the morphology, structure, metabolism, and growth of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoan, and parasites. Basic concepts of virology, epidemiology, and pathogenicity should be included. Must include a laboratory component.

Statistics
A three semester hour course that emphasizes basic statistical concepts. Topics should include descriptive statistics, probability, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, simple linear regression and correlation, and analysis of variance.

Science elective
While an four semester hour college transfer course is acceptable, biology, chemistry, and physics courses with a laboratory component are preferred.

Social Science and Humanities electives
Fifteen semester hours of college transfer course work are acceptable including anthropology, computer science, management, psychology, sociology, geography, art, ethics, education, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, speech, communications, religion, and fine arts.

General electives
Seventeen semester hours of college transfer course work (non nursing) are acceptable. Any computer information, public speaking, additional math, and additional science courses are highly recommended. General rule: Any course that is college transfer eligible, the course number is 101 or higher and has not been used to meet other specific prerequisite course work may be used.

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