Certificate in Pre-Nursing
The Pre-Nursing Pathway at SOU is designed for students who wish to meet the requirements to apply to Nursing schools, specifically in the state of Oregon and possibly elsewhere in the United States.
Pre-Nursing – Certificate
Pre-Nursing, Certificate
Offered as an Academic Certification
The Pre-Nursing program at Southern Oregon University is not a formal academic program, nor associated with any specific major. Students who are interested in Nursing programs should speak with the admissions and program advisors about the different paths and options leading to a degree in Nursing. Application requirements, including course prerequisites, GPA, and experience, can vary by school and type of program.
An ideal path for students interested in common BSN programs in Oregon, is to declare a Certificate in Pre-Nursing. However, students should meet with the program advisor for additional questions. Students who are interested in doing an accelerated post-baccalaureate program, should meet with a student success coordinator for assistance in choosing an appropriate major within their department. As nursing schools are highly competitive, it is encouraged that students align their curriculum with an academic major, while satisfying the nursing prerequisite requirements. Additional requirements are typically extracurricular such as volunteer or work experience.
To learn more about becoming a Nurse, you can visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) website: aacnnursing.org
The Certificate in Pre-Nursing is designed for students who wish to meet the requirements to apply to Nursing schools in the state of Oregon, by completing coursework including the Human Anatomy and Physiology sequence, Microbiology, Nutrition, Lifespan/Human Development, and college algebra mathematics course or higher.
In addition, this certificate could be added to the curricula for students who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at SOU. The certificate helps to track additional prerequisite courses needed to apply to accelerated Nursing programs after graduation that require a completed bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field as well as other required coursework in genetics, statistics, and chemistry.
Although a certificate is not required to apply to Nursing schools, students will be generally better prepared to apply to multiple Nursing programs upon full completion. Graduates that attain the certificate will have met the prerequisite course requirements for most nursing schools in Oregon. However, it is still recommended to investigate the specific prerequisites for each individual nursing program both in and out of state, and discuss additional needs with an advisor.
For questions about this certificate, you may contact the following Student Success Coordinator: Marissa Martes, Student Success Coordinator for Math & Science, martesm@sou.edu
FAQ
Does Southern Oregon University have a nursing program?
No, SOU does not have a nursing program. We offer the prerequisite courses that will allow you to apply to nursing schools in Oregon and elsewhere. If you plan to apply to OHSU 3-Year BSN at the Ashland campus, you get additional admissions consideration for taking prerequisite courses at SOU.
Can I get a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Nursing at SOU?
No, students can earn a Pre-Nursing certificate and are encouraged to major in a subject that interests them in order to be eligible for accelerated nursing programs.
Do I need to complete SOU’s General Education curriculum if I want to go to nursing school?
No, you are only required to complete WR 121z and WR 122z for some nursing programs including OHSU. However, some prerequisite courses for nursing school also fulfill General Education capacities. Students could try to take courses that fulfill requirements simultaneously in case they aren’t accepted to nursing school on their first application.
Students who hope to transfer to nursing school after one or two years at SOU do not need to focus on General Education capacities. Students who complete their degree at another institution will have to meet that school’s general education requirements, not SOU’s.
Where should I apply to Nursing school?
Schools and programs in Oregon vary, let alone across the United States, so it will require some research into specific schools to make sure you are taking the courses needed for the program(s) you are interested in.
Visit this page to find a list of accredited Nursing schools in Oregon.
What are my options if I don’t get into nursing school?
It’s a good idea to have an alternative plan in place in case you are not admitted on your first attempt, because of the competitive nature of nursing school admissions. For most pre-nursing students, this means completing a bachelor’s degree at SOU and then applying to accelerated nursing programs. See the advising section for more suggestions on majors.
A bachelor’s degree can provide a broader educational background and more maturity before nursing school, as well as an opportunity for students to raise their GPA and gain more work or volunteer experience.
Do out-of-state BSN programs accept Oregon residents?
Although requirements listed for Oregon nursing schools will meet MOST of the prerequisites for out-of-state schools, students are responsible for checking acceptable transfer courses with any school to which they wish to apply.
Advising
Sample 2-Year Plan
Year 1
Fall: WR 121z, BI 231/231L, PSY 201 or PSY 202, HE 250 – 16 Credits
Winter: WR 122z, BI 232/232L, MTH 095 or higher*, Social Science Elective – 16 Credits
Spring: WR 123, BI 233/233L, CH 104/104L/190, HE 325 – 17 Credits
*Students may start in a higher level of math based upon math placement. Students must complete MTH 095 or higher prior to applying.
Year 2
Fall: BI 214/214L, BI 211/211L, PSY 370 – 12 Credits
Winter/Spring: Students should consider alternate plans in the Winter/Spring while waiting for their admissions decision as the process is highly competitive.
Other options may include:
- Taking humanities and upper division electives
- Adding a certificate or minor that you can apply to Nursing
- Continuing to work on life/healthcare experience in preparation for reapplication
- Pursuing another major of interest and plan to earn a Bachelor’s degree with SOU while considering accelerated nursing programs
Some popular majors that incorporate many of the nursing prereqs are listed below:
- Biology
- Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Health & Exercise Science
- Healthcare Administration
- Psychology
- Any other major of interest can be complete along with Nursing prerequisites/Pre-Nursing Certificate
Guided Pathways
Contact:
Marissa Martes – 541.552.6929 – martesm@sou.edu
Associate Degree Paths
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, RCC – Bachelor of Science in Nursing, OHSU
Similar Majors
Biology – Biomedical Science – Chemistry – Health and Exercise Science – Healthcare Administration – Psychology
Similar Minors & Certificates
Biology, Certificate – Biomedical Research, Certificate – Healthcare Economics, Certificate – Medical & Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Certificate – Physician Assistant & Chiropractic, Certificate – Pre-Dental & Pre-Optometry, Certificate – Pre-Medical, Certificate – Spanish & Latinx Studies for Health Professions, Certificate – Health Promotion, Minor – Psychology, Minor – Chemistry, Minor
Similar Micro-Credentials
Sample Graduate Degrees
Master’s in Nursing, OHSU – Doctoral Degree in Nursing, OHSU
Credit for Prior Learning – Learn More
Career Opportunities & Outlook
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