Questions regarding Maricopa CC's Nursing program

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

issue resolved - and no useful information in my posts, hence no need for it here

I am going for the BSN at ASU.... these times, they are a changin....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am taking a class at MCC right now. I was handed a sheet that had all the pre-req's on it, and then a few co-req's. I have a previous degree that covers the arts, math, and humanties classes, but I have to take or re-take all the sciences. Since some are pre-req's for others, it's going to take me about 3 years to complete them all, one class at a time.

I have heard from classmates that the Bio 181 class (pre-req to A&P) is very hard and is meant for future doctors and such. It is also hard to get into and there is usually a waiting list. My friend who just got into MCC nursing school gave me a tip. She said to take Bio 156 at one of the other Maricopa County colleges as a pre-req to A&P. MCC does not offer Bio 156, but it's easier than 181 and either way, you can take the A&P class. You may have to take it at South Mountain or one of the other college. Either way, you get your credits and you don't have to deal with the craziness of waiting lists.

I am taking Bio 156 on-line through Rio Salado next semester since it's a repeat class for me (I took something similar 10 years ago but it's expired). That might be an option for you if you are really dedicated and have self-discipline to do it. Rio offers all the nursing pre-req's on-line. You may still have to take the lab in person for some classes.

I am a mom of a 5 year old and a 2 year old. We cannot afford daycare for the 2yo. My husband is being supportive of coming home early so I can go to class, but I think the on-line classes will be better for our schedule. By the time my little one is old enough for K I should be about ready to get accepted into nursing school. At least that's the plan.

Did you meet with an advisor and discuss your prior classes? They accepted my Biology class that I took in 1982....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was told in no uncertain terms by my advisor at MCC that my Bio 101 and 102 would be acceptable even though I took them 12 years ago.

Also, I have not seen or heard anywhere that there is any additional prereq to take A&P. I have already preregistered for A&P next semester at ASU, without the additional bio class you are describing....

More than enough to give us both reason to doubt what these advisors are telling us.

I certainly hope I don't have to take bio 1 and 2 over again, especially since I am taking SWU 302 this semester (Human biology - covers a lot of what bio 1 and 2 do, only much more applicable to nursing, and yet still not counting for any requirement for the nursing program at mcc, or asu) ANd I'm taking A&P next semester.

Having to go back and take bio 1 and 2 over again after completeing A&P, CHM, MIC, would be a travesty.

Yeah, what is going on here. I understood that BIO 156 was required before A&P and then Micro bio after that. I know Bio 181 is not included on top of all of that. It really does make you wonder how these people are trained. I looked up all of the MCC schools online and printed their pre-req list. So far all has matched except some still say the CNA training is still a pre-req.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

issue resolved - and no useful information in my posts, hence no need for it here

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have looked at the MCC prereq list recently myslef, and do not recall seeing Bio 150-something or other, or Bio 181 on there. I don't even know what those classes are.

I would be pretty baffled anyway if I found that there are even more bio prereqs required in addition to 101, 102, Mic, and A&P 1&2. That wouldn't make a bit of sense. As it is, I think that some of the bio prereqs are excessive and of highly dubious worth to begin with.

The prerequisites for Bio 201, 202, and 205 are Bio156, or Bio181, or an equivalent. Some people have "snuck" into 201 and 205 without the prereqs, however, there was a student who did that last semester and they weren't able to graduate with the rest of their class.....The best thing I can say is to grab a school catalogue that lists all of the courses with their prereqs, this way you can't go wrong. MCC stacks the catalogues in the Kirk student center......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The prerequisites for Bio 201, 202, and 205 are Bio156, or Bio181, or an equivalent. Some people have "snuck" into 201 and 205 without the prereqs, however, there was a student who did that last semester and they weren't able to graduate with the rest of their class.....The best thing I can say is to grab a school catalogue that lists all of the courses with their prereqs, this way you can't go wrong. MCC stacks the catalogues in the Kirk student center......

OK, I just looked at the Program Prereqs sheet which I got from Mesa CC, and I see the requirement:

BIO 156 OR

BIO 181 OR

One year of high school biology.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yeah, what is going on here. I understood that BIO 156 was required before A&P and then Micro bio after that. I know Bio 181 is not included on top of all of that. It really does make you wonder how these people are trained. I looked up all of the MCC schools online and printed their pre-req list. So far all has matched except some still say the CNA training is still a pre-req.

Sorry sassie, I was mistaken, as you can see from the preceeding couple of posts. I was thinking of bio 101 and 102 which, according the MCC advisor with whom I met, meet the requirement for 181, or etc...

So, yea, one must choose one of those bios as a prereq. If you have bio 101 or 102 (usually comes with many A.A.S degrees, thats why I have them), or high school bio, then they should do the job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OK, I just looked at the Program Prereqs sheet which I got from Mesa CC, and I see the requirement:

BIO 156 OR

BIO 181 OR

One year of high school biology.

So it is only one of them, as you indicated above.

I have those crossed out on my sheet, because the advisor I met with said that the bio 101 and bio 102 (which I have taken) would meet this requirement. So it just stuck in my head that it was bio 101 and/or 102 which were required and I already have them, hence my forgetting what the page actually says. In any case, unless my advisor is completely incompetant and negligent, then I am assuming that I have met these requirements as he indicated (he watched me as I crossed them out). I assume that is a safe guess, since they are stating that high school biology would meet the requirement.... The notion that high school bio would meet the requirement while college bio 101 and 102 would not meet it seems ludicrous.

Anyway, for anyone who does still have to take one of those classes, at least it is quite easy, unlike what I have heard about chm, mic, and A&P.

Having said that, I shall still vomit if I wind up having to take bio 156 or 181, considering I already have taken 3 biology classes in college.

You should be good to go for Bio 201 and 205...Did you place your name on the waiting lists for them? They are going to give current students first dibs on registering for those classes.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
OK, I just looked at the Program Prereqs sheet which I got from Mesa CC, and I see the requirement:

BIO 156 OR

BIO 181 OR

One year of high school biology.

That is pretty scary that they would except any high school bio class - especially given the average age in my program of students in their mid-30s on up (20 years at least since they took Bio).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is pretty scary that they would except any high school bio class - especially given the average age in my program of students in their mid-30s on up (20 years at least since they took Bio).

Ok, I do recall something now that Im seeing the posts about high school equiv. bio. I went to GCC this summer to talk about my classes(before I decided on EBSN) and they did tell me that high school BIO was now enough to get into A&P however, they said you to "test" out. Meaning take some sort of test to see if you could make it in A&P. They were saying alot of people wanted to test out but weren't making the grade in the class itself.

So, thats what I remember. It can be confusing with new guidelines changing all the time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is pretty scary that they would except any high school bio class - especially given the average age in my program of students in their mid-30s on up (20 years at least since they took Bio).

:chair: I'll let you all know how it goes. Will be starting A&P in two weeks having only had a prior high school biology in........1989 must have been.

I'm not too worried. I recently read through some stats conducted by MCCCD when they were trying to decide on what changes to make to the nursing program. IIRC, the bio prereqs didn't help people in A&P too much.

Yes, I remembered correctly. See page four of this long pdf file: http://healthcare.maricopa.edu/pdfDocs/hcc_curriculum_report.pdf

For some reason I can't do a cut and paste, but it found that they were surprised to notice that those who had not taken Bio156 or Bio181 actually did BETTER in A&P than those who did take Bio156 or Bio181.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:chair: I'll let you all know how it goes. Will be starting A&P in two weeks having only had a prior high school biology in........1989 must have been.

I'm not too worried. I recently read through some stats conducted by MCCCD when they were trying to decide on what changes to make to the nursing program. IIRC, the bio prereqs didn't help people in A&P too much.

Yes, I remembered correctly. See page four of this long pdf file: http://healthcare.maricopa.edu/pdfDocs/hcc_curriculum_report.pdf

For some reason I can't do a cut and paste, but it found that they were surprised to notice that those who had not taken Bio156 or Bio181 actually did BETTER in A&P than those who did take Bio156 or Bio181.

That's interesting, given what I was told at GCC. I mean who is giving these advisors their information? They made it sound like people weren't passing A&P.....especially those who hadn't taken BIO 156 ot 181. Oh well, I guess I shouldnt worry too much. I mean unless it doesn't pan out for me to go to EBSN. I am trying to stay super positive, I cannot forsee any problem with me going there! Good luck on your A&P class.......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment