Can one skip lower Bio and successfully take Bio 201 (A/P)

Students Pre-Nursing

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  • Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

I am enrolled with the 'Maricopa Community Colleges' in Arizona. Specifically I am attending Glendale Community College working on my prerequisites for the Nursing Program.

At GCC/AZ, lower Bio 156 (Introductory Bio) is not required to take BIO 201 (A/P) if you have completed 1 full year of Bio in high school. (They do encourage you to still take the class, though)

This is what I want to know:

  1. Has anyone skipped lower Bio 156 and went right to 201? Were you successful? or
  2. Did you take 156 and find that you needed it to pass 201?

Please share your experience.

I personally would like to skip it to save money and time. I am a student who studies hard and is disciplined, but I need to know from others, how it went for them.

Thanks!

Specializes in Neuroscience.

I took Bio 101 class way back in the day. I signed up (12 years later) to take A&P and passed it with flying colors. I think it depends on your school, their requirements, and the effort you put in.

pmabraham, BSN, RN

2 Articles; 2,563 Posts

Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

Keep in mind course ID's will vary. While I was able to skip bio to go straight to A&P 1, I decided to take bio anyway. What I found out is it helped increase my love of science, passion for learning, and it made A&P 1 a lot easier.

Thank you.

bluesky94

91 Posts

I tested out of the lower level Bio course that is required to take A&P at my CC (although I took 2 years of advanced biology/A&P in high school). I went straight to A&P, and right now I have a high A in the class.

I think if you study hard you can do very well in this course, regardless if you decide take the Intro to Bio class or not. Best of luck! :)

PhillippaX50

65 Posts

I took a general biology before A&P, but a lot of my classmates didn't. I think it helped me a little because a lot of stuff was repeated in A&P (cell structure & function, DNA, Mitosis/Meiosis etc.) - but I think you would probably do fine if you skip it. A&P covers everything you need to know pretty thoroughly.

lilgop

44 Posts

I skipped bio (with an overide...my school does require it befere A&P) and passed both A&P's with an A. I had bio in high school and I think that helped some. Mostly, I just studied really hard. :)

However, if you do take bio, it will certainly make your life easier when you get to Micro. The first few chapters of Micro are almost all bio review.

I took Biology in 1984 and A&P this past year. I made an "A".... but it was a lot of work. All in all, it's doable as A&P is going to start you over with the atom, then the molecule, how molecules bind to make cells, then the cell, how chemicals and proteins enter and exit the cells, DNA/RNA, then how cells make tissues, then how tissues make organs, then how organs build systems, Homeostasis of those systems, etc..... Basically, your going all the way back to day one and starting over :-)

Starreacher26

45 Posts

Specializes in Medical Surgical, Orthopedic Trauma, Wound Care.

Great feedback people! Thanks! Keep it coming.

I think taking Micro before A/P would be helpful and the more recent your HS Bio class was taken the easier it may be. The deciding factor in my opinion is always going to be your choices as a student and your level of commitment. The amount of time you invest into truly learning the material. Attending every single class. Taking responsibility for your learning, i.e. ask questions when you don't understand, immediately seeking help if you can't complete an assignment or barely pass/fail a test, utilizing alternative resources. Two useful bits of advice I've seen on here is getting textbooks ahead of time and studying during break, plus reviewing each lessons material before the class session covering it. My favorite resource is Khanacademy.org.

kh2013

16 Posts

I took a Bio placement exam to exempt our Basic Biology class and went straight into Anatomy and Physiology. I passed A&P with flying colors!

TLynn89

25 Posts

I took a 10th grade Biology class in the 2004-2005 school year, that was the last time I took a Bio class. Then this year, when I started school again, we had to have a chem with a lab and a bio with a lab to apply for the nursing program. They recommend taking the lower-level bio class if you're taking it at the same time as chem, but A&P I satisfies that prerequisite and, obviously, the corequisite A&P I, so I took that. I got an A so I don't think you have to have a lower-level bio to do well.

I had Bio in high school. I also remembering not doing so well lol

I did manage to take up both A&P I and II w/Lab just last year and finished with an A and B+! Mind you,I been out of school for well over 10 years...

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