Is Pre-Nursing considered an Associate's Degree?

Saysfaa · Jul 21, 2012

Leenak, I think that is mostly true but not totally. Some competitive entry programs like to see "completion" even if it is completion of a program unrelated to the competite entry program and even if you don't do anything in particular to get it - beyond filling out the paperwork sometime after you've met all the requirements. It is worth something in that situation.

Kendel.G · Jul 21, 2012

My Pre-Reqs total up to some 66 hours, but no associates degree :-(

Stephalump · Jul 21, 2012

My BSN prereqs qualified me for an Associate of Science degree which I never applied for. I think I'll go ahead and apply for graduation and add it to the collection :)

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2012

WOW, how do prereqs add up to so many credits? I think mine for my BSN just totaled @ 20.

chloemay09 · Jul 21, 2012

My pre-req classes earned me twi associate degrees, II may have taken a few other extra classes as well, but I just applied for my degree after my counselor told me I had earned one. Definitely possible and worth having. I mean, if you put the work in, you mine a well get the reward :)

Stephalump · Jul 21, 2012

WOW, how do prereqs add up to so many credits? I think mine for my BSN just totaled @ 20.

Well, you have to have a minimum number of credits to graduate with a bachelor's degree in anything. Usually somwhere around 120, and the state usually sets the requirement for the gen ed portion, ~ 60 hours of specific course work. If you only took 20 pre-req hours, you took close to 100 nursing credits? Probably not...you must've taken gen ed stuff at some point, like history, governement, english, etc.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2012

Well, you have to have a minimum number of credits to graduate with a bachelor's degree in anything. Usually somwhere around 120, and the state usually sets the requirement for the gen ed portion, ~ 60 hours of specific course work. If you only took 20 pre-req hours, you took close to 100 nursing credits? Probably not...you must've taken gen ed stuff at some point, like history, governement, english, etc.

I guess because I did an accelerated BSN and I have a prior bachelor's degree (BA). My accelerated BSN coursework was 69 credits, so the balance of what was needed for the BSN was transferred in from the first BA. But I would not consider those prior BA credits as "prereqs." Prereqs to me were the A&P, micro, and chem courses that were specifically required to apply for the program, which on my end total 20 (and none of which I had taken during the BA).

Stephalump · Jul 21, 2012

That makes sense. You did most of them beforehand. But in most traditional BSN programs, they are indeed considered prereqs, because they are prerequisites - need to be completed before applying to or starting NS. I've seen programs that allow you to complete a few during the clincal portion, but in my area the majority of our BSN programs are located at Health Science Centers...meaning there isn't a gen ed class going on there, so they require you complete all of that before you start NS and factor the grades into the pre-req gpa.

zoe92 · Jul 22, 2012

My community college in Annapolis, Maryland does offer a Pre Nursing Assosciate's degree. In Maryland you can be admitted into a four year school if you have an associate's degree in something from a MD community college. It is common for people to major in pre nursing to the transfer to one of the state schools upper division nursing school.

numair89 · Apr 10, 2013

Hello,

I got into the pre nursing program at CSU Stanislaus, which is a four year nursing program, that will give me a BSN. After those four years i can get two years of experience and apply for my masters as a CRNA or a NP. Which one is a better bet? Which one has a higher job opening. Also another option was I can go to UC Merced for four years and get a Bachelors degree in Biology. Afterwards i can four years of med school and roughly 4-6 years for my residency as an anesthesiologist. Which option would be a better bet? Do you think CRNA or a NP would be a more fun job to do? Thanks

email me for more details if you wish [email protected]

gigglestarsRN · Apr 10, 2013

Not only do you have to complete a full time two-year program, but you still have to take the SAME nclex test as BSN prepared students. Nothing automatic about that--still lots of hard work. One of the biggest differences I am aware of between associates prepared and BSN is more classes in community health, statistics and research to get your BSN, all the rest is more or less the same.

MommaTy · Apr 10, 2013

In my school to get an associates degree you need 60 credits. My pre-reqs (which is pre-nursing) was only 24 credits. Hope that helps. Good luck :) Mine is a community college btw.