How critical is chemistry to passing micro?

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I haven't taken chemistry since high school...over 10 years ago. It's not a pre-req for the nursing program, but everyone "recommends" it as a precursor to microbiology. So when they say "recommend" does that mean that if you don't take chemistry, you will have a difficult time in micro? I don't mind taking it, but if it's not necessary I don't want to waste my time when I could be taking a different class or using the time to focus on the ones I'm already taking.

Thanks!

guiltysins

887 Posts

I can't imagine a program that doesn't require at least general chemistry. Mine recommends general, organic and biochemistry. I think it would be a good idea to take it.

sooperdooper

118 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac.

You will be fine without it. As long as you have a basic, and I mean REAL basic understanding, you should be fine. I think physio requires just a tad more than basic understanding.

malapata

124 Posts

Has 5 years experience.

Hello! Chemistry was a requirement for Physiology at my local community college but not for Microbiology. The only thing we touched on in Micro that we had also discussed in Chem was DNA, but I definitely would not have been lost in Micro had I not taken Chem (DNA was just a subject that overlapped slightly but not one that required any knowledge of Chemistry). For what it's worth, Chemistry was MUCH harder for me than Microbiology and I'm sure I would have done just as well in Micro had I not taken it.

Hope this helps!

liteskin_qtee

64 Posts

wow chemistry not req'd...I wish it wasn't req'd for me...but I have to take inorganic and organic chem...thankfully so far I have an A average in inorganic chem

dee78

550 Posts

I didn't have to take Chemistry for my current school nor my last school...both are community colleges. Maybe it depends on the school but I didn't have any problem with Microbiology...I took it about 6 years after HS Chemistry.

markuskristian

135 Posts

I haven't taken my Chem courses yet, but I'm dominating micro. You can do it without chem experience, but you should have to do chem at some point in pre-reqs.

FLmomof5

1,530 Posts

As of 2006, my school requires college Chem for a pre-req for Micro. I took college Chem 25 yrs ago. I did just fine.

Java Mama

183 Posts

I am enrolled in a community college and Chemistry is not required. I have not taken Micro yet, I am in A and P right now and will be taking it next semester. All I can say is thank god Chemistry is not a requirement! I think it would be harder than Micro.

sunray12

637 Posts

It depends on how a course is taught and this will vary from school to school maybe even between teachers in the same school. Courses that plan to focus and test on aspects of cell chemistry will usually have college chemistry as a prereq. Example: My A&P courses did not have a chemistry prereq. I am taking chemistry now after the fact but because of the continual focus on biochemistry I can see where having chemistry beforehand would have made A&P much easier for me.

SoCaliGirl

108 Posts

Interesting...I was just looking at the two community colleges that I take classes at. One of them requires a biological science with a lab AND chemistry. The other school doesn't require anything as a pre-req.

I'm probably going to take chem anyway. I think that some of the questions on the teas exam has to do with chem, so it's probably a good idea.

Mommy2NQ

177 Posts

I haven't taken chemistry since high school...over 10 years ago. It's not a pre-req for the nursing program, but everyone "recommends" it as a precursor to microbiology. So when they say "recommend" does that mean that if you don't take chemistry, you will have a difficult time in micro? I don't mind taking it, but if it's not necessary I don't want to waste my time when I could be taking a different class or using the time to focus on the ones I'm already taking.

Thanks!

I took Micro first and did very well. Im taking Chem as my last pre req and I do not think it would have helped me if I would have taken it first.

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