Microbiology problem, 3 credit course OK!?

CuriousMe · Aug 30, 2010

Hey ALL!!!
My pre-req's are done but I just had a horrible realization: I took Microbiology as an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, however, it was a 3 credit course!!!!!!!! Does this mean I have to take it again as a 4 credit course in order for it to be counted towards my pre-requisites for an accelerated BSN program? Most, if not all of the schools i'm looking at require 4 credits in Micro. I received an A in the course and would take it again if it is necessary, but would prefer to move on with the application process rather then spend more time and money on pre-req's.....i'll do what it takes but I need some advice! I can't find a school near me that offers Lab only classes....
Thank you for taking time to respond to this post!!

It really doesn't matter what anyone here says. I'd call the school's you're looking to apply to and ask them.

Saysfaa · Aug 30, 2010

If your school requires a 4 credit micro biology, then yes. Some do, some don't.

ErinRN2B · Aug 30, 2010

Hm...

I go to Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. I took Micro last spring as a three-credit course, including a lab and lecture. I've already talked to IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) which is where I'm planning to go for my BSN, and they said that it would transfer, even though I believe their Micro is a 4-credit class. So it probably all depends on the schools.

I don't know where you're located, but I know that in Indiana we have something called the "core transfer library" which is a list of courses from all public two- and four-year Indiana colleges and universities. It will tell you exactly which classes will transfer among which institutions, and what their equivalent courses are.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2010

I think what is important is that the course had a lab component. If you can show that it did, then you may be OK. I say "may" because as previously suggested you should run this prereq by your intended school's admissions office to see what they say. I took A&P back in undergrad with labs and the courses were 3 credits each. However, it was difficult to show that they were because everyone assumes the ones with labs are always 4 credits. The issue is now moot since all my schools require a more recent grade and I have since retaken A&P at another school granting 4 credits for the course.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2010

I think what they are looking for is the lab along with the lecture. A lot of schools offer 3 credit science classes as well as classes for "non-science" majors.. which are often only 3 credits. Did your Mico class have a lab as well?

Kassiopeia · Sep 1, 2010

Hey ALL!!!
My pre-req's are done but I just had a horrible realization: I took Microbiology as an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, however, it was a 3 credit course!!!!!!!! Does this mean I have to take it again as a 4 credit course in order for it to be counted towards my pre-requisites for an accelerated BSN program? Most, if not all of the schools i'm looking at require 4 credits in Micro. I received an A in the course and would take it again if it is necessary, but would prefer to move on with the application process rather then spend more time and money on pre-req's.....i'll do what it takes but I need some advice! I can't find a school near me that offers Lab only classes....
Thank you for taking time to respond to this post!!

My school has 3cr Microbio class and a separate 1cr Microbio lab, so I took them both. It's probably the same in your case.

guiltysins · Sep 1, 2010

My school's micro class was only three credits and yes, it did have an attached lab. Most schools are really anal when it comes to that sort of thing so it really depends on what the program feels.

You said you can't find a school that offers lab only classes so I'm assuming your Micro didn't have a lab, so yes that is going to be a major problem. My Physiology class will not be accepted at any other school because it doesn't have an attached lab class.