Taking anatomy and physiology during same semester?

Published

Hello!!

My university offers anatomy and physiology as separate courses. I am on my last year of pre-reqs and I have three science courses left (anatomy, physiology, and microbiology). This upcoming fall I enrolled in both anatomy (3 credits) and physiology (3 credits). I've been receiving advice to take anatomy first semester and physiology second. While I agree that would be my best option, I'd really like to knock out two science pre-reqs this fall. Micro isn't offered in the fall so taking anatomy and micro isn't an option.

I'm an A student and I work really, really hard but I'm struggling to decide if this is a terrible idea.

What do you think? I'm willing to put in the effort to succeed in both classes.

Thanks for your time! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, MsDanielle:

If you can dedicate the time, go for it. At the college I'm attending, they were combined... so no choice.. and did well because I did treat them as two separate 3 credit classes.

Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

As long as one is not required for the other it shouldn't be a big deal. Two sciences together isn't really an issue as long as you work on it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As long as one is not required for the other it shouldn't be a big deal. Two sciences together isn't really an issue as long as you work on it.

Especially if you're usually an A student in sciences.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My class was combined so I had no choice, but honestly they go hand in hand so I would say go for it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Perhaps the separate courses are more comprehensive than the combined course curriculum.

Try getting feedback from students who already took both courses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We have separate courses at my college, however each course is 5 units and not 3. I just finished anatomy and it was pretty intense and comprehensive, because we covered 27 chapters. At my school, most people I know choose not to do the two courses together like that, however I'm sure it has been done and can be done based on your lifestyle and level of dedication.

Do the two courses require lab?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you everyone for your feedback!

GoodnessFlows,

Anatomy requires lab, which is full for the fall so I am taking the lab in the spring separately.

Dt70,

The students who have taken anatomy have advised not to take it with physiology.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think u should take them both. Most schools require them both together. I had to n like another poster said, they go hand in hand. It wasn't that bad of a class. Go for it, but be willing to study.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in None yet..

I'll save my personal story about ignoring similar advice and get right to the point. Your instructors and science department know what they're doing when they require or recommend courses in a certain sequence. Unless you have an extremely compelling reason for doing otherwise that your advisors and instructors think makes your choice reasonable, take them in order. Also, take the lab with the course. A&P labs are an integral part of your learning for the book part of the course. You're cheating yourself by not taking them together.

Take A, then P, then micro. And if you find you have extra time, deepen your study. You'll benefit in nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SeattleJess,

Thanks for the response! The science department and my advisors do not require or recommend either direction. My advisors say it depends on the workload I want to take on. Neither course requires each other. The advice I've been given has been from previous students. I have two semesters to finish 3 science pre-reqs which is why I want to take anatomy with physiology. I also don't have an option of taking the anatomy lab with the course, it is completely full unfortunately.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with SeattleJess. I think the anatomy lab should definitely be taken with lecture (if possible). We can't break up lab at my school. How about Physio, is there lab with that class? It sounds like you want to get your science(s) finished within 2 semesters and I TOTALLY understand that. It is important however, to have a back up plan (what if next semester Anatomy lab is full again), just in case your pre-req courses are impacted. Many of us have run into that problem, and have had to wait it out just a little longer in order to have a higher priority registration date. Two years ago, I would have never been able to get into the sciences, and instead worked through other pre-reqs. For Fall, I easily registered for Physio.

Another suggestion would be to show up on the first day of anatomy lab, and see if you can get into the class. Sometimes persistence pays off. I hope everything works out for you and you get the classes you want and need! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion