What should I take before I take Microbiology?

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · Apr 9, 2009

you can take any of those courses in any order. you wont need to take one before the other. you'll be fine.

they're all stepping stone classes that will prepare you for later courses.

dianajh73 · Apr 9, 2009

Check with your school. Our CC requires Biology and Chemistry before Micro, which I have to say is a good idea since there is a fair amount of chem involved. We are also supposed to take Anatomy before Physiology although I got permission to take them concurrently.

The best way to do it at our school would be to take Chem and Anatomy one semester and then Micro and Phys the next, but check with a counselor.

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · Apr 9, 2009

yeah, i guess the definitive answer is check with your counselor... but honestly, i dont think chemistry before micro would be helpful at all.

i mean i dont really remember any chem in my microbiology... if it is its just a few things that can be learned then and there right?

dianajh73 · Apr 9, 2009

I think it really depends on the instructor and the emphasis they put on chemistry. I hadn't taken Chem in 13 yrs and managed to keep up, but it was a bit anxiety producing in the beginning.

Our instructor really emphasized the chemistry in how microbes ferment certain sugars, how they react with chemicals based on enzymes and especially focused on Glycolysis, Kreb's and electron transport. Would have helped to have a stronger base in chem. You are right though that profs usually review the info they expect you to know from other classes.

As I said, at our school it isn't an option because they will not let you take the class if you haven't completed chem already.

Little Panda RN, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

I really dont think it matters which ones you take first. I really enjoyed my micro class, more so than chem. As other posters have stated ask your adviser what they reccommend. The best of luck to you!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

you can take any of those courses in any order. you wont need to take one before the other. you'll be fine.
they're all stepping stone classes that will prepare you for later courses.

This varies on the school, My old college you had to take Chem to take Organic Chem and had to take Organic Chem to take Microbiology.

At my current college you have to take a Biology Class *can't remember which one because I already took the Chem and Organic Chem) before you can take Microbiolgy.

My other college you had to take A&P 1 before A&P 2 and you had to have 2 before you could take PathoPhysiology.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

Sorry Jolly, the site is messing up and I didn't see the other replies when I replied to yours.

We did have a good amount of Chemistry in our Micro class and our instructor did not go over it at all because she said we should have learned it in Chemistry. Some students were allowed permission to cant A&P 1 and 2 concurrently but they had to have a certain GPA to be allowed. Also at our school, both of the colleges I went to, your science classes that were part of the pre reqs could not be more then 7 years old at the time of starting the actual RN program.