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Part of Western Governors University

Satisfying prerequisite requirements for B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure) program.

Transfers

In pursuit of admission to the WGU B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure) program, each student must have completed a total of 10 required prerequisites, along with other admission requirements, in order to qualify for consideration.

WGU does not offer individual courses. To satisfy the required prerequisites, we rely on transfer credit from other institutions. For guidance on transfer credit, please see below. Please click the + signs to read more important information regarding our transfer policy and satisfying your prerequisites.

Transfer policy, B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure).

  • Courses must be college-level courses from an institution that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as nationally or regionally accredited. For a list of USDE-recognized accrediting agencies, see: https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/agencies.aspx.
  • Student must have been awarded a grade of C or better for the course.
  • Courses may not be used to fulfill more than one course of study.
  • Courses must meet the competency unit and content equivalency requirements.
  • In order to qualify for consideration, student must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 in Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology with Labs.
  • International credit: WGU is unable to accept international transcripts directly for evaluation. These transcripts must first be evaluated independently by a third-party organization that evaluates international credits against U.S. equivalencies. You can find accepted evaluation services through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please contact the organization of your choice and ask the organization to conduct a course-by-course evaluation. Once a report is provided by this service, we can then accept the report for further evaluation at WGU.

Below is a list of the 10 prerequisites all students must complete in order to qualify for consideration for this program. Along with each prerequisite, you will find the criteria reviewed by the transcript department to determine the award of credit. To aid you in the process of satisfying the prerequisite courses, listed below are online courses offered by other institutions that have been preapproved by WGU. This information is for your convenience only and does not represent a special endorsement.  Courses from other regionally or nationally accredited colleges and universities may also meet the requirements. 

It is your responsibility to make sure these courses will transfer to other institutions should you decide to apply to multiple programs.

1. English Composition I

Satisfied by one course in English Composition, equivalent to 3 semester hours, excluding business writing. Satisfied by a U.S. bachelor’s degree. International transcripts require course-by-course evaluation.

2. Introduction to Communication

Satisfied by one course in Communication or Speech, equivalent to 3 semester hours, excluding Mass Communications.  Satisfied by a U.S. bachelor’s degree. International transcripts require course-by-course evaluation.

3. Survey of United States Constitution and Government

Satisfied by one course in U.S. History, World History, Political Science, Government, Economics or Geography (excluding Physical Geography), equivalent to 3 semester hours. Satisfied by a U.S. bachelor's degree. International transcripts require course-by-course evaluation.

World History

United States History

American Government

4. Introduction to Humanities

Satisfied by one course in the humanities (i.e. literature, visual and performing arts, music, theatre, philosophy, ethics or religious studies), equivalent to 3 semester hours. Satisfied by a U.S. bachelor’s degree. International transcripts require course-by-course evaluation.

General Humanities

Art

Music

Philosophy

Religious Studies

Ethics

Literature

 

5. Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan

Satisfied by one course in Human Growth and Development, equivalent to a minimum of 3 semester hours. Note: Course(s) accepted for human development transfer must address human development throughout the entire lifespan. Child development or adolescent development will not meet this competency.

6. Introduction to Psychology

Satisfied by one course in psychology, equivalent to 3 semester hours. *Courses eligible to satisfy Human and Growth and Development Across the Lifespan are not eligible to satisfy this requirement.

 

7. Introduction to Sociology

Satisfied by one course in Sociology or Anthropology, equivalent to 3 semester hours.

Sociology

Anthropology

 

 

8. Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab*

Satisfied by one course, equivalent to 4 semester hours, in Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab, or Anatomy with Lab.

 

9. Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab*

Satisfied by one course, equivalent to 4 semester hours, in Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab, or Physiology with Lab.

10. Clinical Microbiology with Lab*

One course, equivalent to 4 semester hours, in Microbiology that includes lab component. 

 

*Course is a prerequisite for enrollment. Applicants must have a cumulative minimum of a 2.5 GPA in the required nursing sciences (API w/lab, APII w/lab and Microbiology w/lab) to be considered for enrollment into the pre-nursing program.

Additional transfer credit potential.

In addition to the 10 prerequisite courses required to qualify for admission, we will accept credit for Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Applied Healthcare Statistics. These courses are not required as prerequisite courses to qualify and can be taken through WGU. Students will take these three courses to earn the B.S. Nursing degree. Transfer policy for these three courses is detailed below:

1. Biochemistry

Satisfied by one course, equivalent to 3 units, in Biochemistry. This course must be taken within the past 5 years. Cannot be satisfied by degree.  

2. Pharmacology

Satisfied by one course, equivalent to 2 semester hours, in Pharmacology. *This must be taken within the past 5 years to be considered for transfer credit. Course is not required as a prerequisite and can be taken through WGU.

3. Applied Healthcare Statistics

Satisfied by one course in statistics. *This must be taken within the past 5 years to be considered for transfer credit. Course is not required as a prerequisite and can be taken through WGU. A 3-credit college level statistics course will waive the requirement.

Common questions about transferring credit.

I completed college credits a while ago. Have my courses expired?

​No. The amount of time lapsed since you took courses is not a consideration when determining the transfer of prerequisite courses for credit. This applies to all 10 of the required prerequisite courses, including Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology/Labs. The three science courses must have a combined minimum GPA of 2.5 or better to be considered. We will not accept Pharmacology and Statistics past five years, but these are also not prerequisite courses needed for admission consideration. ​

I see that WGU did not accept many of my prior credits for transfer. Why is that?​

WGU is limited with what we are able to accept as transfer credit. The 13 courses listed on this site represent the extent of what we are able to accept as transfer credit. We are not able to award credit beyond those courses listed.

I attended an RN program previously. Will WGU accept my completed nursing courses?​

Unfortunately, WGU is unable to accept any lab hours, clinical hours, or completed nursing courses from another nursing program as transfer credit. 

I have been working in healthcare for many years. What courses can I waive with experience?​

None. WGU does not waive requirements based on experience or by license/certification.  However, your work experience and previous knowledge may assist you in completing courses at a faster pace than you would have if you did not possess that experience.

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