ABSN Prerequisites
Before beginning Northeastern University’s Boston, MA-, Providence, RI-, or Charlotte, NC-based Accelerated BSN program, you must have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 62 college credits. You must also satisfy the prerequisite course requirements. These prerequisites are key to nursing career preparedness and lay the foundation for your success when completing our rigorous accelerated nursing curriculum.
To find out which (if any) of these prerequisite courses you’ll be required to take, be sure to contact an admissions counselor early on. They’ll evaluate your academic transcript(s) and identify any outstanding requirements you’ll need to complete before enrolling in our ABSN program.
Note: You don’t have to complete all prerequisites before applying to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. As long as you’ve satisfied five course requirements and registered for the final three, you can apply to our School of Nursing.
List of ABSN Prerequisite for Students with a Prior Bachelor’s Degree
As a condition of enrollment in our accelerated nursing program, these prerequisites ensure you have the preliminary knowledge required to complete professional nursing study. Not to mention, if you’ve been out of the college environment for a while, your prerequisites can help ease you back into student mode.
You must earn a grade of “C” or higher in each of the following prerequisite courses:
| PREREQUISITE | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| Microbiology + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology II + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Introduction to Chemistry + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Statistics (inferential stats and hypothesis testing) | 3 credits |
| Social/Behavioral Sciences (100 level or above) | 3 credits |
| Developmental Psychology (lifespan) | 3 credits |
| Nutrition | 3 credits |
*All prerequisites must have been completed within 10 years of your ABSN program start date. Because so much has changed in nursing over the past decade, we want every student to enter the program on a level playing field. You’ll also find that an updated understanding of the sciences leads to greater success in nursing school.
Prerequisites for ABSN Transfer Students
If you have at least 62 non-nursing college credits but still need to complete a degree, you may be eligible for transfer into the ABSN program near Boston, Providence, or in Charlotte. Here are the prerequisites you’ll need as a transfer student:
| PREREQUISITE | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| Microbiology + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology I + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Human Anatomy & Physiology II + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Introduction to Chemistry + Lab* | 4 credits |
| Statistics (inferential stats and hypothesis testing)* | 3 credits |
| Mathematical Thinking or Calculus* | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Psychology (100 level or above)** | 3 credits |
| Developmental Psychology (lifespan)** | 3 credits |
| Nutrition** | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Sociology** | 3 credits |
| College Composition** | 3 credits |
| Additional Elective*** | 3 credits |
*Must be completed within 5 years of ABSN start date.
**Must be completed within 10 years of ABSN start date.
***Must be completed within 5 years of ABSN start date if elective is a science or math course. All other electives must be completed within 10 years of ABSN start date.
Fulfillment of Credits
Depending on the nature of your previous degree or college credits, you may have already satisfied some of our prerequisite requirements. It’s important to contact an admissions counselor early on, as they can tell you definitively whether any of your past credits will be accepted.
ABSN prerequisites may be completed at any accredited institution of higher learning — provided their course content aligns with our requirements.
PLEASE NOTE: If you opt to complete one or more prerequisite courses before enrolling in our ABSN program, you will still be required to complete at least 67 credit hours of nursing coursework at Northeastern. Transfer students will need to complete 71 credit hours. Prerequisite courses do not count toward the fulfillment of these essential nursing credits.
For More Information
If you have any questions about ABSN prerequisite courses or the completion of credits, please contact an admissions counselor. They will help you develop a personalized academic plan and determine whether your previous coursework will be accepted.