Associate in Pre-Nursing Transfer Degree Plan

Advisor: Julie Benson, email: jbenson@tacomacc.edu, phone: 253.566.5240.

The first two years of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing may be completed at Tacoma Community College.  Upon successful completion of the courses listed below, students will be awarded an Associate in Pre-Nursing Degree (DTA/MRP).

This degree is intended for students who want to take science and general education classes at Tacoma Community College to prepare to transfer to a four year school to begin their nursing classes and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

This path is designed to prepare students who are planning to transfer at the junior level to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (BSN) at a 4-year college or university.  Students completing the Associate in Pre-Nursing degree, and who have met the GPA requirement for the BSN program to which they are applying, will have met the prerequisites necessary to apply to most upper-division nursing programs in Washington State.

Students completing this track are not eligible to take National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nursing until they complete their BSN program.  Students wishing to become a registered nurse directly after completing their associate degree should talk with an advisor about an Associate Degree in Nursing.

Preparation: While in high school, students should pursue all available courses in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Program Planning: Students should meet with an advisor as soon as they are admitted to Tacoma Community College.  Students may also refer to the Associate in Pre-Nursing Degree description. Many courses have prerequisites, are offered only once or twice a year, and/or are sequential.  Careful selection of classes each quarter is necessary to complete the program without delay.  Certain schools may have additional university specific requirements for admission to the institution.  For example, some universities require 2 years of high school or 2 or 3 quarters of college foreign language, additional college level math, practical experience in a healthcare setting, or specific additional courses.  It is important to consult catalogs, websites, and advisors at the four-year institutions you are considering attending early in the process.

* Humanities distribution may include a maximum of five foreign language credits, no more than five credits of performance skills classes are allowed.

**Students may choose to take either Biology&241 & 242 or Biology&251, 252 & 253.

***Certain schools require a second English course be a research and writing class (English&102).

M = Multicultural course

• Humanities course must be chosen from the Humanities distribution list.
• Some students may need to take additional prerequisite courses.
• Admittance to BSN programs are highly competitive and completion of the pre-nursing associate degree does not guarantee admission.  Application deadlines vary; check with the college to which you are applying for specific dates.
• Participating 4-year universities include: UW Seattle, WSU, Northwest U, Seattle U, SPU, PLU, Walla Walla College, and the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing (WSU-ICN).

Degree Requirements

• 90 quarter credit hours in courses numbered 100 or above.
• At least 30 of the last 45 applicable credits must be earned at Tacoma Community College.
• A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all coursework applied to the degree and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all TCC college level courses.