ADN Prerequisites

Use the ADN Prerequisite Validation webpage to complete the transfer credit process.

The Associate Degree in Nursing AAS-T has nine (9) prerequisites that must be completed before applying to the program.

  1. Applicants must have minimum of 2.0 in each prerequisite course, a cumulative science prerequisite GPA of 3.0 and a professional communication GPA of 3.0.
  2. Applicants can retake courses as many times as they wish to improve their knowledge or grades (maximum of three attempts per course allowed at Bellevue College).
  3. The highest grade will be used for GPA calculations.

There is no expiration date on prerequisites; however, it is strongly recommended that applicants re-take Anatomy and Physiology I and II if it has been longer than seven years since completing them.

Please see the list below to ensure you’ve completed your prerequisite courses BEFORE applying to the program, otherwise you will not be considered for admission to the program.

Finish these nine (9) courses before applying to the ADN program
BIOL& 241: Human Anatomy & Physiology I  

BIOL& 242: Human Anatomy & Physiology II 

BIOL& 260: Microbiology  

CHEM& 121: Introduction to Chemistry 

CMST 250: Communication in a Diverse Workplace OR CMST 252: Communication in a diverse healthcare workplace OR CMST 280: Intercultural Communication

ENGL& 101 Composition or ENGL 201 The Research Paper  

Math 130 Introduction to Statistics 

NUTR& 101: Nutrition 

PSYC& 200: Lifespan Psychology

Bellevue College Courses

Cumulative Science Prerequisites

The following courses must be completed before applying to the Bellevue College ADN program. The grades obtained in these courses are included in calculations for the Cumulative Sciences/Math/Psychology GPA and Cumulative Prerequisite Course Work GPA.

BIOL& 241: Human Anatomy and Physiology I – 6 credits

Introduces the structure and function of tissues, organs, and systems of the human body. Both BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242 are needed for a complete study of the anatomy and physiology of all human systems. Format includes laboratory work. Fee: $62.00 200-level Science lab. College in the High School students and students in on-line classes are exempt from this fee.

View details for BIOL& 241

  • Anatomy and Physiology “Part 1” courses with lab (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • BIOL& 241
  • University of Washington:
    • BIOL 118+119 (only if followed by B STR 301 or NURS 301)

  • Anatomy and physiology lecture courses with no lab component.
  • Anatomy courses with no physiology component (unless followed with physiology course)
  • Physiology courses with no anatomy component (unless followed with anatomy course)

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BIOL& 242: Human Anatomy and Physiology II – 6 credits

Continues the study of tissues, organs, and systems of the human body. Both BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242 are needed for a complete study of the anatomy and physiology of all human systems. Format includes laboratory work. Fulfills a laboratory science course requirement at BC. Fee: $62.00 200-level Science lab. College in the High School students and students in on-line classes are exempt from this fee.

View details for BIOL& 242

  • Anatomy and Physiology “Part 2” courses with lab (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • BIOL& 242
  • University of Washington:
    • NURS 301 (if preceded by BIOL 118+119), University of Washington
    • B STR 301 (if preceded by BIOL 118+119), University of Washington

  • Anatomy and physiology lecture courses with no lab component.
  • Anatomy courses with no physiology component (unless preceded by physiology course)
  • Physiology courses with no anatomy component (unless preceded by anatomy course)

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CHEM& 121: Introduction to Chemistry – 6 credits

Introduces simplified atomic and molecular theory. Students investigate the chemistry of solutions, gases, liquids, and solids and examine quantitative relationships in chemical processes. Format includes lecture, discussion, and laboratory. Fee: $48.00 100-level Science lab. College in the High School students and students in on-line classes are exempt from this fee.

View details for CHEM& 121

  • General Chemistry courses with lab (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • CHEM& 121
    • CHEM& 140
    • CHEM& 161
  • University of Washington:
    • CHEM 142

  • Organic chemistry courses
  • General chemistry lecture courses with no lab component

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BIOL& 260: Microbiology – 6 credits

Explores structure, function, and taxonomy of microbes, including bacteria and viruses, and their relationships to health and disease. Format includes substantial laboratory work and written reporting. Fee: $62.00 200-level Science lab. College in the High School students and students in on-line classes are exempt from this fee.

View details for BIOL& 260

  • Microbiology courses with lab (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • BIOL& 260
  • University of Washington:
    • MICROM 301+302

  • Microbiology lecture courses with no lab component.

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PSYC& 200: Lifespan Psychology – 5 credits

Presents research and theories regarding human growth and change across the life span. Students explore factors that affect psychosocial, cognitive, and physical development from psychological and socio-cultural perspectives. May require participation in projects.

View details for PSYC& 200

  • Human Lifespan Development courses (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • PSYC& 200
  • University of Washington:
    • NURS 201
  • Washington State University:
    • H_D 101

Other unrelated psychology courses.

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MATH 130: Introduction to Statistics – 5 credits

Emphasis on gathering and interpreting data. Material has applications in the medical fields, as well as the Social Sciences. Fulfills the quantitative or symbolic reasoning course at BC.

View details for MATH 130

  • Any inferential statistics math course will fulfill this requirement (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits).
  • University of Washington:
    • STAT 220
  • Washington State University:
    • STAT 212
  • Green River College:
    • MATH 256
  • Psychology/business/etc. statistics courses
    • These might not initially transfer as an inferential statistics course, but may be available for substitution if admitted.

Other math courses that are not statistics (i.e. algebra, calculus, etc.).

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NUTR& 101: Nutrition – 5 credits

Study of human nutrition and health. Topics include digestion, absorption and processing nutrients in the body; chemistry and functions of the major nutrients: carbohydrates, fat, protein; vitamin and mineral functions; food, culture and diet, energy balance, diet and metabolism; fitness and health; nutrition of the life cycle, food safety and local and world hunger issues. Previously NUTR 130. Either NUTR 130 or NUTR& 101 may be taken for credit, but not both.

View details for NUTR& 101

  • Nutrition courses focusing on healthcare, chemistry, and metabolism of nutrients (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • NUTR& 101

  • Bellevue College and other Seattle Colleges:
    • NUTR& 100
  • NUTR& 101 at Bellevue College focuses heavily on the chemistry and metabolism of nutrients. Many nutrition classes at other colleges transfer in as NUTR& 100 at Bellevue College.

Additional Prerequisites

The following courses must be completed before applying to the ADN program. The grades obtained in these courses are included in calculations for the Cumulative Professional Communications GPA and the Cumulative Prerequisite Course Work GPA.



ENGL& 101: English Composition I – 5 credits

Develops clear, effective writing skills and emphasizes writing as a process. Students practice writing in a variety of forms and modes. Fee: $22.00 English Writing Lab (College in the High School students are exempt from this fee)

OR

View details for ENGL& 101

ENGL 201: The Research Paper – 5 credits

Develops skills required for writing research papers. Students learn research techniques, source analysis, thesis development, argumentation styles, and summarizing. Fulfills a written communication course requirement at BC. Same as ENGL 102. Either ENGL 102 or ENGL 201 may be taken for credit, not both. Fee: $22.00 English Writing Lab (College in the High School students are exempt from this fee)

View details for ENGL 201

  • Compositional English courses (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • ENGL& 101
    • ENGL& 102

Reading/literature classes with no composition

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CMST 252: Communication in a Diverse Healthcare Workplace – 5 credits

This course is designed for students pursuing healthcare-related careers. Students will apply communication concepts and theory to the culturally diverse healthcare workplace, focusing on: patient-healthcare professional interactions, interacting effectively on a diverse healthcare team, organizational culture, conflict management, listening, nonverbal communication, language, giving and receiving feedback, and intercultural competence. Recommended: Placement in ENGL& 101, or higher.

View details for CMST 252

Note: CMST 250 may be taken instead of CMST 252, however the preferred class is CMST 252.

OR

CMST 280: Intercultural Communication – 5 credits

Examines the relationship between culture and various aspects of the communication process. Students explore cultural identity, bias, and worldview. Students practice skills that contribute to intercultural competence in a variety of contexts.

View details for CMST 280

  • Communications courses focusing on communication with diverse populations (5 quarter credits or 3 semester credits)
  • Bellevue College:
    • CMST 250 (CMST 252 is preferred over CMST 250. However, CMST 250 is still a valid prerequisite for the Nursing AAS-T degree.)
  • Seattle Colleges:
    • HUM 105 International Communication

  • The diverse communications requirement for Nursing must be a class that focuses on diversity. The following communications courses at Bellevue college and other Washington community/technical colleges will NOT fulfill this requirement.
    • CMST& 210
    • CMST& 220
    • CMST& 230
  • This must be a diverse communications course. Sociology, diversity, and/or language courses will not fulfill this requirement.

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Last Updated October 18, 2024