Associate of Arts in Pre-Nursing
Tacoma Community College
Key Information
Campus location
Tacoma, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 10,573 / per year *
Application deadline
15 Nov 2024
Earliest start date
01 Apr 2024
* 2022-2023 estimated tuition cost
Introduction
The role of the nurse is more important than ever, as communities are currently in an era of provider shortages. In fact, nurses make up the largest healthcare profession in the United States. They work in a variety of settings, which include clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community settings.
TCC offers courses that cover the first two years of a typical four-year college nursing program (college-level courses). This Pre-Nursing transfer 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.
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 registered nurses directly after completing their associate degree should talk with an advisor about an Associate of Arts in Nursing (DTA/MRP).
If a 4-year nursing degree is your goal, TCC offers a pre-nursing college transfer program. A graduate who has completed the Associate of Arts in Pre-Nursing Degree may articulate into a bachelor's degree program at a 4-year institution.
- Fall 2023 - Application Deadline (Aug 15) and Classes Start (Sep 25)
- Winter 2024 - Application Deadline (Nov 15) and Classes Start (Jan 3)
- Spring 2024 - Application Deadline (Feb 15) and Classes Start (April 1)
Curriculum
Preparation
While in high school, students should pursue all available courses in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Degree Requirements
- 90 quarter credit hours in courses numbered 100 or above.
- At least 30 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.
Core Requirements (15 Credits)
Written Communication Skills (10 Credits)
- ENGL& 101 English Composition 5 and ENGL& 102 Composition II: Argument and Persuasion 5
or
- ENGL 103 Composition III: Writing about Literature 5
Quantitative Skills (5 Credits)
- MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics 5
Distribution Requirements and Electives (75 Credits)
Humanities (15 Credits)
- CMST 110 Multicultural Communication 5
or
- CMST& 210 Interpersonal Communication 5
or
- CMST& 220 Public Speaking 5
Electives
Select two additional courses from the approved Humanities distribution course list.* 10
Social Science (15 Credits)
- PSYC& 100 General Psychology 5
- PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology (M) 5
Elective Select 5 credits of Sociology (SOC) courses from the Social Sciences section of the Approved Distribution Course List. 5
Natural Sciences (35 Credits)
- BIOL& 160 Fundamentals of Cell Biology 5
- BIOL& 260 General Microbiology 5
- BIOL& 241 & 242 Human Anatomy & Physiology 10
- CHEM& 121 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry 5
- CHEM& 131 Introduction to Organic Chemistry 5
- NUTR& 101 Human Nutrition 5
Additional Requirements (10 Credits)
- PE 100 Total Fitness 2
- Elective PE Activity 1
Distribution
Electives Select from courses listed under the Communication, Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or General Distribution Courses sections of the Approved Distribution Course List. 2
Electives Select courses numbered 100 or above that are not PE activity courses 5
Total Credits 90
*At least one course (5 credits) must be from a discipline other than communication studies (CMST). No more than five credits of studio /performance/skills courses may be used to satisfy this requirement. No more than five credits in World Languages at the 100 level can be applied.
Program Planning
Students should meet with an advisor as soon as they are admitted to Tacoma Community College. Many courses have prerequisites that 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 4-year institutions you are considering attending early in the process.