Pre-Nursing

A pre-professional program is a statement of intent on the student’s part, not an academic major.

Nurses are an integral part of a health care team and are generally responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a patient’s health plan. Nurses also provide health promotion, counseling and education to patients and their families (American Nurses Association).

The pre-nursing students pursue a course of study to fulfill requirements for nursing school; this involves approximately two years of study at UMBC. Students complete their professional studies and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees at another institution and do not receive a degree from UMBC.

Students also have the option of remaining at UMBC to earn a bachelor’s degree before moving on to professional studies in nursing at another institution.

The Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising can assist students interested in pursuing the pre-nursing curriculum.

The coursework below meets the requirements for most nationally accredited nursing programs. Students should become familiar with the requirements of the school(s) from which they eventually wish to obtain their professional degree.

Total Credits

Students complete the pre-nursing curriculum in 63-64 credits.

Nursing Requirements and UMBC Equivalent Courses

English (6 credits)

ENGL 100 - Composition (3)
One literature course selected in consultation with an advisor (3)

Biology (19 credits)

Chemistry (9 credits)

Mathematics/Statistics (7-8 credits)

Psychology (7 credits)

Sociology (3 credits)

SOCY 101 - Basic Concepts in Sociology (3)

Social Sciences Elective (3 credits)

Choose among anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social work, and sociology.

Arts and Humanities Electives (9 credits)

Choose electives from at least two of the following academic areas: art, foreign language, history, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, speech

UMBC/University of Maryland School of Nursing Pathway

For incoming first-year students who are interested in nursing, UMBC offers a collaborative partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), a premiere school of nursing. This partnership focuses on enhanced advising, programming, and preparation for nursing school while at UMBC. Students are paired with pre-nursing advisors who mentor them through their academic career and foster a connection between UMBC and the UMSON. While at UMBC, students also have the added benefit of collective programmatic opportunities, including site visits to UMSON to see classrooms, labs and clinical sites. Eligible students must indicate their intended program of study as pre-nursing prior to matriculation at UMBC. As part of this collaboration, each year UMBC secures as many as thirty seats in the UMSON class, offered to those who have met certain academic requirements. More information on this exclusive partnership is available from the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising .