Pre-Nursing Program
Our pre-nursing program, which can be combined with any major, focuses on nurturing your talents and compassion and developing a deep technical knowledge of biology, chemistry, nutrition, and statistics.
Bryn Athyn will prepare you to succeed both in nursing school and your career. Whether you’ve always wanted to be a nurse or discovered that path later, Bryn Athyn has ways of getting you there. In fact, you don’t even need to be a science major to become a nurse.
Since the inception of the pre-nursing program, every student who has met the minimum requirements of their chosen nursing school has been accepted. Many of our alumni found immediate placement in major area hospital systems. We offer two different tracks to help make your dream of becoming a nurse possible:
2+2 Track
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Transfer Requirements:
- The student must be making normal progress toward completing the prerequisite course requirements for the Nursing program
- All prerequisite course requirements must be completed prior to enrollment
- All prerequisite coursework can be completed at Bryn Athyn College or another accredited college or university (with at least 31 credits completed at Bryn Athyn College)
- A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in each required course in order for the student to receive credit for the course at any nursing college to which they transfer
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher, and a science grade point average of 3.00 or higher
- Students who have received college credits for certain prerequisite courses on the basis of the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations may transfer these credits to many nursing colleges, but most will not allow AP credit to substitute for prerequisite science or math courses
- Each applicant must complete a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, drug screening, and fingerprinting as part of an application to a nursing college
Course Requirements (74 credits):
- Introduction to Biology I & II (Biology 122/123) 8 credits
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II (Biology 210/220) 8 credits
- Microbiology (Biology 250) 4 credits
- General Chemistry I & II (Chemistry 110/111) 8 credits
- Statistics (Mathematics 130) 4 credits
- Introduction to Psychology (Psychology 101) 3 credits
- Abnormal Psychology (Psychology 201) 3 credits
- Human Development: Lifespan (Psychology 204) 3 credits
- Nutrition (Nutrition 110) 3 credits
- College Algebra (Math 115) or higher 3 credits
- Introductory Sociology (Sociology 110) 3 credits
- Expository Writing (Writing 101) 3 credits
- Writing About Literature (Writing 202) 3 credits
- Religion: Any four religion courses (including residency requirement) 12 credits
- Electives 6 credits
- Six credits from among the following: Anthropology 110; Philosophy 101 or higher; Science electives
** Students who have received Advanced Placement (AP) test credits may use them to replace any non-science or non-math courses. AP credits may not be used for any other math or science prerequisites
Credentials:
Students who wish to apply for the program should submit a complete application for admission that will include the following items:
- Complete the application found on the website of any institution you are considering for transfer
- Submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions. Transcripts should be mailed directly to the institution to which you are applying
- International students must submit an evaluation of foreign transcripts by the World Education Service (WES) or comparable agency
- Most institutions will have an application fee (usually in the $50-$100 range)
- Two to three letters of recommendation (one must be from your BAC nursing advisor)
- Personal Statement/Essay
- For international students and students who are not U.S. Citizens, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) may be required. Please see the English proficiency requirements mentioned on each institution’s website
4+1 Track |
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Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any subject (usually Biology) and completed specific requirements may apply to accelerated one or two year nursing program of their choosing.
Degree and GPA Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 science GPA
Required Prerequisite Coursework
| Course Subject | Credits |
| Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab * | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab * | 4 |
| Chemistry I w/Lab ** | 4 |
| Microbiology w/Lab *** | 4 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Nutrition | 3 |
| Electives | 38 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
* 8 total credits of A&P I and A&P II or 4 credits of Human Anatomy and 4 credits
of Human Physiology. Labs must be included.
** 4 total credits of Chemistry I, must include lab. *** 4 credits of Microbiology,
must include lab.
Prerequisite courses must be completed:
- Within ten years of application
- With a grade of a C or better. Courses taken pass/fail or courses without a letter grade will not satisfy the prerequisites.
- Credit may be earned through AP, IB or CLEP for All, non-science prerequisite coursework.
If you want to make a real, tangible difference in the world, nursing is an excellent option to consider—and there will always be a need for it. Our graduates work in a variety of settings, such as intensive care units, adolescent psychiatry units, and general hospitals. The ability to think on your feet, collaborate, and communicate with care will serve you well outside the hospital, too.
Nurses from our program are known for their passion for helping others, strong sense of morality, and the quality care they provide to patients. That comes from our New Church approach to education, which emphasizes the deeper, spiritual meaning behind the scientific study of the structure and behavior of the natural world.
Major-specific skills that will prepare you for grad school:
- Laboratory techniques
- Primary research
- Interpersonal skills
- Data analysis
Transferable skills that will prepare you for a variety of careers:
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Presentation skills
- Interdisciplinary perspective
Pre-Nursing at Bryn Athyn
Our program emphasizes critical thinking, practical training, and a high standard of care. You will take a number of liberal arts and lab science courses, providing a broad context for your scientific studies. Our ideal students are intellectually curious, flexible, and have deep compassion for others.
Bryn Athyn keeps class sizes small so that our faculty can facilitate the academic growth of each and every student. Our professors will guide you to develop your unique potential and realize your interests so that you can obtain a career that is meaningful to you. You may find that your ideal specialty is something you’d never even considered before, such as pediatrics, rehabilitation, or hospice. Our faculty takes pride in uncovering passions and making strides happen.
You’ll have ample opportunities for hands-on learning. Working in labs that cap out at eight students, shadowing healthcare professionals and volunteering in a variety of settings will provide you with a grasp on the day-to-day before you are living it.
Trajectories
Here's where graduates of Bryn Athyn's pre-nursing program have gone with their degrees:
Nursing Schools:
- Jefferson College of Nursing
- Rutgers-Camden College of Nursing
- Holy Family School of Nursing
Health Systems:
- Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania
- Holy Redeemer
- Nazareth Hospital
- Jefferson Health
- Doylestown Hospital
- Moss Rehab
- Horsham Clinic
Specialties:
- ICU
- Pediatrics
- General Hospital
- Hospice Care
- Rehabilitation Units
- Adolescent Psychiatry
Our Faculty
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Fredrik Bryntesson |
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Stella Evans |
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Ed Higgins |
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Grace McMackin |
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Suzanne Nelson |