Pre-Nursing

Pre-Nursing

Pre-Nursing Advisement Track

  • SUNY Oneonta does not have a clinical Nursing Program.
  • To become a Registered Nurse (RN), you must earn a degree in Nursing and pass the NCLEX Licensures exam in your state.
  • There are several options available for SUNY Oneonta graduates who plan to pursue a career in nursing after completing their Bachelor's degree.
  • An accelerated program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the typical path SUNY Oneonta graduates pursue in their quest to become licensed as an RN.
  • The Pre-Nursing concentration satisfies the course requirements for admission at most accelerated nursing programs.
  • Additional elective courses are recommended but not required and can vary depending on the nursing program to which students intend to apply.
  • Students must consult SUNY Oneonta's current undergraduate catalog for descriptions of courses, course prerequisites, and time of year when courses are offered in order to plan properly in advance.
  • Students have the responsibility to check entrance requirements for schools to which they intend to apply.

Pre-Nursing Advising Meetings can be scheduled using the Bookings App


NOTE: four digit course numbers reflect the new course numbers, effective Fall 2022, as developed via the College-wide Course Renumbering Project.

  • BIOL 133 / 1001: Investigative Biology Laboratory
  • BIOL 130 / 1002: Cellular Perspectives in Biology
  • BIOL 131 / 1004: Organismal Perspectives in Biology
  • BIOL 201 / 2000: Cell & Molecular Biology
  • BIOL 205 / 2200 / 3202: Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BIOL 206 / 2202 / 3204: Human Anatomy & Physiology II
  • BIOL 362 / 3106: Microbiology
  • CHEM 111 / 1111: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 112 / 1121: General Chemistry II
  • COMP 100 / 1000: Composition
  • NUTR 142 / 1050: Nutrition in Everyday Life
  • PSYC 100 / 1000: Introductory Psychology
  • PSYC 246 / 2450: Lifespan Development
  • SOC 101 / 1001: Introduction to Sociology
  • STAT 101 / 1010: Introduction to Statistics

NOTE: Some nursing programs also require additional courses in Composition or Literature or courses in Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, or Ethics.

NOTE: Nursing education programs may change course prerequisites at any time and may have additional requirements, preferences, or policies that are not reflected in this advising track course list and vary depending on the type of nursing program to which a student applies. Programs may also allow applicants to substitute courses or choose different prerequisite tracks. Applicants should review the program-specific details and contact programs directly to determine whether a particular course will fulfill a prerequisite.

The timeline for applying to nursing school varies among students and is dependent on a variety of factors, including successful completion of prerequisite coursework and appropriate healthcare experience.

Many Pre-Nursing students are choosing to take at least one year after they graduate SUNY Oneonta to work in healthcare prior to applying to nursing programs.

In fact, across the United States most first-time applicants to nursing school apply after their senior year or later. Having a “Growth Year” between undergraduate studies and beginning nursing school is often beneficial for applicants and does not hurt your chances of admission as long as you continue to strengthen your application. It allows time to gain additional life experiences, continue volunteering or pursue non-academic interests.

If a student wishes to take a "growth year," or takes a different undergraduate path, students will need to adjust the course sequence plan accordingly, based on their personal planning needs. Individual student plans may vary depending on when the student hopes to enter dental school and what major is chosen, therefore each student should work with their Primary Major Advisor and their Pre-Health Concentration Advisor to establish their own personalized schedule

Students should regularly review the Nursing Program Admission Requirements for the type of program they are pursuing. To become a Registered Nurse (RN), you must earn a degree in Nursing and pass the NCLEX Licensures exam in your state. An accelerated program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the typical path SUNY Oneonta graduates pursue.

Applicants are evaluated on:

  • healthcare experience (required direct patient care experience varies for each program)
  • minimum of three letters of recommendation (Clinician, Professor in your Major, Health Care Job Supervisor)
  • GPA (overall and prerequisite courses)
  • leadership skills (on and off campus)

Application to Nursing programs can be made through the centralized application NursingCAS or directly through the individual nursing school.

  • The Application Cycle varies depends on the individual nursing program and the year and term students to which students apply
  • Students should consult the individual programs for application cycle planning
  • Applicants are encouraged to submit their nursing school applications as early in the cycle as possible as it can take 4-6 weeks for your application to be processed.

Please review the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center if you have any additional questions.

Students generally request three letters of recommendation to be submitted on their behalf for nursing program applications.

Appropriate recommenders include science faculty, other course instructors, healthcare professionals, current or former employers, and professional references.

Pre-Nursing questions should be directed to Tami LaPilusa, M.S., Program Coordinator, Pre-Health Professions

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