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The Pre-Nursing Designation

The Pre-Nursing designation is available for incoming first-year college students to UH Manoa, who are looking to prepare for the Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathway. Pre-Nursing is designed to be a temporary designation, allowing students to complete their prerequisite courses in 1-2 years. The following is a list of prerequisite courses for the Traditional BS in Nursing pathway.

  • Written Communication Course (FW, 3 credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning Course (FQ, 3 credits)
  • Global & Multicultural Perspectives Course (FG, 3 credits)
  • Public Speech Course (DA, 3 credits) [choose one]: COMG 151 or COMG 251
  • PSY 100 Survey of Psychology (DS, 3 credits)
  • HDFS 230 Human Development (DS, 3 credits)
  • PHYL 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB, 3 credits)
  • PHYL 141L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY, 1 credit)
  • PHYL 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB, 3 credits)
  • PHYL 142L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY, 1 credit)
  • MICR 130 General Microbiology (DB, 3 credits) [lab not required]
  • Physical Science Course (DP, 3 credits) [choose one]: CHEM 151, CHEM 152, CHEM 161, CHEM 162, BIOC 141, BIOC 244, or BIOC 341

Admission to our nursing programs is competitive. Pre-Nursing students are not guaranteed admission to our nursing programs. If not admitted to the nursing program after completing all available Pre-Nursing courses, students must change their major to remain enrolled at UH Manoa. 

It is not mandatory to be a Pre-Nursing student to apply for admission to our nursing pathways. Students may apply to our nursing pathways under any major, and from any regionally accredited institution.

Admission to Pre-Nursing

The Pre-Nursing designation is available to eligible first-year and transfer students to UH Manoa. Students that have already earned a baccalaureate degree are not eligible for the Pre-Nursing designation, but may apply directly to the Nursing program once all admission requirements are met. 

Admission Requirements

Students that are interested in the Pre-Nursing designation must meet the following conditions to qualify for admission.

  • Minimum GPA
    • Incoming first-year applicants: minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5
    • Transfer applicants: minimum combined undergraduate GPA of 3.5
  • Minimum 16 prerequisite credits remaining

Prospective Students

Current UH Manoa Students

Current UH Manoa students that meet the eligibility requirements above may contact our office at bsnurs@hawaii.edu to begin the process of changing their major to Pre-Nursing.

Course Planning

Pre-Nursing students attending UH Manoa full-time (minimum 12 credits per semester) typically will complete their prerequisite coursework in 1-2 years. Depending on whether they begin in the fall or spring semester, students may follow one of the suggested course plans to guide their progress.

Option A: Fall Start, 1 Year/2 Semesters

  • 1st Semester (Fall) – 16 credits
    • PHYL 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • PHYL 141L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY) (1 credit) 
    • MICR 130 General Microbiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • Quantitative Reasoning Course (FS/FQ) (3 credits)
    • Written Communication Course (FW) (3 credits)
    • PSY 100 Survey of Psychology (DS) (3 credits)
  • 2nd Semester (Spring) – 16 credits
    • PHYL 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • PHYL 142L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY) (1 credit)
    • HDFS 230 Human Development (DS) (3 credits)
    • Global & Multicultural Perspectives Course (FG) (3 credits)
    • Public Speech Course (DA) (3 credits) (choose one): COMG 151 or COMG 251
    • Physical Science Course (DP) (3 credits) (choose one): CHEM 151, CHEM 152, CHEM 161, CHEM 162, BIOC 141, BIOC 241, BIOC 244, or BIOC 341

Option B: Fall Start, 2 Years/4 Semesters

  • 1st Semester (Fall) – 12 credits
    • MICR 130 General Microbiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • Quantitative Reasoning Course (FS/FQ) (3 credits)
    • Written Communication Course (FW) (3 credits)
    • PSY 100 Survey of Psychology (DS) (3 credits)
  • 2nd Semester (Spring) – 12 credits
    • HDFS 230 Human Development (DS) (3 credits)
    • Global & Multicultural Perspectives Course (FG) (3 credits)
    • Public Speech Course (DA) (3 credits) (choose one): COMG 151 or COMG 251
    • Physical Science Course (DP) (3 credits) (choose one): CHEM 151, CHEM 152, CHEM 161, CHEM 162, BIOC 141, BIOC 241, BIOC 244, BIOC 341
  • 3rd Semester (Fall) – 13 credits
    • PHYL 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • PHYL 141L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY) (1 credit)
    • Global & Multicultural Perspectives Course (FG) (3 credits)
    • Hum/Lit Course (DH/DL) (3 credits)
    • Nutrition Course (3 credits)
  • 4th Semester (Spring) – 13 credits
    • PHYL 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • PHYL 142L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY) (1 credit)
    • Statistics Course (3 credits)
    • 1 Non-Nursing Writing Intensive Course (WI) (3 credits)
    • 1 Non-Nursing Writing Intensive Course (WI) (3 credits)

Option C: Spring Start, 1.5 Years/3 Semesters

  • 1st Semester (Spring) – 12 credits
    • MICR 130 General Microbiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • Quantitative Reasoning Course (FS/FQ) (3 credits)
    • Written Communication Course (FW) (3 credits)
    • PSY 100 Survey of Psychology (DS) (3 credits)
  • 2nd Semester (Fall) – 13 credits
    • PHYL 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • PHYL 141L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY) (1 credit)
    • HDFS 230 Human Development (DS) (3 credits)
    • Public Speech Course (DA) (3 credits) (choose one): COMG 151 or COMG 251
    • Physical Science Course (DP) (3 credits) (choose one): CHEM 151, CHEM 152, CHEM 161, CHEM 162, BIOC 141, BIOC 241, BIOC 244, BIOC 341
  • 3rd Semester (Spring) – 13 credits
    • PHYL 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3 credits)
    • PHYL 142L Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab (DY) (1 credit)
    • Global & Multicultural Perspectives Course (FG) (3 credits)
    • Nutrition Course (3 credits)
    • Statistics Course (3 credits)

Option D: Custom (Prior College Coursework)

Students that have completed some of the prerequisite requirements with prior college coursework can arrange their course schedules as they see fit, or borrow elements from options A, B, or C above.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is available for prospective and current Pre-Nursing students via the Office of Student Services (OSS) at the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene (SONDH).

Picture of Christopher Waiamau, MBA, MSCJA
Christopher Waiamau, MBA, MSCJA
Admissions Specialist & Pre-Nursing Advisor

Contact for applicants for all Undergraduate Nursing programs.

Contact for Pre-Nursing students:

School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2528 McCarthy Mall, Webster Hall 201
Honolulu, HI 96822
Ph: 808-956-3794
Fax: 808-956-5977

Schedule an Advising Appointment
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