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The Pre-Nursing Designation

The Pre-Nursing designation is available for students that 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 required 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.

Pre-Nursing Admission Requirements

The Pre-Nursing designation is open to eligible incoming first-year students to UH Manoa. Transfer applicants, and students that have already earned a prior baccalaureate degree are not eligible for the Pre-Nursing designation. Students may apply directly to our Nursing programs once all admission requirements are met. It is not mandatory to be a Pre-Nursing student to apply for admission to our nursing pathways.

Fall 2026 Admissions Requirements

  • Incoming first-year student to UH Manoa
  • Non-resident applicants: minimum cumulative unweighted high school GPA of 3.6

Prospective Students

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, or customize their course plan as they see fit.

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)

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.

Temporary contact for applicants and current students in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education.

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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