Students must successfully complete courses in General Education and Science prior to applying for the nursing program.

Please consult with a counselor to determine course equivalencies. You can also review our prerequisite tips for pre-nursing students to help understand the differences between courses. 

Prerequisites Requirements 

Required General Education Courses

Complete the general ed. prerequisite courses with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0:

  • Freshman Composition ENGL C1000
  • Introduction to Statistics STAT C1000 OR Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences PSYC 105 
  • Elements of Public Speaking COMM C1000 or COMM 111 *Note: Only COMM C1000 will be accepted beginning January 1, 2027
  • Introduction to Psychology PSYC C1000 
  • Introduction to Sociology SOCI C1000 100 OR Cultural Anthropology ANTH 102
  • Arts/Humanities: Choose one from SBVC GE Area 3A
  • Ethnic Studies: Choose one Ethnic Studies course from SBVC GE Area 6

Required Science Courses 

Complete the science courses below with a minimum G.P.A of 2.8: 

  • BIOL *270 (Microbiology) &
  • BIOL *250 & *251 (Anatomy and Physiology I & II) or
  • BIOL 260 & *261 (Human Anatomy & Human Physiology)

Extra-point Courses

  • CIT 144: Medical Terminology
  • PHT 064: Pharmacy Calculations
  • PHT 062: Pharmacology 

Science Course Information

Chemistry 101 or 105 is a prerequisite for Biology 261 and 270. Both Anatomy and Physiology I & II series (Biology 250 and 251) must be completed at the same institution. Human Anatomy and Human Physiology (Biology 260 and 261) does not need to be completed at the same institution. Please consult a Nursing Counselor regarding course equivalency if you are considering taking a science course or series at another college or university.

Repeat Policy

The nursing department will only take the most recent completed grade of Anatomy, Physiology, & Microbiology. Attempts and repeats are not counted.

Please seek advice from a nursing counselor if you are considering taking courses at another institution, including Crafton Hills College.

Online & Accelerated Sciences

The nursing program is currently not accepting any science courses with online labs. The only exception is for courses completed between Spring 2020 and Fall 2021. The SBVC Nursing Program does not accept science prerequisites from Azusa Pacific University (APU), Los Angeles Pacific University, the Integrated Health Science Program at the Southern California University of Health Sciences located in Whittier, CA, nor from any other private, for-profit, unaccredited, trade or career college or university

CLEP, DANTE and Credit by Exam

The nursing program does not accept any form of Exams for College Credit scores to suffice any of the prerequisites.

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher Holders

If a student holds a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institutionally accredited college or university, only the following general education courses will be included when calculating points and GPA:

  • ENGL C1000 – Freshman Composition
  • STAT C1000 – Statistics, or PSYC 105 – Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
  • COMM C1000 – Elements of Public Speaking, or COMM 111 – Interpersonal Communication
  • PSYC C1000 – Introduction to Psychology
  • SOC 100 – Introduction to Sociology, or ANTHRO 102 – Cultural Anthropology

Note: COMM 111 is not approved for Cal-GETC beginning Fall 2025 or for SBVC Local General Education beginning Fall 2026. It is not recommended for students who plan to transfer.

If a student graduated from a college or university that did not require any of the courses listed above, the student will need to complete those courses.

Prerequisite Tips for Pre-Nursing Students

Both sequences satisfy the anatomy and physiology requirement for the nursing program. They require the same number of semesters and units and cover the same material when completed. The primary difference is how the content is organized.

BIOL 250 and BIOL 251

Students learn human anatomy and physiology together throughout both semesters.

BIOL 260 and BIOL 261

Students study human anatomy during the first semester and human physiology during the second semester.

Although chemistry is not a direct nursing program requirement, it serves as a prerequisite for some required courses and helps students understand the biochemistry of the human body.

CHEM 101

CHEM 101 explores the material makeup of our world and its relationship to life, the natural environment, and everyday experiences.

CHEM 105

CHEM 105 combines the material from CHEM 101 and CHEM 104. In addition to general chemistry concepts, students study the bonding, naming, structure, and chemical and biomolecular properties of organic compounds and biomolecules.

SOC 100

Sociology helps students understand society, social institutions, and social relationships. For nurses, this perspective is valuable because social factors such as race, class, and gender influence health outcomes and access to healthcare.

The course helps students consider the broader social context in which patients live and prepares them to address the social determinants of health.

ANTHRO 102

Cultural Anthropology explores how culture shapes behavior and identity. Students examine the relationships among culture, health, race, gender, and the body while emphasizing diversity, antiracism, social justice, and culturally responsive healthcare.

COMM C1000 – Public Speaking

Public Speaking develops skills for presenting information to groups. These communication skills are valuable for nurses who regularly educate patients, families, and healthcare teams.

The course also provides a strong foundation for the presentations required in many college courses.

COMMST 111 – Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal Communication focuses on communication within personal and professional relationships.

Topics include:

  • Listening
  • Emotions
  • Culture
  • Perception
  • Conflict management
  • Interpersonal relationships

Both STAT C1000 and PSYC 105 fulfill the mathematics requirement.

STAT C1000

Statistics teaches students how to gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data while strengthening critical-thinking and decision-making skills.

PSYC 105

PSYC 105 helps students understand variation and probability through examples from the social and health sciences.

Students gain hands-on experience interpreting data, drawing conclusions, and answering research questions using real-world health and behavioral science data.

What Is Human Anatomy and Physiology?

Anatomy is the study of the body's internal and external structures and the relationships among those structures.

Physiology is the study of how those structures function.

For example, anatomy examines the structures that make up the human knee or the different types of blood cells. Physiology focuses on how those structures work, such as the biochemical processes that allow neurons to communicate with muscles and organs.

BIOL 250 and BIOL 251 Sequence

In Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II, students learn both the structures of the human body and the detailed biochemistry and functions of those structures.

Lecture and laboratory instruction explore the body from both microscopic and macroscopic perspectives throughout both courses.

This sequence is ideal for students who prefer learning anatomy and physiology together and who want to understand how the two subjects are interconnected.

Important: This sequence must be completed at the same college.

BIOL 260 and BIOL 261 Sequence

This sequence separates the two disciplines into individual semesters.

BIOL 260 focuses on the microscopic and macroscopic structures of the human body (anatomy).

BIOL 261 focuses on the biochemical processes and functions of those structures (physiology).

This option is often preferred by students who like concentrating on one subject at a time.

Important: This sequence may be completed at different colleges.

Which Sequence Should I Take?

Both anatomy and physiology sequences meet the nursing program requirements.

They:

  • Require the same amount of time
  • Require the same number of units
  • Cover the same content

The only difference is how the material is organized. Students should choose the sequence that best matches their learning style.