Pre-Health Professions: Registered Nurse

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CAREER DESCRIPTION*

• National median salary: $93,600
• National projected career growth: 5%
• Many work in hospitals and physician offices
• Provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

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TYPICAL EDUCATION**

• Years of School (including undergraduate): 4
• Average Entering GPA: 3.7
• Typical-entry level education: Bachelor’s Degree
• CNA Required
• TOFEL may be required for non-native English speakers

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COMPETITIVE STUDENTS ALWAYS...

• Maintain a competitive academic record
• Take BIOL 1060 Intro to Medical Careers and Ethics
• Obtain health care experience as a CNA
• Shadow professionals in the field

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NEARBY SCHOOLS

• University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Clarkson College
• Nebraska Methodist College
• College of Saint Mary
• Midland University
• Bryan College of Health Sciences

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Prerequisites vary by program. Students are responsible for ensuring all entrance requirements are met. Most schools prefer science classes to be taken in-person versus online.

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER’S (UNMC) PREREQUISITES

Biological Sciences (minimum credits: 12)†

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
BIOL 2440 The Biology of Microorganisms & Lab	4	F, S, M	High school Biology and Chemistry
AND BIOL 2740 Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab	4	F, S, M	High school Biology and Chemistry
BIOL 2840 Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab	4	F, S, M	BIOL 2740
OR BMCH 2400 Human Physiology & Anatomy I & Lab	4	F, S
BMCH 2400 Human Physiology & Anatomy I & Lab	4	F, S	BMCH 2500

Chemistry (one course with lab)†

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
CHEM 1140 & 1144 Fund of College Chemistry & Lab	5	F, S, M	MATH 1300 or 1320
OR CHEM 1180 & 1184 General Chemistry I & Lab	4	F, S, M	MATH 1300 or 1320 or CHEM 1140 and 1144

Mathematics (one course)†

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
MATH 1300 College Algebra with Support	4	F, S, M	N/A
OR MATH 1320 College Algebra	3	F, S, M	ACT 22 or ALEKS 4

Statistics (one course)†

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
BIOL 2020 Statistics for Life and Environ. Science	3	F, S	MATH 1120, 1130, 1300, or 1320
PSYC 3130 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences	3	F, S, M	MATH 1120, 1300, 1320, or STAT 1530
SOC 2130 Social Statistics	3	F, S, M	MATH 1120, 1300, 1320, or STAT 1530
STAT 1530 Elementary Statistics	3	F, S	ACT 19 or ALEKS 4
STAT 3000 Statistical Methods I	3	F, S	MATH 1300 or 1320
CRCJ/SOWK/PA 3000 Applied Statistics	3	F, S, M	MATH 1300 or 1320
Other statistics courses can fulfill the requirement as well but should be approved by an admissions advisor.

English Composition (minimum credits: 6)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
ENGL 1140 English Composition I with Support	4	F, S	ACT Composite score <13, SAT Composite score <760, High School GPA <2.3, or Last Known College GPA <2.0
OR ENGL 1150 English Composition I	3	F, S, M	AP Score 3, ACT 14-26, HS GPA 2.3+
ENGL 1160 English Composition II	3	F, S, M	AP Score 4, ENGL 1140 or 1150, or ACT 27+ or Reading or English ACT score of 29+

Social Sciences (minimum credits: 9)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
PSYC 1010 Introduction to Psychology	3	F, S, M	N/A
PSYC 2500 Lifespan Psychology†	3	F, S, M	PSYC 1010
SOC 1010 Introduction to Sociology	3	F, S, M	N/A

Nutrition (minimum credits: 3)†

Course	Credits	Semester
HEKI 3090 Applied Nutrition	3	F, S, M

Ethics (minimum credits: 3)

Course	Credits	Semester
PHIL 2030 Introduction to Ethics	3	F, S
PHIL 2300 Biomedical Ethics	3	F, S
PHIL 1020 Contemporary Moral Programs	3	F, S, M

Recommended Elective (minimum credits: 3-5)

Course	Credits	Semester
BIOL 1060 Intro to Medical Careers and Ethics	2	F, S
BIOL 1160 Terminology of Human Health & Disease	2	F, S
OR HEKI 2000 Medical Terminology	1	F, S, M
OR Course(s) of your choosing	3-5

Categorical Coursework (minimum credits: 12)
_{For more information on Categorical Coursework classes, visit the the HCRC or see the list below:}

Course	Credits
A Humanities Course	3
A Family and Human Behavior Course	3
A Political Science/Social Organization Course	3
A Culture/Race/Ethnicity/Gender Course	3

CNA License

Various CNA courses can be found here: Registered Nursing - CNA Classes & Programs in Nebraska

Currently, UNO does not offer a CNA course.

_{†All designated courses must be completed within 7 years of beginning the nursing program at UNMC. They must have a letter grade. No CLEP, AP, or Pass/Fail grades will be accepted.}

Additional UNMC Nursing Information

Students applying to UNMC must have the following:

• Students must take ENGL 1150 and MATH 1300 or 1320 regardless of placement at UNO.
• A college cumulative prerequisite grade point average of 3.0 or higher
• No grade lower than a “C” in any prerequisite course
• UNMC will accept dual enrollment credit and Advanced Placement credit – AP is not accepted for Math and Science.
• 12 out of the 17 required prerequisite courses completed by the time of application
• Two letters of recommendation
• Current CNA Certification

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UNMC Nursing has five locations: Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney, and Scottsbluff.
All locations have an August start date. Omaha, Lincoln, and Kearney also offer a January start date.

Nursing Timeline

Nursing Timeline
Freshman Year	Obtain CNA certification and Take 7-10 Nursing pre-requisites.
Sophomore Year	Apply to UNMC Nursing ASAP when 12/17 prerequisites are completed. Applications open in October and are due in January. Continue completing prerequisites.
Junior Year	Work on BSN/RN at UNMC.
Senior Year	Complete BSN/RN at UNMC.

Students can contact UNMC’s Student Services Coordinator for assistance:
Haley Klein
halklein@unmc.edu

Information for students interested in pursuing more education after the BSN:

• Students interested in the Nurse Practitioner route should visit the following article for more information: How to Become a Nurse Practitioner | Salary & Requirements
• For information on the Nurse Practitioner Program at UNMC, visit the following article: Doctor of Nursing Practice

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Categorical Coursework

Humanities (choose one)

• ART 1010 Art Appreciation
• ART 1040 Global Indigenous Art
• ART 2050 Survey of Western Art History I
• ART 2060 Survey of Western Art History II
• CMST 1110 Public Speaking Fundamentals
• ENGL 1010 Intro to Genre Studies: Prose
• ENGL 1020 Intro to Genre Studies: Poetry, Drama, & Film
• ENGL 1200 Autobiographical Reading & Writing
• ENGL 2000 Topics in Language & Literature
• ENGL 2110 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
• ENGL 2250 The Short Story
• ENGL 2310 Intro to British Literature I
• ENGL 2320 Intro to British Literature II
• ENGL 2450 American Literature I
• ENGL 2460 American Literature II
• GDRH 1140 Creative Citizenship
• HUMN 1110 American Humanities
• HUMN 1200 Autobiographical Reading & Writing
• JMC 1050 Film History and Appreciation
• JMC 1500 Journalism & Media Communication
• MEDH 1000 Introduction to Medical Humanities
• MUS 1050 Music of the People: The Beatles
• MUS 1070 Music of the People: Rock and Pop
• MUS 1080 Music of the People: The World
• MUS 1090 Music Appreciation
• MUS 1100 Music of the People: Jazz
• PHIL 1010 The Meaning of Life
• PHIL 1210 Critical Reasoning
• RELI 1010 Religions of the World
• RELI 2150 Hebrew Scriptures
• RELI 2190 The Modern Middle East

^{CMST 1110 Public Speaking is strongly recommended for ESL students planning to attend UNMC.}

Family and Human Behavior (choose one)

• GDRH 2120 Social Issues
• GERO 2000 Introduction to Gerontology
• GERO 3070 Death & Dying
• GERO 4350 Issues in Aging
• GERO 4850 Hospice & Other Services
• PSYC 3410 Clinical Psychology
• PSYC 3430 Personality & Adjustment
• PSYC 3520 Child Psychology
• PSYC 3540 Adolescent Psychology
• PSYC 4020 Learning
• PSYC 4210 Sensation & Perception
• PSYC 4440 Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 4460 Psyc of Adult Development & Aging
• PSYC 4470 Mental Health & Aging
• SOC 2150 Sociology of Families
• SOC 2800 Major Social Issues
• SOC 3450 Social Psychology
• SOC 3610 Applied Organizational Sociology
• SOC 3690 Social Inequality
• SOC 3800 Work & Society
• TED 2200 Human Relations Bias Free Classroom
• TED 2300 Human Growth & Learning

^{GERO 2000 is a required course for Clarkson College}

Political Science/Social Organization (choose one)

• CRCJ 1010 Survey of Criminal Justice
• ECON 1200 Intro to the US Economy
• ECON 2200 Microeconomics
• ECON 2220 Macroeconomics
• GEOG 1000 World Regional Geography
• HIST 1000 World History to 1500
• HIST 1010 World History since 1500
• HIST 1110 American History to 1865
• HIST 1120 American History since 1865
• HIST 2030 History of Medicine
• PSCI 1000 Intro to Political Science
• PSCI 1100 American Government
• PSCI 2500 Comparative Politics
• SOC 2100 Social Problems

^{A History course is required for Nebraska Methodist College}

Culture/Race/Ethnicity/Gender (choose one)

• ANTH 1050 Intro to Anthropology
• ANTH 3210 Cultures of African People
• ANTH 3220 People & Cultures of Native America
• ANTH 3260 World Culture & People
• ANTH 3920 Essential of Archaeology
• BLST 1000 Intro to Black Studies
• BLST 2100 Experiences in Black Studies
• ENGL 2230 Socio-Cultural Rep in Literature
• ENGL 2470 Native American Literature
• GEOG 1020 Human Geography
• HUMN 1110 American Humanities
• LLS 1000 Latin America: An Intro
• LLS 1010 Intro to Chicano-Latino Studies
• LLS 1020 Intro to Chicano-Latino Studies
• MUS 1080 Music of the People: The World
• NAMS 1100 Native American Studies
• SOC 3840 World Population & Social Issues
• SOC 3900 Race & Ethnic Relations in the US
• WGST 2010 Intro to Women’s & Gender Studies
• WGST 2020 Intro to Women’s & Gender Studies
• WGST 3750 Gender & Communication
• Any World Language Course

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_{*Data and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Data and information from UNMC
Last update: 9.2025}