Freshman/Sophomore Course Sequence

This suggested full-time plan of study is designed for students who enroll as first-year pre-nursing students at Towson University in order to prepare for a seamless transition into the nursing major if admitted.

Recommended Plan of Study

This is recommended plan of study for first-time students at TU. Individual plans of study may vary based on course availability and student needs. The purpose of this page is to provide freshman students with an idea of what courses and degree requirements they need to complete prior to entering the nursing major. Course planning resources for transfer students are also available.

The bachelor's degree in nursing requires a minimum of 120 units, including 61 units of NURS courses, 38 units of prerequisite courses, and 21 units of Core Curriculum and/or elective courses. Two courses in nursing major satisfy Core Curriculum requirements; all other requirements are suggested to be completed in the first two years.

By following this recommended course sequence, students can complete 59 units of pre-nursing and Core Curriculum requirements in four terms, leaving them with only the 61 units of NURS coursework to complete in their junior and senior years. Pre-nursing should keep themselves apprised of the nursing major's admission requirements and deadlines and work with their assigned advisor to remain on track.

Freshman Year, First Term

 COURSE REQUIREMENTS UNITS

TSEM 102 Towson Seminar 

or

ENGL 102 Writing for a Liberal Education

Core 1 

or

Core 2 & Nursing Prerequisite

 3 

BIOL 191 Introductory Biology for Health Professions Lecture

and

BIOL 191L Introductory Biology for Health Professions Lab

 Core 7 & Nursing Prerequisite

3

&

1
MATH 115 College Algebra* Core 3 & Nursing Prerequisite 3
Core Requirement Core 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 or 14  3

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology

or

SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology

 Core 6 & Nursing Prerequisite 3

TOTAL

   16

*Higher-level algebra-intensive courses, including MATH 119 Pre-calculus or MATH 273 Calculus I, may substitute for MATH 115 College Algebra. Statistics, finite math, or any other non-algebra intensive course will not satisfy this requirement.

Freshman Year, Second Term

COURSE REQUIREMENTS UNITS

TSEM 102 Towson Seminar 

or

ENGL 102 Writing for a Liberal Education

Core 1 

or

Core 2 & Nursing Prerequisite

 3

CHEM 121 Allied Health Chemistry I Lecture

and

CHEM 121L Allied Health Chemistry I Lab

 Core 8 & Nursing Prerequisite

3

&

1
Core Requirement Core 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 or 14

 

3

 
Core Requirement Core 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 or 14 3

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology

or

SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology

 Core 6 & Nursing Prerequisite 3

TOTAL

   14

Sophomore Year, First Term

Course Requirement Units

BIOL 221 Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lecture

and

BIOL 221L Human Anatomy & Physiology I Lab 

 Nursing Prerequisite

3

&

1
PSYC 203 Human Development  Nursing Prerequisite  3
HLTH 331 Nutrition for Health Professionals Nursing Prerequisite  3
Core Requirement Core 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 or 14  3
Core Requirement Core 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 or 14  3
TOTAL   16

Sophomore Year: Second Term

 Course  Requirement Units
BIOL 215 Essentials of Microbiology Nursing Prerequisite  4

BIOL 222 Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lecture

and

BIOL 222L Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab 

 Nursing Prerequisite

 3

 1

Statistics*

(MATH 231 Basic Statistics, MATH 237 Biostatistics, or PSYC 212 Behavioral Statistics)

 Prerequisite for enrollment in NURS 435 Nursing Research  3-4
Core Requirement Core 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 or 14  3
TOTAL   16

*A statistics course is not required for admission to the major. However, it is required to enroll in NURS 435 Nursing Research for Evidence-Based Practice, taken in the junior year second term (J2). Students need to complete statistics before entering the major to ensure seamless progression into the J2 term.