Whether you’re preparing for a career in nursing or another health profession, the Berkley School of Nursing’s Prerequisite Health Courses can help you take the next step.
Note: You will apply using the Visiting Student application. These prerequisite courses only require uploading a high school or college transcript; no other documentation is required.
Complete Your Prerequisite Courses in Seven Weeks
These courses are designed for aspiring health professionals who need to complete prerequisite science coursework.
Study with Georgetown’s prestigious faculty in cutting edge courses designed by expert instructional designers with 100% asynchronous instruction. Each course is completed in a seven-week structured format, giving you the flexibility you need to move closer to your career goals.
Developed in partnership with Georgetown’s Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS), every course reflects Georgetown’s commitment to academic excellence.
Why Choose Georgetown for These Courses?
A top-ranked nursing school
Affordable tuition
Seven-week format
Completely asynchronous online convenience, fully supported by faculty
Health-focused perspective delivered through expert faculty
This course provides a foundational exploration of the physiological mechanisms underlying human disease. Students explore cellular biology, genetic and immune responses, and the pathophysiological changes across body systems including neurologic, endocrine, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and gastrointestinal. Integrating the Jesuit value of cura personalis, students examine social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact across the lifespan.
This course provides a foundational exploration of the structural organization and physiological mechanisms of the healthy human body. Designed as the first of a two-semester sequence for prospective nursing and allied health students, this course establishes a baseline of general biological principles, cellular biology, and histology. Students explore the anatomical and physiological relationships of key body systems, including the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems, from both gross and microscopic perspectives. Integrating the Jesuit value of cura personalis, students examine how these foundational systems adapt across the lifespan, establishing a holistic framework for understanding the origins of health and future clinical practice.
Note: The remaining organ systems (endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, and reproductive) are covered in Anatomy and Physiology II.
Designed as the second of a two-course sequence for aspiring nursing and allied health students, this course offers a foundational investigation into the structural organization and physiological systems of the healthy human body, emphasizing regulatory processes and system-level feedback. Students explore the anatomical and physiological relationships of key body systems, including the endocrine, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems, from both gross and microscopic perspectives. The integrated virtual laboratory component reinforces lecture concepts through interactive simulations, three-dimensional anatomical models, virtual microscopy, and other digital learning activities that strengthen understanding of anatomical structures, physiological processes, and scientific inquiry. By incorporating the Jesuit principle of cura personalis, students investigate how core systems adapt throughout the lifespan, constructing a comprehensive foundation for whole-person wellness and future clinical practice.
Note: The biologic and organ systems (general biological principles, cellular biology, histology, integumentary, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems) are covered in Anatomy and Physiology I.
Additional courses will be added as they become available.
NOTE: Virtual labs are accepted at the Berkley School of Nursing, but not everywhere. Check your university and state licensure requirements for prerequisite courses.
Current Georgetown University Students
Students currently enrolled in degree-seeking undergraduate programs at Georgetown are ineligible to register for these asynchronous online prerequisite offerings without permission. Current Georgetown University students should consult with their advising dean/academic advisor regarding eligibility to enroll in these courses.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition
$400 per credit
Technology Fee
$175 per semester
Application Fee
$80 (nonrefundable)
Note
Enrollment requires access to the accompanying current publisher materials.
Applicants to these programs use the Visiting Student Application form for the university. They are not applying for undergraduate admission.
There is an $80 nonrefundable application fee.
Applicants to this program are ineligible for application fee waivers.
Applicants do not need a dean’s approval letter or letters of recommendation.
Applicants do need a transcript, which can be from high school or college, and can be official or unofficial.
Once your application is processed, you will typically receive an email within 24 hours containing your unique student identifier and secure login credentials.
After you obtain your unique student identifier and initialize your My GU account, you may enroll in a maximum of three online offerings (limited to two laboratory courses per term) via the Student Information System (SIS).
These asynchronous prerequisite offerings are faculty-led, seven-week sessions facilitated entirely through the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). While the 100% asynchronous delivery allows for personal scheduling flexibility, the course follows a structured timeline with required weekly deadlines. Students are not required to attend live sessions, however, they must complete all modular assignments before the subsequent unit commences.
Each course is organized into weekly modules featuring essential readings, interactive multimedia presentations, and collaborative discussion boards, alongside weekly quizzes and periodic examinations. Courses with a laboratory component also integrate virtual lab activities and specialized assignments designed to evaluate the practical application and mastery of clinical concepts.
Course Pace & Time Commitment
Because this course covers a full semester of material in half the time, regular independent engagement and strict adherence to deadlines are critical.
There is no formal grade for attendance, participation, or logging in. However, falling behind by even a few days will heavily impact your performance.
Missing a single week of engagement is equivalent to missing two full weeks of a standard semester. If an illness or emergency prevents you from completing work for more than 48 hours, notify your instructor immediately to discuss options.
Weekly Time Commitment
These estimates fluctuate based on your individual learning pace, prior academic background, and external professional or personal responsibilities.
Expect to devote 18 hours per week to a three-credit course, broken down as:
6 hours engaging directly with instructor content (recorded lectures, interactive modules, and guided learning activities).
12 hours on independent work (readings, homework, and studying).
These estimates may differ based on your individual learning pace, prior academic background, and external professional or personal responsibilities.
These courses are intended for non-degree-seeking students who need prerequisite science coursework before applying to nursing or other health professions programs. The courses are completed outside a degree program of study.
Attendance at the Washington, D.C., campus is not required. Every prerequisite offering is delivered entirely online, including the laboratory components. These virtual labs are conducted 100% asynchronously and do not necessitate the shipment of physical materials to or from your residence.
Formal admission to a degree-seeking program is not a requirement for enrollment in our prerequisite offerings. The application process for these individual courses is distinct from our degree programs; upon completion, you will be established as a non-degree seeking student within the Georgetown University system.
New students must complete the online application for their intended term of study. Returning students who have not engaged in coursework during the preceding 12 months are also required to resubmit the online application form. Once your submission is processed, you will typically receive an email within 24 hours containing your unique student identifier and secure login credentials.
Applicants who possess an existing university ID but lack a prior academic record with the Berkley School of Nursing must still submit an application to register. While these individuals will not receive a new ID, they will be granted access to the Student Information System (SIS) approximately 24 hours after their application has been reviewed.
Every academic institution maintains unique protocols regarding the assessment of prior academic records. Upon finishing a prerequisite course at Georgetown, the course title, earned credits, and final grade will be documented on an official Georgetown University Berkley School of Nursing transcript.
Prospective students should consult with their intended colleges or universities to confirm that these offerings satisfy specific program criteria. It is especially important to verify if virtual laboratory components are recognized for meeting admission and state licensure standards at your target institution.
Yes, individuals preparing for various healthcare disciplines who require foundational coursework may enroll in these faculty-led undergraduate science prerequisite courses offered by the Georgetown University Berkley School of Nursing. However, you should consult your intended program or institution to verify that the credits you earn here will count for your particular program.
Ten prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to matriculation (first session) in the ABSN Program. The first four courses (#1-#5) must have been completed within five years of your intended matriculation date.
Human Anatomy & Physiology I (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Human Anatomy & Physiology II (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Microbiology (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Chemistry or Biochemistry (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Pathophysiology (B or better / 3 credits)
Probability & Statistics (C or better / 3 credits)
Human Nutrition (C or better / 3 credits)
Human Growth and Development (may also be titled “Lifespan Development” or “Developmental Psychology across the Lifespan”) (C or better / 3 credits)
Psychology (C or better / 3 credits)
Sociology or Anthropology (C or better / 3 credits)
Prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to matriculation (first session) in the MS-EN Program. The first four courses (#1-#4)must have been completed within five years of your intended matriculation date.
Human Anatomy & Physiology I (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Human Anatomy & Physiology II (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Microbiology (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Chemistry or Biochemistry (B or better / 4 credits [lab required])
Probability & Statistics (C or better / 3 credits)
Human Nutrition (C or better / 3 credits)
Human Growth and Development (C or better / 3 credits)
While many students can balance a seven- to eight-credit course load, you may enroll in a maximum of three courses per term. To ensure academic success, we recommend taking no more than two laboratory-based courses concurrently. Because these accelerated seven-week sessions condense a full semester’s material, significant independent effort is required.
After you apply, obtain your unique student identifier and initialize your My GU account, you may enroll in a maximum of three online offerings (limited to two laboratory courses per term) via the Student Information System (SIS). Enroll by September 25, 2026, to start coursework October 5 and complete work by the end of the Fall 2026 semester.
