Pre-Nursing

Associate in Arts DTA

Two-year Degree

90 Units

This pathway is designed to meet Associate in Arts degree requirements while preparing for entry into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program.

The nurse's role is more important than ever, as communities are in an era of health-care provider shortages. In fact, nurses make up the largest healthcare profession in the United States. They work in various settings, including clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community settings. The Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Pre-Nursing is intended for students who want to take their science and general education classes at South to prepare to transfer to a four-year school to begin their nursing classes and earn a BSN degree. Students completing this track are not eligible to take National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for Registered Nursing until they complete their BSN program. Students wishing to become a registered nurse directly after completing their associate degree should talk with an advisor about an Associate in Nursing Direct Transfer Degree/Major Related Program (AN DTA/MRP).  

Many BSN programs require hands-on healthcare experience with a minimum of 100 hours, although most complete a least 1000 hours. It is recommended that students earn their Nursing Assistant Certification (NA-C) to earn the necessary hours and experience required for admission requirements.

Get Started

College Application Steps

Visit our Steps to Enroll to learn more about how to apply (the application is always free).

College Tuition

Learn more about the tuition and fees to attend college.

Save money at South. Taking your first two years of coursework and prerequisites at a community college will save you thousands of dollars.

Financial Aid

It's time to apply for Financial Aid for next year by completing either the FAFSA or the WASFA.

Need help paying for college?

To apply for financial aid, including grants and scholarships you don’t have to pay back, visit our Paying for College page for details. Part-time and full-time students can qualify for financial aid funds.

Program Information

The Pre-Nursing pathway can lead to various career opportunities.

Examples include:

Career titles and data are supplied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For current employment and wage estimates, please visit O*NET OnLine.

A Bachelor's degree or higher may be required for some careers listed above.

Once you complete this Associate degree, additional education opportunities include:

  • A Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a four-year institution.
  • A Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree at one of the Seattle Colleges.

South Seattle College has direct transfer agreements with four-year institutions throughout Washington state, including University of Washington, Washington State University and Seattle University. Graduates from South have also transferred to out-of-state institutions.

Program and admissions requirements vary from college to college. Contact an advisor to create an educational plan tailored to transfer to the institution of your choice.

South Seattle College offers several associate degrees designed for transfer students. Please review our transfer degrees page to find the degree requirements for your chosen pathway.

Units

The sample schedule and quarterly to-do list below will help you explore courses and complete tasks on time. The sample schedule assumes a fall quarter start and is constrained by 6 quarters, but you can begin in any quarter and start at any placement level. Some classes listed may require a pre-requisite class. Some courses are offered in a variety of formats including online (e-learning), in-person, and hybrid. Available formats vary by quarter. Please work with your advisor to create a customized education plan that meets your goals.

Before you begin:

Quarter 1, 15 Units

Click course row to read description.
Course Course Title Units
ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5
MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics 5
BIOL& 160 General Biology With Lab 5

Quarter 2, 15 Units

Click course row to read description.
Course Course Title Units
MATH 116 or MATH& 141 or MATH& 151 Choose a course 5
CHEM& 121 Introduction to Chemistry 5
PSYC& 100 General Psychology 5

Quarter 3, 15 Units

Click course row to read description.
Course Course Title Units
CMST& 220 Public Speaking 5
PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology 5
CHEM& 131 Intro to Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry 5

Quarter 4, 15 Units

Click course row to read description.
Course Course Title Units
BIOL& 241 Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 5
ENGL& 102 Composition II 5
SOC& 101 or any Individuals, Cultures, & Societies Choose a course 5

Quarter 5, 15 Units

Click course row to read description.
Course Course Title Units
NUTR& 101 Nutrition 5
BIOL& 242 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 5
HUM 105 Intercultural Communication 5

Quarter 6, 15 Units

Click course row to read description.
Course Course Title Units
BIOL& 260 Microbiology 5
Individuals, Cultures, & Societies 5
CMST& 101 Introduction to Communication 5

Program data from ctcLink:

  • Academic Plan: LASDTAA
  • Degree: AA-DTA
  • Plan Transcript Description: Associate in Arts DTA
  • Academic Plan Currently Offered: Yes
  • Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP): 24.0101

New or Prospective Students: Please connect with the Welcome Center to discuss South’s program options and for help navigating the Steps to Enroll.

Welcome Center
RSB 72
southwelcomecenter@seattlecolleges.edu
206/934-7943

Current Students: Please connect with Advising to create an education plan and discuss specific class offerings for your program.

Advising Center
RSB 02
advisorsouth@seattlecolleges.edu
206/934-5387

To update degree or certificate information please start with how to make edits to academic program data.