Pre-Nursing

Houghton Does Not Offer an Independent Nursing Major

Pre-nursing at Houghton University can give you the prerequisites you need for institutions offering a BS in Nursing (BSN) or an accelerated BSN, while allowing you to start your university education in an intentionally Christian environment. Our optional global studies emphasis can prepare you for nursing in global service careers, medical missions or in under-resourced areas. Houghton students interested in nursing typically pursue one of three paths:

  • Enroll in Houghton's pre-nursing program in partnership with D'Youville University.
  • Enroll in an accelerated BSN degree after completing a BA or BS in another field at Houghton University.
  • Transfer to a BSN degree after completing two years at Houghton University.

Launching your education at Houghton University prior to pursuing the nursing degree offers you a Christ-centered foundation through Houghton’s holistic approach to general education. This immersive course of study will prepare you with compassionate, Biblical responses to the ethical, cultural and moral challenges faced by medical professionals today. In addition, Houghton’s global studies opportunities prepare you for global service opportunities in missions, NGOs, public health organizations and educational institutions.

Why Study Pre-Nursing at Houghton?

  • Be mentored, supported and cared for by invested faculty members who care about your academic success as well as your spiritual, emotional, and professional growth.
  • Gain a Biblical perspective to contemporary issues facing medical practitioners today through Houghton’s Christ-centered education.
  • Gain hands-on experiences early in your undergraduate experience:
    • Serve as a volunteer EMT with the local fire department.
    • Volunteer at an inner-city clinic in Buffalo with Jericho Road Ministries.
    • Travel to a developing country to study foundations of health development.
    • Conduct, publish and present real research with one or more of Houghton University’s faculty members.

Personal Attention from Invested Faculty

With a departmental emphasis on personalized teaching and close relationships among faculty and students, pre-nursing students have many opportunities to get to know their professors on a personal level. Professors teach the labs as well as lectures instead of relying on teaching assistants to teach the laboratory sessions, and class sizes are deliberately capped to maximize interaction between faculty and students.

Undergraduate Research

Many motivated students do real research with one or more of the faculty at Houghton University. Some of these students publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals or present talks and posters at regional and national conferences. Opportunities for research include the Collaborative Research in Biology course, independent study, senior honors projects and the Summer Research Institute. Students have also traveled with faculty to work with collaborators (e.g., Cornell University and the Sierra Nevada mountains of California).

Typical Course Requirements Credits
BIOL 217 and BIOL 218 – Human Anatomy and Physiology 4, 4
CHEM 151 and CHEM 152 – General Chemistry 4, 4
BIOL 242 – Microbiology 4
CHEM 187 and CHEM 188 – Nutrition 4
PSY 307 and PSY 308 or PSY 309 or MATH 131 – Statistics 3 or 4
PSY 213 – Developmental Psychology 3

Other courses that may be required by specific BSN or accelerated nursing degrees (either BSN or MSN) include Introduction to Psychology, Pathophysiology, Theology/Religious Studies, Medical Ethics, Human Growth and Development, Sociology, and Pharmacology.

Pre-Nursing Interest with Global Studies

Students interested in the nursing profession in global service careers might consider taking the following courses.

Typical Course Requirements Credits
INCL 201 – Introduction to Global Issues 4
INCL 243 – Cultural Anthropology 4
INCL 310 – Intercultural Competencies 4
INCL 311 – Intercultural Experience 0–4
Note: Completion of these four Global Studies courses would constitute a minor in Global Studies.
Other helpful courses for students interested in nursing and missions or related international careers Credits
INCL 348 – Foundations of Health Development 4
MISS 241 – History of the Global Christian Movement 4
MISS 242 – Missions and the Global Church 4
MISS 341 – Biblical and Theological Foundations of Mission 4
Various Bible Courses
Note: Completion of these three courses and an elective course constitutes a minor in missions.