Nursing
A Dual-Degree (3:2) Program
Students may earn a bachelor's degree from Washington College and a bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing from either The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, University of Delaware College of Health and Nursing Sciences, or the University of Maryland School of Nursing. This dual degree program requires five years of study: The first three years are spent at Washington College fulfilling the general education requirements, requirements for a major, and the prerequisites for entrance into the school of nursing. Because of the shortened period of time at Washington College and the prerequisites in biology, students will usually major in biology or psychology, although another major is possible with departmental approval. Two years of additional study are required at Johns Hopkins, University of Delaware, or University of Maryland to complete the requirements for a degree in nursing. Students electing to study at Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland enter the "Traditional Baccalaureate Program," and students opting for Delaware enter the "Accelerated Degree Nursing Program."
All three nursing programs recommend that students participate in a nursing internship program. Students may speak with the 3:2 Nursing Advisor for information on internship opportunities.
Students successfully completing the first year of the nursing program will have completed requirements for a bachelor's degree from Washington College. To be eligible for graduation from Washington College, students must see that their transcripts from Johns Hopkins, University of Delaware, or University of Maryland are received by the Registrar at Washington College by the appropriate graduation deadline. Students must plan in their first year at the nursing school to carry enough credits to graduate from Washington College the following spring (16 credits per semester).
Students should refer to the nursing program web pages for each school and contact personnel at the nursing school to check on current admission requirements.
Some students elect to complete the bachelor's degree at Washington College before admission to nursing school. The prerequisites for nursing schools differs slightly for these students. These students have several options to complete the BS or MS in nursing.
Prerequisites for Johns Hopkins University
- General Biology (w/lab) 8 credits
BIO 111, 112 - Anatomy and Physiology (w/lab) 8 credits
BIO 301, 424 - Microbiology (w/lab) 4 credits
BIO 203 - General Chemistry (w/lab) 8 credits
CHE 111,112 - Statistics 3 credits
MAT 109 - Nutrition 2 credits
PED 052 - Introductory Psychology 3 credits
PSY 111 - Lifespan Development 3 credits
PSY 202 (PSY 111 and 112 are prerequisites) - Introductory Sociology 3 credits
SOC 101 - Humanities
Writing and Composition 3 credits
ENG 101 or 102, recommended - Social Sciences Electives 6 credits
Anthropology, Economics, Family or Community Sociology, Geography, History, Political Science, or Psychology (including PSY 202). - Open Electives 15 credits
Hopkins requires an additional 15 elective credits: Students may choose any academic courses, except courses in studio or performing arts. Only one physical education course will transfer.
Prerequisites for the University of Maryland
- General Biology (w/lab) 8 credits
BIO 111, 112 - Anatomy and Physiology (w/lab) 8 credits
BIO 301, 424 - Microbiology (w/lab) 4 credits
BIO 203 - General Chemistry (w/lab) 4 credits
CHE 111 - Nutrition 3 credits*
- Statistics 3 credits
MAT 109 - Mathematics 3 credits
(any college math course and not computer science) - English Composition 6 credits
ENG 101 and 102 - Introductory Psychology 3 credits
PSY 111 - Developmental Psychology 3 credits
PSY 202 (PSY 111 and 112 are prerequisites) - Introductory Sociology 3 credits
SOC 101 - Social Sciences Electives 3 credits
- Anthropology, Economics, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, or Psychology (including PSY 202).
- Humanities Electives 9 credits
- Open Electives 7 credits
*Nutrition must be taken elsewhere.
Prerequisites for the University of Delaware
- General Biology (w/lab) 8 credits
BIO 111, 112 - Anatomy and Physiology (w/lab) 8 credits
BIO 301, 424 - Microbiology (w/lab) 4 credits
BIO 203 - Pathophysiology* 3 credits
NURS 212 (Delaware) - Nutrition* 3 credits
NTDT 200 - General Chemistry (w/lab) 8 credits
CHE 111 and 112 - Organic Chemistry (w/lab)* 8 credits
CHE 201,202 - Statistics 3 credits
MAT 109 - Critical Reading and Writing 3 credits
ENG 101 or 102 - Literature 3 credits
ENG 101 and 102 - Problems in Composition 3 credits
CNW - General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 111 - Developmental Psychology 3 credits
PSY 202 (PSY 111 and 112 are prerequisites) - Introductory Sociology 3 credits
SOC 101 - Social Sciences Electives 3 credits
PSY 202 or another course in the Social Sciences - Humanities Electives 3 credits
- Open Electives 6 credits
*These courses are taken in the first semester at UD.
Requirements for a Major in Biology or Psychology from Washington College in the 3:2 Nursing Program
- Completion of 96 credit hours before leaving Washington College
- Completion of all general education requirements prior to leaving Washington College
- Completion of the required CNW courses
For a Major in Biology
- BIO 111, 112. General Biology
- BIO 203. Microbiology
- BIO 301. Comparative Anatomy
- BIO 424. Comparative Physiology
- Two additional upper level biology courses (BIO 305, Genetics, is recommended)
- CHE 111, 112. General Chemistry
- CHE 201. Organic Chemistry
- MAT 201. Differential Calculus
For a Major in Psychology
- PSY 111, 112. General Psychology
- Two-semester methods sequence in statistics (BUS 215, ECN 215, MAT 109 or PSY 209), followed by PSY 309 Research Design
- Three additional psychology electives, one of which must be a lab course. The three electives much be chosen so that one comes from each of the areas of Biological, Experimental and Clinical Psychology.
Advising and Application
The strict requirements of this program make it imperative that interested students start planning their schedules of courses early in the first year at Washington College. It is strongly recommend that students contact the 3:2 Nursing Advisor soon after arrival on campus and that they attend information sessions on the 3:2 Nursing Program.
Applications for admission to the schools of nursing should be submitted during the fall semester of the third year at Washington College. Be aware that admission is not guaranteed! An overall GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses is recommended for admission, and grades of 'B' or better are required in all of the prerequisite courses. Applicants are reviewed on an individual basis.