How long does it take to complete, and can I do it while working full-time?

The program is completely self-paced, designed specifically for working adults. Most students complete it in 5-7 months studying 10 hours per week, but you can go faster or slower based on your schedule. All content is available 24/7, so you can study early mornings, evenings, or weekends - whatever works for your life.

How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

It takes about 6 months at 10 hours per week to complete the Specialization.

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

Nursing Prerequisites: Essential Sciences for Future Nurses 专业证书

Nursing Prerequisites: Essential Sciences for Future Nurses 专业证书

Launch Your Healthcare Career in Nursing. Master essential sciences and build the foundations to succeed in your nursing career.

位教师：Adam Le Gresley, PhD

包含在 Coursera Plus 中

了解更多

4 门课程系列

获得职业证书，展示您的专业知识

中级等级

推荐体验

6 月完成

在 10 小时一周

灵活的计划

自行安排学习进度

4 门课程系列

获得职业证书，展示您的专业知识

中级等级

推荐体验

6 月完成

在 10 小时一周

灵活的计划

自行安排学习进度

您将学到什么

Apply fundamental chemistry principles to understand medication interactions, pH balance, and metabolic processes in human health.
Analyze microbial organisms and infection control by identifying bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens.
Show understanding of human psychology through behavioral principles, mental health concepts, and evidence-based patient communication strategies.
Integrate biological foundations to explain how body systems function and respond to health and disease conditions.

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专业认证 - 4门课程系列

Feeling stuck in your current job? You’re not alone. Many professionals are discovering that healthcare offers the meaningful, stable career they’ve been searching for—and it starts with mastering the foundational sciences.

Build Your Science Foundation for Nursing Success Our Nursing Prerequisites program covers Chemistry, Microbiology, Psychology, and Biology—the essential building blocks every nurse needs. Whether you’re new to healthcare or brushing up on science knowledge, we’ll guide you from zero to confident.

Who This Program Is For: Career switchers seeking meaningful work, recent graduates exploring nursing paths, or anyone needing to strengthen their science foundation before applying to nursing programs.

Why choose our program? • Strong foundations that prepare you for nursing school success • Self-paced learning that fits around your job and life • Award-winning educators who explain complex concepts clearly • Confidence-building approach that makes sciences accessible

Your future starts here. Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries, with registered nurses earning a median salary of $93,600 annually in the US (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2024). Beyond competitive pay, nursing offers job security, meaningful work helping others, and diverse opportunities from pediatrics to critical care.

Ready to make the switch? Join the healthcare heroes making a real difference every day. Your patients are waiting.

应用的学习项目

Throughout your prerequisite coursework, you'll complete discipline-specific projects that connect foundational science principles to real-world healthcare scenarios. Each project challenges you to analyze a healthcare-relevant topic through the lens of that course's content, building your ability to translate scientific knowledge into clinical understanding. These projects develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and the interdisciplinary perspective essential for evidence-based nursing practice.

Chemistry

第 1 门课程30小时

您将学到什么

Analyze atomic structure, bonding theories, and molecular interactions to understand drug-receptor mechanisms
Evaluate acid-base equilibria, buffer systems, and redox reactions in biological and pharmaceutical contexts
Apply pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic concepts to understand drug action, enzyme interactions, and antibiotic mechanisms
Explain organic chemistry principles including functional groups, stereochemistry, and reaction mechanisms relevant to biomolecules

您将获得的技能

类别：Chemistry

类别：Pharmacology

类别：Physics

类别：Analytical Chemistry

类别：Biochemistry

类别：Microbiology

Microbiology Foundations

第 2 门课程16小时

您将学到什么

Classify and differentiate bacterial structures, including Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative characteristics and metabolic processes
Analyze viral biology, replication mechanisms, and the spectrum from pathogenic to beneficial viruses in human health
Identify eukaryotic microbes including pathogenic yeasts, molds, and parasitic organisms from protozoa to helminths
Evaluate prion biology and unique infectious mechanisms in neurological diseases like BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

您将获得的技能

类别：Microbiology

类别：Infectious Diseases

类别：Cell Biology

类别：Biology

类别：Hand Hygiene

类别：Bloodborne Pathogens

类别：Public Health and Disease Prevention

类别：Molecular Biology

类别：Immunology

类别：Taxonomy

类别：Infection Control

Molecular and Cell Biology

第 3 门课程42小时

您将学到什么

Analyze protein structure-function relationships, enzyme mechanisms, and their roles in cellular processes and drug interactions
Evaluate cellular membrane structure, transport mechanisms, and organelle functions that maintain cellular homeostasis
Explain energy metabolism pathways including glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain
Apply knowledge of cell cycle regulation, DNA replication, transcription, and translation to understand genetic disorders and therapeutic targets

您将获得的技能

类别：Cell Biology

类别：Molecular Biology

类别：Biochemistry

类别：Biology

类别：Pharmacology

Psychology and Sociology

第 4 门课程58小时

您将学到什么

Analyze sensory processing, perception, cognition, and consciousness to understand patient behavior and neurological conditions
Evaluate psychological disorders, stress responses, and biological bases of behavior
Apply social psychology principles including group dynamics, prejudice, and social identity to improve patient interactions and cultural competency
Examine social institutions, health disparities, and demographic factors that influence healthcare access and patient outcomes in diverse populations

您将获得的技能

类别：Sociology

类别：Biology

类别：Stress Management

类别：Physiology

类别：Neurology

类别：Human Development

类别：Mental Health

类别：Socioeconomics

类别：Health Disparities

类别：Behavioral Health

类别：Human Learning

类别：Non-Verbal Communication

类别：Psychology

类别：Cultural Diversity

类别：Social Determinants Of Health

获得职业证书

将此证书添加到您的 LinkedIn 个人资料、简历或履历中。在社交媒体和绩效考核中分享。

位教师

Adam Le Gresley, PhD

Lecturio

1 门课程107 名学生

提供方

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自 2020开始学习的学生

''我直接将从课程中学到的概念和技能应用到一个令人兴奋的新工作项目中。'

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常见问题

Career switchers seeking meaningful work in healthcare, recent graduates exploring nursing paths, or anyone needing to strengthen their science foundation before applying to nursing programs.

No prior science background is required. Our award-winning educators teach complex concepts in simple, accessible ways. The program is designed for complete beginners and career switchers. We start with fundamentals and build up gradually, using real-world examples to make abstract concepts concrete and memorable.

This program builds the essential scientific knowledge foundation that nursing schools expect students to have. While we don't provide transferable college credits, completing this program will strengthen your understanding of chemistry, biology, microbiology, and psychology - making you more confident and prepared for nursing school coursework. Many nursing programs require prerequisite knowledge in these areas, and this program ensures you have that foundation.

This program provides a certificate of completion and builds your knowledge foundation, but does not offer transferable college credits. You'll still need to take formal prerequisite courses at an accredited institution for nursing school admission. However, this program will make those formal courses easier and help you succeed when you do take them.