Students seeking high quality prerequisite courses for accelerated nursing programs can now receive that education from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Starting August 2026, Vanderbilt will offer fully online prerequisite courses designed specifically for future accelerated nursing students seeking affordable, rigorous and flexible education options.
The program will offer prerequisite courses commonly required for accelerated nursing programs, including anatomy and physiology I and II with labs, microbiology with lab, nutrition, biostatistics and developmental psychology. Courses carry Vanderbilt academic credit, are transferable to other nursing schools and are priced at $375 per credit hour to make high-quality prerequisite education accessible.
The purpose of offering the prerequisite program is to ensure that admitted students at all nursing schools—not just Vanderbilt—are thoroughly prepared in critical subjects prior to commencing their accelerated nursing studies.
“Entering a nursing program after another career or starting in a totally different field is a major endeavor,” said Pamela R. Jeffries, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH, dean of Vanderbilt School of Nursing. “Too often, career changers are piecing together courses from multiple sources without knowing whether those experiences will adequately prepare them for success once they enter nursing school.”
Unlike generalized online science offerings or large commercial prerequisite providers, Vanderbilt’s courses were developed specifically with accelerated nursing education in mind. A committee of experienced Vanderbilt faculty will regularly review the curriculum to ensure alignment with nursing education standards and expectations of rigorous accelerated nursing programs.
“While pre-nursing students can take courses at community colleges or through commercial providers, not all those programs deliver effective education,” said Jeffries, who is also the Valere Potter Distinguished Professor of Nursing. “Our courses are prepared and taught with Vanderbilt’s well-known reputation for educational excellence, coupled with the convenience of online course delivery.”
Nutrition, biostatistics, developmental psychology and anatomy and physiology I (with lab) will launch in August. Anatomy and physiology II (with lab) and microbiology (with lab) courses will be available in January 2027. Each course will be 14-weeks long.
Courses will be delivered asynchronously through Brightspace by qualified instructors, including adjunct faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students. The courses will incorporate weekly assessments, interactive learning activities and live support options designed for working adults and career changers balancing multiple responsibilities.
Enrollment and additional information is available at nursing.vanderbilt.edu/programs/external-learning/prerequisite/#
The prerequisite courses are offered through Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s Office of External Learning. OEL facilitates sharing Vanderbilt faculty expertise with the broader world, helping second-career students, health systems, clinicians and communities access the knowledge and tools that improve care, strengthen the workforce and advance nursing practice.