Pre-Nursing

Centre’s Pre-Nursing Program combines hands-on clinical experience, expert faculty, and personalized support to launch your healthcare career with confidence, purpose, and real-world impact.

Overview

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing career fields, and Centre College’s Pre-Nursing Program helps you take the next step. You’ll receive knowledgeable advising and academic preparation for admission to top nursing programs nationwide, including second degree and accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.), accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.), and advanced practice nursing (APRN) and nurse practitioner programs. With a strong foundation in the sciences and the liberal arts, you’ll be equipped to enter the nursing profession with the skills, experience, and flexibility to thrive in a wide range of healthcare settings.

Curriculum

While there is no specific undergraduate major required to be admitted to nursing school, recent Centre grads have majored in areas such as Spanish, international studies, and psychology, in addition to the traditional sciences of biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, and neuroscience.

Experiential Learning

Students engage in hands-on learning experiences and reflection to develop skills and increase knowledge retention.

As a Pre-Nursing student, you will have the opportunity to complete certified nurse aide (CNA) training and work as one during your time at Centre. You can also volunteer and shadow nurses and nurse practitioners at Ephraim McDowell hospitals. The program is flexible enough for you to study abroad for a full semester or during CentreTerm and to participate in faculty-mentored research.

Internships

We're committed to helping students find quality internship experiences in the career area of their choice.

Pre-Nursing students have completed nursing internships at the Refuge Clinic, Morning Pointe Assisted Living Community, and Thrive Midwifery and Family Care, among others. There is a Pre-Nursing fund that can provide some level of support for training and internships through an application.

Careers

Our extraordinary liberal arts and sciences education prepares students for meaningful lives and careers.

Students who complete the Pre-Nursing program often attend nursing schools such as Vanderbilt University, Yale University, the University of Kentucky, DePaul University, and others. After earning their degrees, they’ve pursued careers as nurse practitioners, emergency medicine nurses, nurse anesthesiologists, and pediatric nurses.