Nurses need knowledge in not only medical theory and practice but in a wide range of subjects to deliver effective patient care. At its heart, healthcare is about people.
General education courses are a critical part of earning a nursing degree because they expose you to a range of disciplines beyond nursing sciences, building a foundation for your educational journey and expanding your understanding of the world. Ultimately, your work in these courses will make you a better nurse.
While some of the general education requirements may vary by school, these are commonly included in the curriculum for nursing programs.
Social Sciences
Social sciences are “soft sciences” and include a diverse range of disciplines that involve the study of human society and social relationships. They’re often necessary for any degree program to develop critical thinking skills and learn how to relate to people.
In nursing, the social sciences are a crucial part of understanding human psychology, social behaviors, and cultures.
The social sciences required can vary significantly, but they may include:
- History
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Political Science
- Economics
- Geography
- Comparative Religion
Natural Sciences
The natural sciences are a branch of science that studies the physical world, such as chemistry and biology. The requirements for natural sciences can vary, but they often include some of the natural sciences to prepare for more advanced nursing courses like pharmacology, pathophysiology, and genetics. Most natural sciences also include laboratory components to learn practical skills in a lab environment.
Nursing not only involves many other natural sciences, but the field itself is a science. Nursing is the study of the principles and application of nursing. Taking science courses promotes scientific literacy and builds a foundation for reasoning and critical thinking.
Some of the general education science courses for nursing include:
Mathematics
Several hard sciences are part of the nursing prerequisites, many of which have a foundation in mathematics. Taking math courses is crucial to prepare you for prerequisites like chemistry and statistics, as well as advanced nursing courses like pharmacology.
Nursing isn’t necessarily a math-heavy profession, but your day-to-day work will involve some math. If you didn’t have a lot of math experience in high school – or you need a refresher – these courses are designed to get you at the level you need.
Some of the general education math courses include:
- College Algebra
- Trigonometry
- Analytic Geometry
- Precalculus
- Calculus
English and Language
English courses include a range of studies related to the English language and improving communication, while language courses are designed to teach a new language, such as Spanish or French.
English and language courses are a crucial part of developing written and oral communication skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence structure, that are necessary for interacting with staff and patients. As you advance in your career, the skills you learn in these courses may help with administrative positions, presentations, and more.
Some of these courses may include:
- English Composition
- Creative Writing
- Journalism
- Public Speaking
- Visual Communication
- Spanish
- French
Arts and Humanities
The arts and humanities are academic disciplines that relate to human culture, context, and achievements. This is the broadest academic subject, covering a range of disciplines and timeframes that explore how humans have sought to express themselves throughout history.
The intent behind arts and humanities is to develop reasoning and critical thinking skills. Students are exposed to many cultures and ideas, which is an important skill for an aspiring nurse encountering people from different backgrounds.
Some of the common general education courses in the arts and humanities include:
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Drama
- Music
- Ethics
- Religion
- Art History
Optional: Technology
Technology courses aren’t usually part of general education requirements. But in our increasingly tech-focused world, that may change as more and more fields incorporate technology tools into the workplace.
Medical technology is moving at a rapid pace with electronic health records (EHR), team collaboration tools, and advanced laboratory equipment. While you don’t necessarily need these courses for your degree, you should consider including a few technology courses into your schedule to develop your technological sophistication in the workplace. They may even count toward a different gen ed subject!
Some introductory technology courses include:
- Computer Science
- Digital Literacy
- Programming
- Data Management
- Information Technology
- Cybersecurity
Optional: Business
Business courses cover a wide range of topics, including analytics, accounting, finance, human resources, business law, and more. While many of these aren’t relevant to the nursing field, the broad topics may be as you advance in your career. Healthcare is a business at its core.
Some of the common business topics that fall under gen ed may benefit you in your nursing career and may satisfy your gen ed requirements for another subject area. For example, Business Ethics may count toward your humanities requirement.
Here are some business courses to consider:
- Business Communication
- Business Ethics
- Business Management
- Project Management
- Organizational Communication
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Marketing
Why Are General Education Courses Necessary for Nursing?
General education courses cover multiple disciplines to provide a well-rounded education. Each of the subject areas, though they may not seem directly related to nursing, build vital skills you will need in your academic and professional career.
Here are some of the skills you stand to gain from your general education courses that apply to your future nursing career:
- Problem solving and critical thinking to make logical decisions under pressure.
- Communication and interpersonal skills to deliver better patient care.
- Cultural competency and sensitivity to care for patients with different backgrounds and provide inclusive care.
- Professional responsibility in making ethical decisions regarding patient care.
- Collaborative skills to work with and lead teams.
Nurses are never “finished” with their education. You may earn a degree, but you will continue to learn and develop your skills throughout your career. Building upon a strong academic foundation fosters curiosity and a love of learning.
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Nursing education involves much more than medicine and patient care. The gen eds required for a nursing degree set the stage for learning advanced concepts and providing exceptional patient-centric care in your future career. Sophia has launched it's own Nursing Pathway - a flexible 13-course science pathway to help you make progress toward your degree. By taking our diverse selection of science and health-related courses, you’ll lay the groundwork for success in upper-level nursing courses at your university. The best part? You can do it all at your own pace.
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