Pitt ABSN prerequisites: 36 credits, B- rules & the Nov. 1 deadline

If you hold a bachelor’s degree in another field and want to become a nurse in about a year, the Pitt ABSN prerequisites decide when you can start. The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing runs an Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN that finishes in three consecutive full-time terms, with new classes starting in the Fall and Spring. Before you begin, Pitt asks for 36 to 38 prerequisite credits, including human genetics and a 4-credit pathophysiology course that many applicants have never taken.

Timing matters here. Pitt reviews applications on a rolling basis, and the Fall priority deadline is Nov. 1. Pitt can also admit you provisionally after you finish 6 credits of science prerequisites, so you do not need every course done before you apply.

Where self-paced coursework can fill a gap, PrereqCourses offers online courses through Upper Iowa University (UIU), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Credit appears on a UIU transcript. PrereqCourses does not guarantee that Pitt will accept any course, and admission decisions rest entirely with Pitt.

Table of contents

• Pitt ABSN prerequisites at a glance
• The B- and 10-year rules
• Course by course: what Pitt looks for
• Can you take Pitt prerequisites online?
• Provisional admission and applying with courses in progress
• Deadlines: Nov. 1 priority and what comes next
• GPA and the rest of the application
• How to fill missing Pitt ABSN prerequisites with UIU courses
• How Pitt compares
• FAQ
• Next steps

Pitt ABSN prerequisites at a glance

Pitt’s ABSN program page lists nine prerequisite areas. The starred sciences carry extra grade and recency rules, covered in the next section.

The total is 36 credits with a 6-credit A&P sequence and 38 with an 8-credit sequence, which is why Pitt describes the requirement as both “36 prerequisite credits” and “36 to 38 prerequisite credits.”

Here is how the degree adds up: 31 credits from your previous degree, 36 to 38 prerequisite credits, and 54 nursing credits, for 122 in total. The nursing curriculum includes 810 hours of clinical instruction, and graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX.

Pitt says the courses “may be taken at any college or university,” but courses from other schools “must be evaluated as equivalent to University of Pittsburgh courses.”

The B- and 10-year rules

Five of the Pitt ABSN prerequisites (chemistry, A&P, human genetics, microbiology, and pathophysiology) carry two footnotes on the program page: they “Should have been completed within the past ten years” and you “Should have achieved a grade of ‘B-‘ or better.”

The wording is softer on the website than in the school’s formal policy. Policy 152, reviewed in June 2024, says: “Applicants must have completed pre-requisite courses within the past 10 years with a grade of ‘B-‘ or better.” It also requires “Completion of all pre-requisite courses with qualifying grades prior to the first day of class.”

Our advice is to treat both rules as firm. In practice:

• A C+ in microbiology or chemistry likely means a retake, even though many programs accept a C.
• A science course taken more than ten years before your start term may need to be repeated. Count back from your planned start, not from the day you apply.
• Policy 152 stars only A&P, chemistry, genetics, and microbiology, while the program page also stars pathophysiology. Plan on a B- or better in pathophysiology too.

Course by course: what Pitt looks for

Pitt does not publish which of its own courses each prerequisite is compared against, so read the course names closely.

Anatomy and physiology

Pitt asks for 6 to 8 credits of human anatomy and physiology with a lab. A standard A&P I and II sequence with labs covers this; a single 4-credit course likely falls short.

General chemistry

Pitt wants one semester of general chemistry with a lab, 4 credits. Our guide to online general chemistry with lab explains what to look for in a lab course.

Human genetics

This is the course many career changers are missing. Pitt lists “Human Genetics,” 3 credits, and its FAQ names genetics alongside A&P, chemistry, microbiology, and pathophysiology as core preparation. A general genetics course that covers Mendelian inheritance, gene expression, and mutation is the usual substitute, but because Pitt’s title says “human,” send the syllabus if you are unsure.

Microbiology

Microbiology with a lab, 4 credits. For lab format questions, see online microbiology with lab.

Pathophysiology

Pitt asks for 4 credits of pathophysiology, and Policy 152 names it “Pathophysiology Across the Life Span (undergrad or grad course),” so a graduate course is acceptable. Many undergraduate pathophysiology courses carry 3 credits, not 4. If yours does, ask Pitt whether it will be accepted. Take it after A&P, since it builds on normal body function.

Statistics

Pitt specifies statistics covering “descriptive, probability, & inferential” methods, 3 credits. Most introductory statistics courses cover all three. Our guide to statistics for nursing school covers the basics.

English composition and psychology

English composition is 3 credits, and Pitt adds “(scientific/technical).” That suggests a writing course focused on research or technical writing rather than a literature course. If your composition course was general, ask whether it qualifies. Psychology is 3 credits, and a general psychology course is the standard fit.

General electives

Pitt asks for 6 general elective credits, which most bachelor’s degree holders already have.

Can you take Pitt prerequisites online?

Pitt does not say. Neither the program page, the admission requirements, Policy 152, nor the ABSN FAQs mentions online courses or online labs. What Pitt does say is that prerequisites “may be taken at any college or university” and must be evaluated as equivalent to Pitt courses.

That leaves the question open, especially for the four lab sciences. Email ABSN@pitt.edu before you enroll, and keep syllabi for every course. Our article on whether nursing programs accept online labs explains how schools usually judge them.

One more wrinkle: the FAQ says “Official transcripts may be reviewed only after submission of the application.” Since Pitt will not pre-evaluate your transcript, a clear email question is the best way to get an answer early.

Courses through PrereqCourses are offered by Upper Iowa University, which is accredited by the HLC. Whether a specific course counts toward the Pitt ABSN prerequisites is Pitt’s decision.

Provisional admission and applying with courses in progress

The rule that makes Pitt friendlier to career changers is on the admission requirements page: “Provisional admission may be granted after completion of 6 credits of science prerequisites if all other admission requirements are met.”

Here is what that means:

• You need some science done first. Six completed science credits, usually two finished science courses, is the floor for a provisional offer.
• Everything else must be in place. Your degree, GPA, letters, resume, and essay all need to meet the criteria.
• The finish line is firm. “All prerequisite courses must be completed, and official transcripts received by the start of the first term.”
• Seniors can apply too. Undergraduates within 12 to 18 credits of graduation are considered for provisional admission.

Once admitted, you will place a $250 nonrefundable deposit, which counts toward first-term tuition. Pitt then requires Act 33/34/168 clearances, FBI fingerprinting, a drug screen, an initial health form, and UPMC modules before classes start.

Deadlines: Nov. 1 priority and what comes next

Pitt reviews ABSN applications and makes decisions on a rolling basis, and it recommends applying early. Two official pages, the deadlines page and the program page, list the dates, and they do not fully agree.

Neither page prints a year. On a normal cycle, Nov. 1, 2026 is the priority deadline for a Fall 2027 start, and the Spring 2027 deadlines have already passed. Because the regular deadlines conflict, plan around the earlier dates (March 1 for Fall, Aug. 1 for Spring) and confirm with ABSN@pitt.edu.

Which deadline fits you?

• You already have 6 or more science credits done: a Nov. 1 priority application for Fall 2027 is realistic.
• You are starting from zero science: use November through February to finish two science courses, then apply by March 1 for Fall 2027, or aim for the April 15 Spring priority deadline.

Pitt targets about 30 students per term, so earlier is better under rolling review.

GPA and the rest of the application

Applications go through NursingCAS. The requirements page says to “apply online to the School of Nursing,” and that link goes to NursingCAS, so the two pages agree.

• Degree: a bachelor’s or graduate degree in another discipline. Fourth-year undergraduates can also apply.
• GPA: a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Pitt does not publish a separate science GPA minimum, but admission is competitive and weighs grades in prerequisite courses.
• Grades: B- or better in the starred sciences.
• Letters: two letters of professional recommendation.
• Resume and a personal essay explaining how the program will help you reach your professional goals.
• Transcripts: official transcripts from every college you attended.
• Fee: a nonrefundable application fee (Pitt does not list the amount on these pages).
• International applicants: a graduation certificate, a credential evaluation, and TOEFL or IELTS scores unless exempt.

The program is full-time and onsite only, with no part-time option. Some clinical sites are in the Pittsburgh suburbs, and Pitt recommends a car. Pitt’s ABSN pages do not mention the TEAS or GRE.

How to fill missing Pitt ABSN prerequisites with UIU courses

Here is how PrereqCourses courses through UIU line up with the Pitt ABSN prerequisites.

Three honest flags:

• Pathophysiology: BIO 370 is 3 credits, and Pitt asks for 4. Ask Pitt before you enroll whether a 3-credit course will satisfy the requirement.
• Genetics: BIO 282 covers classical and molecular genetics, not human genetics alone. Send the syllabus with your question.
• English: ENG 204 is a research writing course built around a structured research paper, which is closer to scientific writing than a general composition course, but it is not titled as technical writing. ENG 101 is a general composition option. Confirm either one first.

Courses are self-paced and online, and new sections start on the first of each month, with the next start on Nov. 1, 2026. Here is a sample plan for a Fall 2027 applicant who still needs the five sciences and statistics:

Aim for a B- or better in every science, and leave time for official transcripts to reach Pitt before the first day of class. Check each UIU course’s own prerequisites on its product page before you set the order. You can browse all biology courses and chemistry courses.

How Pitt compares

Pitt’s list stands out for human genetics, a 4-credit pathophysiology course, and the B- rule. Villanova, across the state, asks for nine courses with a C or better and accepts online courses from accredited schools; see our Villanova ABSN prerequisites guide. For other Pennsylvania options, see our guide to Pennsylvania nursing prerequisites.

For more context, start with accelerated nursing programs and our nursing prerequisite checklist. School-specific comparisons include Johns Hopkins ABSN prerequisites, Duke ABSN prerequisites, and Ohio State ABSN prerequisites.

FAQ

How many credits are the Pitt ABSN prerequisites?

Pitt requires 36 to 38 prerequisite credits. The range comes from anatomy and physiology, which can be 6 or 8 credits.

What grade do I need in Pitt ABSN prerequisite courses?

Pitt asks for a B- or better in chemistry, A&P, human genetics, microbiology, and pathophysiology, completed within the past ten years. Treat this as firm, since Policy 152 states it as a requirement.

Can I apply to the Pitt ABSN before finishing my prerequisites?

Yes. Pitt may admit you provisionally after you complete 6 credits of science prerequisites, as long as you meet every other requirement. All courses and official transcripts must be in by the start of your first term.

Does Pitt accept online prerequisites?

Pitt’s pages do not address online courses or labs. Prerequisites may be taken at any college or university and must be evaluated as equivalent, so email ABSN@pitt.edu before you enroll.

When is the Pitt ABSN deadline?

The Fall priority deadline is Nov. 1. The regular Fall deadline is listed as March 1 on the deadlines page and April 15 on the program page, so plan for March 1. Spring priority is April 15.

Next steps

1. Check your transcript against all nine Pitt ABSN prerequisites, especially human genetics and the 4-credit pathophysiology.
2. Flag any science grade below a B- and any science course older than ten years.
3. Email ABSN@pitt.edu about online courses and labs, and about any 3-credit pathophysiology course.
4. Pick your deadline: Nov. 1 if you already have 6 science credits, March 1 if you are starting now.
5. Line up two professional recommenders, update your resume, and draft your essay.
6. If you need courses, look at a Nov. 1 start on PrereqCourses.

Admission and acceptance of any course always rest with Pitt, so confirm first and plan your Pitt ABSN prerequisites with care.