A prerequisite for many specialized courses, such as nursing or journalism, is to be declared as a major in that subject matter. For example, nursing students are likely the only ones able to sign up for classes like medical terminology, ethical nursing practices and nursing clinicals. There are also often prerequisites within the program. For example, a nurse can typically not go on to take anatomy and physiology II if they have not completed anatomy and physiology I.
Students will typically not only have to complete a course before being able to move onto the more advanced class but also complete the course with a specific grade point average, or GPA. While the standards will be different depending on the school, the class and the program, a passing grade will nearly always be required. Some classes may require the student to maintain anything but a failing grade, while others may require a B or a C in the class to qualify for the next class. If the GPA is not met, the student may need to repeat the prerequisite course.
Transfer students may need to retake courses they have already taken at their previous school to qualify their prerequisites. Even if the student completed algebra at their previous school and is ready to move onto calculus, she may need to retake the algebra class at her new school in order to gain the prerequisite credit if her classes taken at her previous school were not accepted. A transfer student may also need to take the classes specific to her new school, such as freshman orientation or humanities classes, even if she is a junior or senior, as a prerequisite for taking more advanced courses.
Core classes, also called general education courses, are the prerequisites required by the students in order to graduate. These will typically include a certain amount of classes in one foreign language, math, history, science and extracurricular classes such as art or drama. The amount of classes and the general subjects that are required will very from school to school. However, most students try to get as many of their core classes out of the way within the first two years of college as many are prerequisites for more advanced classes in their specific major or subject matter.