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Foreign Credential Bridge Program

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Program Overview

If you are a foreign student who has already earned a three-year bachelor’s degree outside the U.S., this one-year program will prepare you to embark on a master’s degree program at National University. In the Bridge Program, you will complete your education with English courses that include your choice of Effective College English, Advanced Composition, Technical Writing, and others. Math requirements can be fulfilled with courses including Probability and Statistics, College Algebra and Trigonometry, and more. You will choose from Arts and Humanities courses that include Introduction to Art History, Mythology, World Music, and more, while Social and Behavioral Sciences will offer you the opportunity to study Roots of Western Civilization, Cultural Diversity, and an Introduction to Psychology. Finally, just a sampling of science courses available include Survey of Bioscience, Introductory Chemistry, Fundamentals of Geology, and Introductory Physics.

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Course Details

Area A: English Communication

  •  13.5 quarter units required

Category 1: Writing (9.0 quarter units required)

An introductory course on the written academic discourse patterns required for college-level writing. Emphasizing essay-length compositions, the course covers critical reading, thesis formation, essay organization, and basic revision techniques.

ENG 240 Prerequisite: ENG 102

An advanced course in writing that emphasizes discipline-specific research strategies, formulating research niches, and framing persuasive arguments in the disciplines.

ENG 334A Prerequisite: ENG 102; (Only Business, Engineering and Nursing majors may fulfill the requirement by taking ENG 334A)

A workshop to help students whose careers will involve communicating technical information clearly. Students are encouraged to practice on professional models in their own disciplines while learning those attributes common to all effective technical writing.

Category 2: Oral Communication

  • 4.5 quarter units required

This class is an introduction to the principles and application of speaking effectively to diverse audiences in a variety of settings. Focus is on topic selection, organization, analysis of research, and delivery, with special attention on learning effective delivery skills.

Area B: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

  • Minimum 4.5 quarter units

PrerequisiteMTH 12A and MTH 12B, or Accuplacer test placement evaluation

An introduction to statistics and probability theory. Covers simple probability distributions, conditional probability (Bayes Rule), independence, expected value, binomial distributions, the Central Limit Theorem, hypothesis testing. Assignments may utilize the MiniTab software, or text-accompanying course-ware. Computers are available at the University’s computer lab. Calculator with statistical functions is required.

PrerequisiteMTH 12A and MTH 12B, or Accuplacer test placement evaluation

Examines higher degree polynomials, rational, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometry and matrix algebra needed for more specialized study in mathematics, computer science, engineering and other related fields. Computer and/or graphing calculator use is highly recommended.

PrerequisiteMTH 12A and MTH 12B, or Accuplacer test placement evaluation

The first part of a comprehensive two-month treatment of algebra and trigonometry preliminary to more specialized study in mathematics. The course covers higher degree polynomials, rational functions,exponential and logarithmic functions, transformations and the algebra of function, matrix algebra and basic arithmetic of complex numbers.

PrerequisiteMTH 216A

The second month of a comprehensive two-month treatment of algebra and trigonometry; this course is a continuation of MTH 216A. Topics include trigonometric functions, analytic trigonometry and application, parametric equations, matrix algebra, sequences and series, and applied problems. Graphing calculator may be required.

Area D: Arts and Humanities

  • 13.5 quarter units required

PrerequisiteENG 102

Survey of the main periods in art history, with emphasis on the complex relationship between art and society. Explores the development of Western art from Prehistoric to Contemporary.

Fundamentals of visual arts presented through drawing and other media. Students develop their own creative vision while learning aesthetic values and concepts, as well as how to handle materials. Students supply basic art materials.

PrerequisiteENG 102

Discusses how distinctive cultures, economies and societies of the world developed from prehistoric times to the European conquest of the Americas (ca. 1500 C.E.). Explores issues of gender, class, personal identity, war, religion, urban life, and ecology pertaining to the history of civilizations in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

PrerequisiteMTH 216A

PrerequisiteENG 102

Discusses how the cultures, economies, and societies of the world developed since 1500 C.E. Explores issues of class and class conflict, personal and cultural identity, race, work, industrial development, colonialism, ecology, and political and economic life pertaining to the history of civilizations in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

PrerequisiteENG 102

An overview of the main genres of literature, including fiction, poetry and drama. Examines literary language and different approaches to literary criticism designed to increase student confidence when responding to literature.

 Prerequisite: ENG 240 and LIT 100

An examination of mythology. This course recognizes that myth-making is a creative activity central to all cultures, including our own society. Students analyze and compare mythological narratives from a variety of cultures.

An examination of the basic structure of Western music, musical styles, form, different periods and their chief representatives and the dynamics of musical expression and appreciation. Introduces students to elements of music theory common to many cultures.

PrerequisiteENG 102

An exploration of musical traditions and techniques in a variety of cultures, including Japan, India, Native America, South America, and Africa. Broadens students’ cultural understanding of music.

PrerequisiteENG 102

A study of a variety of ways of thinking about such fundamental issues as the nature of knowledge and belief, human nature, the nature of reality, and the relationship between mind and body. Develops skills in thinking critically and reflectively. Fosters an awareness of world philosophies and diverse ontological perspectives.

Area E: Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • 13.5 quarter units required

PrerequisiteENG 102

A critical examination of the media and power in modern democracies. Covers theories of democratic participation and media responsibility, as measured against contemporary practices around the world. Explores effects of television news, popular access to video and electronic technologies, and global electronic networks on contemporary political and cultural discourse.

In this course, students will study the price system, market structures, and consumer theory. Topics covered include supply and demand, price controls, public policy, the theory of the firm, cost and revenue concepts, forms of competition, elasticity, and efficient resource allocation, among others.

This course provides an examination of aggregate economic activity. It includes a study of aggregate supply and demand, the monetary and banking systems, aggregate economic accounting, inflation, unemployment, the business cycle, macroeconomic policy, and economic progress and stability, among other things.

PrerequisiteENG 102

Survey of American history from pre-colonial times through Reconstruction. Explores economic, political, social and cultural factors that shaped the origins of the nation, including the Revolution, the Constitution and the Civil War. Special attention is paid to issues of race, class, gender and ethnicity. Includes study of the Constitution.

PrerequisiteENG 102

Survey of American history from Reconstruction to the present. Explores economic, political, social, and cultural factors that shaped the development of the nation, including industrialization, America’s emergence as a world power and the challenges of the late 20th century. Pays special attention to issues of race, class, gender and ethnicity.

PrerequisiteENG 102

A critical introduction to the structure of American government. Topics include classical and modern democratic theories, constitutionalism and federalism; the political process, including the mass media, voting behavior and political parties and interest groups; the institutions of government; the courts, civil liberties and civil rights; and public policy. (Includes study of the Constitution)

A survey of the field of psychology that provides an overview of the scientific principles and theories in psychology. Topics include: biological psychology, abnormal behavior, motivation, emotion, sexuality and gender, and personality theory

PrerequisiteENG 102

Critical introduction to basic sociology concepts. Examination of major theoretical perspectives and research methods. Topics include: economic stratification, race, gender, family, deviance, complex organizations

PrerequisiteENG 102

An introduction to the principles and processes of anthropology and culture. This course offers a mix of theoretical approaches that include evolutionism, historical particularism, diffusionism, functionalism and French structuralism, as well as methods of fieldwork and ethnography. Students explore the impact of culture on human behavior, the interrelationships among different parts of a culture and the adaptive quality of cultural systems.

PrerequisiteENG 102

Examines race, gender, ethnicity and class in 20th century American society. Introduces students to methods for studying the changing nature of our society and explores ways in which our increasingly urbanized and technological culture affects all aspects of professional and unskilled work. May involve work in oral history.

Area F: Physical and Biological Sciences

  • 6 quarter units required

(Note: One science lab is required at 1.5 quarter units.)

Introduction to the scientific method and the basic principles of the life sciences. Examination of cellular, organismal, population, and community biology based on the unifying concept of evolution. This course may not be taken for credit if BIO161 and/or BIO162, or their equivalents, have been completed.

PrerequisiteBIO 100 for non-science majors (GE), or BIO 163 for science majors

Study of the unifying principles of life with emphasis placed on the following topics: molecular biology of the cell and cellular processes, including energy metabolism, membrane transport and cell division; classical and population genetics; as well as the mechanism of evolution and the evolutionary basis of species classification. Emphasis on the scientific method as applied in laboratory sciences, using demonstrations, experiments, and/or field trips. May include inquiry-based research activities.

Recommended PreparationMTH 204, or MTH 215, or MTH 216A and MTH 216B

Fundamentals of inorganic and organic chemistry, including bonding and basic types of reactions. An introduction to nuclear, biological and environmental chemistry. Basic principles and calculations of chemistry with emphasis in the areas of atomic structure, molecular structure and properties, equilibrium, thermodynamics, oxidation-reduction and kinetics.

PrerequisiteENG 102

PrerequisiteCHE 101, or CHE 141 for science majors

This laboratory course will complement the student’s knowledge of chemistry with demonstrations and experiments.

Introduction to the major geological processes which create and transform materials and landforms throughout the planet. Geotectonic processes, geomorphology, unifying themes such as plate tectonics, sea form spreading and athenosphere convection cells; and degradation-aggradation processes.

PrerequisiteEES 103

This laboratory course will complement the student’s knowledge of geology with demonstrations and experiments. Contact hours for this laboratory course (45) are based on a 3:1 ratio, i.e. 3 lab hours = 1 lecture hour equivalent.

Prerequisite2 years of high school algebra and MTH 204, or MTH 215, or MTH 216A and MTH 216B

Non-calculus based general physics course for earth and life science majors. Study of force, laws of motion, heat, fluid mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light (optics) and modern physics.

PrerequisitePHS 104, or PHS 171 for science majors

Non-calculus based general physics lab course for earth and life science majors. Laboratory experiments and exercises will include data analysis and evaluations of measurement. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: force, gravity, laws of motion, fluid mechanics, electricity, and light (optics).

CorequisiteBIO 191A, or BIO 201A; Recommended: Prior completion ofBIO 100; BIO 100A; CHE 101; CHE 101A

Areas of study include cells, tissues, organ systems (integumentary, skeletal, muscular and nervous), and their functional relation to each other. Topics also include the aging process and diseases in these systems, as well as the effects of genetics, diet, lifestyle, and the environment.

CorequisiteBIO 201; Recommended: Prior completion ofBIO 100; BIO 100A; CHE 101; CHE 101A or equivalent courses.

This laboratory course examines organ systems (skeletal, muscular and nervous). Students conduct cat/fetal pig dissections to identify and learn how skeletal muscles are organized according to body region. Sheep brain is used as a model to study human brain.

CorequisiteBIO 202A; PrerequisiteBIO 201 and BIO 201A

Organ systems (endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive), and their functional relation to each other. Topics also include the aging process and diseases in these systems, as well as the effects of genetics, diet, lifestyle, and the environment.

CorequisiteBIO 202; PrerequisiteBIO 201; BIO 201A

This laboratory course examines homeostasis in the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, along with digestive, and urinary systems. Chromosomes, mitosis, meiosis, development and different types of inheritance through the testing of vision, hearing and taste and smell. Cat/fetal pig is used to study the internal organs.

CorequisiteBIO 203A Students should take both lecture and lab courses concurrently and with the same instructor to ensure a consistent learning experience. Students who are retaking one of the two courses or present special circumstances should petition for exception to this requisite.; Recommended: Prior completion ofBIO 100 and BIO 100A; CHE 101 and CHE 101A or equivalent courses; BIO 201 and BIO 201A; BIO 202 and BIO 202A

Biology of pathogenic and nonpathogenic microbes, including bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and viruses. The epidemiology of disease-causing agents is studied, along with the fundamentals of the human immune response. Students should take both lecture and lab courses concurrently and with the same instructor to ensure a consistent learning experience. Students who are retaking one of the two courses or present special circumstances should petition for exception to this requisite.

CorequisiteBIO 203; Recommended: Prior completion ofBIO 100; BIO 100A; CHE 101; CHE 101A; BIO 201 and BIO 201A; BIO 202 and BIO 202A

This laboratory course introduced students to procedures for handling microbes, methods of identification of microorganisms (microscopic and by diagnostic media), preparation of stained slides and wet mounts, aseptic techniques, isolation of a single colony, preparation of a pure culture, inoculation and interpretation of select diagnostic tests. This two-month course is a combination of lecture and laboratory activities. Students should take both lecture and lab courses concurrently and with the same instructor to ensure a consistent learning experience. Students who are retaking one of the two courses or present special circumstances should petition for exception to this requisite.

Degree Requirements

This bridge program requires a residency minimum of 48 quarter units of study. Students must fulfill the requirements in the areas listed below. These requirements may be met by coursework taken in the bachelor’s degree or at another regionally accredited institution. If they are so fulfilled, the content of the area will be waived, but the student will still need to meet the overall unit requirement of the program through open elective credit.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Expand on your English writing skills with courses such as Advanced Composition, Technical Writing, and more.
  • Fulfill math requirements with courses including Probability and Statistics, College Algebra, and Trigonometry.
  • Choose from Arts and Humanities courses that include Introduction to Art History, Mythology, World Music, and more.
  • Study Roots of Western Civilization, Cultural Diversity, and an Introduction to Psychology.
  • Choose science courses including Survey of Bioscience, Introductory Chemistry, Fundamentals of Geology, and Introductory Physics.

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To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.

Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.

To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.

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Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.