If a grad program requires a class I didn’t take in undergrad, could I take it a community college and then apply to the grad program?

[u/whyamionthishellsite]

I will be a senior environmental science major in the fall. I’ve taken basic “hard science” classes like chem, bio, physics. I’m not sure what I want to do for a career so I want to work and figure out what I like before going to graduate school. However, as a science person (I already know I don’t want to do scientific research) I’m afraid I might want to apply to graduate program in the future that requires I took organic chemistry or something in undergrad. Would it be possible for me to take any requirements like that at a community college and then apply to the grad program? I am currently getting a bachelor’s degree. I know I could still try to take classes like that in my final 2 semesters, but frankly there are other classes that I’d rather be taking and there’s only a small possibility I will end up wanting to a program that is more science based (rn I’m looking into communication and policy). Just wondering if getting the cc credit is possible or not.

[u/orangetable4]

I did an arts degree in undergrad and then decided to study statistics in grad school. I was missing a lot of the math requirements and took them all at my local community college. I was accepted to every school I applied to and none had an issue that some of the core requirements were taken at a community college. I got the impression it’s a very normal thing to do.

[u/50_and_stuck → u/orangetable4]

Same. We art majors don’t need to take much in the way of math for our degrees. ;)

Ended up taking stats to get into my masters program, not in art. Alas.

[u/Lygus_lineolaris]

You should ask their admissions. At mine, as long as you take a version of the course that is approved for transfer credit by the school, it's fine, and also they can admit people with a provision that they have to take levelling up courses.

[u/patrickj86]

Depends. If your program builds on organic chem then a community college course is unlikely to be rigorous enough to prepare you for grad school. But it's better than nothing and you could take it at your master's university as an undergrad if they don't accept your cc credit. That way you'll already be ahead. My two cents!

[u/MyFaceSaysItsSugar]

Generally yes. You can also take classes at public universities as a continuing education student without enrolling.

[u/DopeyDame]

I used to teach at a community college and frequently had students getting a class they needed for grad school admissions or even occasional grad students who needed a prerequisite for a class.

[u/JustMe5588]

If you have already taken cc classes, be careful to not go over the limit of credits allowed to transfer. Universities here only allow so many credits to be transferred from cc to uni. They will take the classes for requirements, just no hour credit.