Villanova University requires the successful completion of 16 units of the following secondary school courses in order to be considered for admission. A unit represents year-long work in any subject in a traditional high school setting or a semester block schedule work or dual enrollment on a college campus.
Although a minimum of 16 academic units are required for admission, the most competitive applicants will take at least one academic course in each major academic subject area every year of high school.
- 4 units of English
- 3 units of Mathematics (4 units required for Sciences, Business, Engineering)
- Science
- 2 units required for Business
- 3 units required for Liberal Arts and Nursing
- 4 units required for Sciences, Engineering
- 2 units of History/Social Science (3–4 units preferred)
- 2 units of Foreign Language
For students applying to specific academic colleges, the additional academic requirements for admission are below:
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The overall strength of your curriculum is important. For students interested in the sciences, taking the most rigorous math and science courses available at your high school is recommended.
Villanova School of Business
Four years of high school math is required which must include Calculus, if offered at your high school. Most successful applicants to VSB have taken at least 1 year of Calculus (beyond Pre-Calculus) before the end of 12th grade.
College of Engineering
A Physics course is required to be completed before the end of 12th grade. Pre-Calculus is also required, and Calculus is strongly encouraged, if offered at your school.
Fitzpatrick College of Nursing
Applicants are required to have successfully completed at least one year/one unit of Biology and Chemistry during high school. Advanced levels of Biology and Chemistry are strongly encouraged.