BSN Programs in South Dakota
Augustana College
2001 South Summit Ave, Sioux Falls SD 57197
The baccalaureate nursing program at Augustana College combines both liberal arts and nursing courses to give the approach of nursing as a science as well as an art. The 4-year Bachelor of Science is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education to prepare students for initial registered nurses licensure. While taking the major, students can participate in study abroad programs during the J-term in locations like Canada, Norway, England and Australia. Academically endowed students are also welcome to become members of Civitas; the university’s Honor program.
Upon completion of the bachelors degree, graduates may choose to take the short course on Parish Nursing taught both online and onsite.
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Mount Marty College
1105 West 8th St, Yankton SD 57078
Mount Marty College offers a 4-year undergraduate nursing program leading to the award of a bachelor of science in nursing degree. As a Christian University, the BSN curriculum has Christian courses as an integral part of the nurse training curriculum. Basically, students start with general education and liberal arts courses in the first year before proceeding to start on introductory nursing courses during the sophomore level. Prior to starting the sophomore level, all students are expected to have taken and completed a Certified Nurse Assistant Course and be a certified CNA. Students take most of their clinical practical classes from the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital which is closely located to the college among other clinical sites.
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Presentation College-Aberdeen
1500 North Main St, Aberdeen SD 57401
Presentation College; a Catholic Christian University is committed to offering a nursing major that takes a holistic approach to nurses training. The nursing track is designed for un-licensed students seeking initial licensure as registered nurses. To apply for the Aberdeen Campus nursing Bachelor of Science, students must have been a pre-nursing student at the college or a transfer student whom on both cases must have completed the pre-nursing curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 2.7. Applicants for the nursing major at the Aberdeen campus are evaluated for admission of the basis of their GPA, personal statements and the submitted written references.
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Presentation College-Eagle Butte
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
The Lakota campus of Presentation College located in Eagle Butte offers a 4-year Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. The nursing program was the pioneer program of the campus for which the campus was purposely created to offer. This program is replicated in the colleges’ main campus in Aberdeen and out of the state Campus in Fairmont, Minnesota. Applicants interested in joining Lakota Campus for the nursing major must have completed a pre-nursing major program with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. Transfer and traditional Presentation College students are welcome to apply to the nursing major. Like in the main campus, students eying the Bachelor of Science in nursing track are assessed through their cumulative GPA’s, academic references, a personal essay and an admission interview. The ultimate objective of the program is to prepare student for initial licensure as registered nurses.
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South Dakota State University-Sioux Falls
2300 N Careers Ave, Sioux Falls SD 57107
The Bachelor of Science degree at SDSU is traditional 4-year program fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The university offers the upper division phase of the track at three campuses of the university namely Rapid City, Brookings and Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls of SDSU campus offers both the pre-nursing courses and the upper division courses on site. Applicants who have successfully completed pre-nursing courses and interested in the Sioux Falls track are only able to apply once annually for classes starting spring semester. Upon admission to the nursing major, students take 5 full time semesters including two summer sessions to become eligible for graduation and the NCLEX-RN exam. Interested students can add at least 24 credits to complete a Health Sciences Minor along the nursing major.
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South Dakota State University-Rapid City
1011 11th St Rapid City SD 57701
The Rapid City campus of SDSU offers a traditional upper division nursing program designed for students without prior nursing experience. The track requires applicants who have already completed their pre-requisites courses satisfactorily preferably at Black Hills State University-Spearfish (BHSU), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or from the BHSU satellite campus in Rapid City. This is so because SDSU-Rapid City does not offer pre-nursing courses for the bachelor of nursing. Students eyeing the Standard Option Rapid City nursing major can apply for the Fall or Spring starts dates. Students can take up to 24 extra credits in the Health Science Minor.
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South Dakota State University-Brookings
Brookings, SD 57007
South Dakota State University at Brookings campus has a 4-year standard option nursing program designed to take 4 years. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate of Nursing Education and prepares students for initial licensure as registered nurses. Once all prerequisites are completed, students can apply for admission to the 5 semester upper division nursing phase. Transfers students as well as SDSU traditional students are welcome to apply to the program. Brookings campus admits students twice annually in fall and spring semesters for the Bachelor of Science in nursing. While taking the major, students can take extra 24 credits in the Health Sciences Minor.
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University of Sioux Falls
1101 West 22nd St, Sioux Falls SD 57105
In a Christian-based environment, the University of Sioux Falls offers an 8-semester nursing baccalaureate program for students seeking initial licensure as registered nurses. The first step in applying to the nursing program is admission to the university to complete nursing prerequisites courses. Freshman admission requirements include an ACT score of 22, a high school GPA of 2.75 and 2 professional references and an interview if called upon. Students must complete pre-nursing courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 to be eligible to apply for the 2nd step of entering the nursing program. Beside this generic admission option, the university also has an Early Admission Policy for high school seniors who have a high School GPA of 3.5 or higher and an ACT of 24 or better. Students in this plan must complete all first year courses with a GPA of 2.75 of higher to be eligible for guaranteed progression to nursing major during the sophomore year.
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University of South Dakota-Rapid City
1011 11th St Rapid City SD 57701
Starting from fall of 2011, USD-Rapid City campus started offering the traditional pre-licensure bachelor of nursing degree. The program was started in an attempt to curb the increasing shortage of nurses in the state and the nation as a whole. This 4-year program uses a hybrid of learning formats to deliver the courses which include face to face classroom teaching and electronic modes of learning. Upon admission, students take both non-nursing and nursing courses in an increasing complexity manner that finally culminates in student eligibility to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Clinical classes at junior and seniors years are taken in clinical agencies across Rapid City and West River region.
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University of South Dakota-Sioux Falls
1525 South Euclid Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Sioux Falls Campus of the USD offers a pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing track designed to take 4 years to complete. Students start as freshmen by taking prerequisites and general education courses prior to applying to the nursing major phase of the track. Transfer student who have also satisfactorily completed pre-nursing courses are also welcome to apply. Sioux Falls campus nursing program was started in the fall of 2012 and as such, attracts a large number of expectant students making admission competitive. Most clinical classes and practical sessions at Sioux Falls are taken at Sanford USD Medical Center and Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center among other medical facilities. Upon completion of the 120 credit curriculum, graduates become eligible to apply and write the NCLEX- registered nurses exam for initial licensure.
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University of South Dakota-Vermillion Campus
414 East Clark St, Vermillion SD 57069
Established in 2012, the Bachelor of Science in nursing program at Vermillion campus offers a 4-year 120 credit curriculum that prepares students for initial licensure as registered nurses. The curriculum is designed to graduate students from one level of non-nursing and general education courses to clinical and professional nursing courses. Besides taking traditional USD students in the nursing major phase, the university also accepts applications from transfer students who have satisfactorily completed the required pre-nursing courses. Students have the opportunity to study and learn in the Nursing Center for Simulation and Instructions alongside the real patient clinical practice at the magnet hospitals; Avera McKennan Hospital & University Center and the university’s owned Sanford Medical Center both located in Sioux Falls. The ultimate objective is to prepare students to become eligible to apply and write the NCLEX-RN exam.
