Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The accelerated program is offered in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. 

Rapid City

In Rapid City, students take coursework and participate in lecture, on-campus labs and clinical rotations in Rapid City and surrounding communities. Classes meet at Black Hills State University (BHSU), Rapid City campus. Simulation skills lab and simulation experiences are held at the Monument Health Sciences building.

Sioux Falls

In Sioux Falls, students take coursework and participate in lecture, on-campus labs and clinical rotations in Sioux Falls and surrounding communities. Classes meet on the campus of Southeast Technical College in the Terrance Sullivan Health Science Center.

» Estimated cost is based on 2024-2025 BOR tuition/fees.

» Additional costs will be incurred throughout the B.S.N. program, including but not limited to textbooks, background checks, AIT bundle, etc.

Financial Aid

SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college — our Office of Financial Aid is here for you.

This curriculum is for students meeting the 2024-25 and after catalog requirements. The academic advising guide sheet promotes student success by guiding all students to timely completion their degree.

Prerequisite Coursework

Students may apply while prerequisite coursework is in progress as long as courses are completed before starting the first semester of the nursing program (in August in Sioux Falls or January in Rapid City).

Pre-Nursing Courses

As a graduate of the program, you will have the knowledge to:

• Integrate theories and concepts from liberal education into nursing practice (cross-curricular skill: critical and creative thinking).
• Integrate effective leadership skills to improve the quality of health care (cross-curricular skill: teamwork, diversity, inclusion and equity).
• Incorporate evidence-based practice (cross-curricular skill: inquiry and analysis; critical and creative thinking).
• Demonstrate proficiency in patient care technologies and informatics (cross-curricular skill: information literacy).
• Evaluate the implications of health policy and health care delivery systems on the professional nursing practice environment.
• Integrate effective interprofessional communication and collaboration into professional nursing practice (cross-curricular skill: teamwork).
• Integrate behaviors that reflect nursing values and professional standards into practice (cross-curricular skill: ethical reasoning; diversity, inclusion and equity).
• Provide patient-centered, quality care (cross-curricular skill: diversity, inclusion and equity).
• Improve population health through health promotion and disease prevention.

As a college, we recognize that students come from a variety of backgrounds and have different experiences. We welcome the benefits that a diverse student body brings to the college and ultimately, the profession of nursing.

Through our holistic admissions process, we look at each individual applicant as just that — an individual. Use of a holistic approach allows our undergraduate and graduate admissions committees to consider a combination of items including experiences, attributes and metrics (EAMs) to assist us in finding individuals who will be able to face the challenges of today’s healthcare needs and those that will arise in the future.

Prior to applying to the nursing program, students must apply for admission to SDSU. The number of students accepted to enroll in the program may vary depending upon available clinical facilities, qualified faculty and funds. 

Prior Educational Preparation

For students entering the university under the SDSU 2023-24 Undergraduate Catalog and later, the following admission criteria will apply:

• To be considered for admission to the accelerated B.S.N. program, students must have:
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.700 or higher.
  • A grade of “C” or higher in all completed courses required for graduation.
  • Completed all pre-nursing coursework, SGRs and elective courses. Students must have enough elective courses to equal 120 credits upon completion of the program. Elective credits must be completed before the student starts in the accelerated nursing program. Students may apply while prerequisite coursework is in progress as long as courses are completed before starting the first semester of the nursing program (in August in Sioux Falls or January in Rapid City), if selected for admission.
    • Pre-nursing courses
      • PSYC 101 General Psychology, three credits
      • SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology or 150 Social Problems or 240 Sociology of Rural America or ANTH 210 Cultural Anthropology, three credits
      • PSYC 221 Lifespan Developmental Psychology or HDFS 210 Lifespan Development, 3 credits
      • CHEM 106/106L Chemistry Survey and lab (or CHEM 112/112L Gen Chem I and lab), 4 credits
      • NUTR 315 Human Nutrition, three credits
      • BIOL 221/221L Anatomy and lab, four credits
      • BIOL 325/325L Physiology and lab, four credits
      • MICR 231/L Microbiology and lab, four credits
    • System General Education Requirements (SGRs) and other courses
      • Students that have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution will have successfully completed the System General Education Requirements (SGRs). See SDBOR policy 2:5:2, U.S. Department of Education and list of regional accrediting organizations for more information.
        • *SGR 1: Written Communication: any two eligible courses
        • *SGR 2: Oral Communication: any eligible course
        • *SGR 4: Arts and Humanities/Diversity: any two eligible courses
        • *SGR 5: Mathematics: MATH 103 or higher course

Qualified Applicants are Offered Admittance on a Provisional Basis

Applicants must continue to meet all grade point and course completion eligibility requirements. Prior to beginning the program you must also have met the drug screen, federal background check, immunizations, health insurance and laptop computer requirements. Failure to do so will result in program dismissal.

Non-­Native Speakers of English

As the nurse is a professional who deals with human lives, it is mandatory that a higher level of English fluency be met in order to ensure the safety of clients and students. The English as a Second Language requirement for the College of Nursing is the same as that required by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The College of Nursing requires all students who meet the definition of student with English as a Second Language to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo or an accepted substitute. English as a Second Language is defined as a student who was instructed and spoke primarily in a language other than English in the K-12 grades or primary and secondary schooling. The minimum TOEFL score required for admission to the professional program is 79 (iBT), with a minimum speaking score of 26. The required IELTS band score for admission to the professional program is 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each module. The minimum Duolingo score is 110. The TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo is required for all students for whom English is a second language, regardless of residency status. These scores are required before the student will be accepted into the professional program. The student is responsible for all testing fees. More details about requirements for the university and waiver countries are included on the International Admissions page.

Background Checks

All students seeking admission into a nursing program in the College of Nursing must submit federal and supplemental criminal background checks. Admission to a program is conditional based on the results of the background check. The required background check is based on requirements for licensure as a registered nurse in South Dakota (South Dakota Nurse Practice Act, South Dakota Codified Law Chapter 36-­9-­97). If you have been convicted, pled guilty or no contest to, or received a suspended imposition of sentence for a felony or other criminal offense (excluding minor traffic violations), you are advised that it may not be possible for you to be accepted into the major at SDSU. Students may also be prevented from taking the required licensure exam for registered nurses, and may be prevented from gaining employment in the field of nursing.

Drug Screen

All students seeking admission into a nursing program in the College of Nursing at SDSU must undergo a drug screen.

Technical Standards

The goal of the College of Nursing (CON) programs is to prepare every student to think critically, and practice nursing competently and compassionately in rapidly changing practice environments. All efforts are designed to build nursing knowledge, enhance nursing practice and patient safety, foster professional integrity and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients, families and communities across the continuum of care. In addition, certain functional abilities are essential for the delivery of safe, effective nursing care during clinical training activities. Therefore, the faculty has determined that certain technical standards are requisite for admission, progression and graduation from the nursing programs.

In addition to classroom learning, clinical learning occurs throughout the program and involves considerations (such as patient safety and clinical facilities) that are not present for classroom accommodations. For this reason, any applicant or student who seeks accommodations should do so prior to enrollment so that there is ample time to evaluate the types of reasonable accommodations needed for the clinical training component of the program.

An individual must be able to independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the following technical standards of general abilities and those specifically of:

1. Observation
2. Communication
3. Motor
4. Intellectual, conceptual and quantitative abilities
5. Essential behavioral and social attributes
6. Ability to manage stressful situations.

These requirements pertain to student conduct regardless of the setting (e.g. classroom/didactic, office, on-campus simulation, off-campus clinical, email communications, etc.). Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, will not be able to complete the program and are counseled to pursue alternate careers.

Students interested in applying for admission to the CON should review the Technical Standards to become familiar with the skills, abilities and behavioral characteristics requirement to complete the program. CON students must review the Technical Standards and acknowledge understanding by signing the multi-release form upon acceptance into the program.

General Abilities: Functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing and smell is expected of every student so that this sensory information may be integrated, analyzed and synthesized accurately and consistently. A student must also possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration and movement which are essential to gather information needed to effectively evaluate and care for patients. Each student must be able to promptly respond to urgent situations that may occur during clinical learning experiences and must not obstruct the ability of other members of the health care team to provide prompt treatment and care to patients.

Observational Ability: Sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration and patient care activities must be present. The student must consistently be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records.

Communication Ability: The student must effectively communicate, both verbally and non-verbally, to gather information and to translate that information to diverse others. The abilities each student must possess include: reading, writing, comprehending and speaking the English language to facilitate communication with patients, their family members and other health care professionals. Additional essential abilities are: to maintain accurate patient records, to present information professionally and logically manner; and to provide counseling and teaching to effectively care for patients and their families. Verbal and written communication skills that permit effective communication with students and faculty in both the classroom and clinical settings are expected.

Motor Ability: Each student is required possess the motor movements needed to perform gross and fine motor skills with sufficient coordination needed to perform complete physical examinations utilizing the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, administration of medication, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment, and such maneuvers to assist with patient care activities such as lifting, wheel chair guidance and mobility. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving and physical exertion required for satisfactory and safe performance in the clinical and classroom settings including performing CPR, if necessary. The student must possess the ability of manual dexterity that would be required for certain activities, such as drawing up solutions in a syringe.

Conceptual and Quantitative Intellectual Abilities: Developing and refining problem-solving skills are critical developmental learning abilities for students to become practicing nurses. The abilities to measure, calculate, analyze, reason and synthesize objective and subjective data, and to make informed decisions, frequently in a time-sensitive environment are essential for nursing students. These intellectual abilities must reflect careful and consistent deliberation and sound clinical judgment. Mastery of these skills is expected. The ability to integrate and sensitively respond to new information from peers, faculty and the evidence based literature must be present in order to make sound judgments in all aspects of patient care.

Social and Behavioral Attributes: Students must possess effective interpersonal skills, including the qualities of integrity, compassion, motivation and a genuine concern for others. Students must be comfortable in the role of a student nurse and accept that the role functions under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor. Full utilization of the personal intellectual abilities and skills are essential, including sound judgment; timely completion of classroom and clinical responsibilities; and the ability to work with patients and members of the healthcare team effectively and with maturity. Stable, sound judgment must be demonstrated at all times to conduct assessment, intervention and evaluation activities. An ability to sensitively establish rapport and carry out interpersonal relationships with individuals, families and groups from diverse social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds is essential. The student must learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice and be able to flexibly adapt to changing environments. A willingness to accept and respond to constructive criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings is critical.

Management of Stressful Situations: Adapting and functioning effectively in the face of stressful situations, including emergencies or situations in the classroom or clinical are necessary. Nursing education inherently includes encounters with multiple stressors, which may include multiple personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer and or program-related factors.

Reasonable Accommodations

SDSU CON is committed to providing educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities to afford such students an opportunity equal to that provided to non-disabled students to achieve a desired educational outcome. A “qualified individual” with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations, meets SDSU’s academic requirements and Technical Standards. Students with disabilities are not required to disclose their disability to the SDSU CON. However, any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Coordinator of Disability Services (605-688-4504 or Fax, 605-688-4987) to privately to discuss their specific needs. The Office of Disability Services is located in room 271 of the University Student Union in Brookings.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act define a person with a disability as someone who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; OR (2) has a record of such an impairment; OR (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. Students are encouraged to meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services (605-688-4504 or Fax, 605-688-4987).

The Coordinator of Disability Services determines qualified disability status and assists students in obtaining appropriate accommodations and services. The CON provides reasonable accommodations to all students on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent with legal requirements as outlined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to an instruction activity, equipment, facility, program or service that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to fulfill the requirements necessary for graduation from the nursing program. To be eligible for accommodations, a student must have a documented disability of (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such impairment; or (c) be regarded as having such a condition. While the process for requesting reasonable accommodations may be started at any time, reasonable accommodations may not be implemented retroactively. It is important that students allow ample time for their accommodation requests to be processed. While SDSU CON will make every effort to work with students with disabilities to accommodate their disability-related needs, SDSU CON is not required to provide accommodations that fundamentally alter or waive essential program requirements.

Please email or call an academic advisor before applying or registering for classes to make sure courses are completed in the appropriate sequence.

Before submitting your application, be sure to review the admission criteria.

• Submit an application to the university.
  • Prior to applying to the nursing program, students must apply for admission to SDSU. The university application can be completed online through the Admissions Office.
  • Students graduating with an undergraduate degree from SDSU this academic year will need to complete a new application.
  • Official transcripts showing a conferred B.A./B.S. degree/prerequisite courses (both completed and in-progress) are necessary for admission. These transcripts must be submitted directly to SDSU Admissions Office. If you will have courses in-progress at the application deadline, you must send updated official transcripts to SDSU upon completion of coursework. Coursework completed at South Dakota State University, Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines or Black Hills State University does not need to be submitted to SDSU Admissions.
• Complete the application for admission to the nursing program.
  • The application and application materials for the professional nursing major must be completed online through NursingCAS. You are encouraged to submit the application at least one week prior to the application deadline.
  • Application materials will include unofficial or official transcripts.
• Complete your interview/essay assessment through Kira Talent.
  • You will receive an invitation to the Kira Talent interview from the program after your application is reviewed.
• Submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score report with NursingCAS Application (Non-native speakers of English)
  • The College of Nursing requires all students who meet the definition of English as a Second Language to complete the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo exam, regardless of residency status. English as a Second Language is defined as a student who was instructed and spoke primarily in a language other than English in the K-12 grade.
  • The minimum TOEFL score required for admission to the professional nursing major is 79 (iBT), with a minimum speaking score of 26. The required IELTS band score for admission to the professional nursing major is 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each module. The minimum Duolingo score required is 110. These scores are required before the student will be accepted into the professional nursing major.

Once admitted, the student much purchase a laptop computer that meets our computer requirement (unless you already have one). The student must also complete the compliance requirements. The student will be given instructions to complete compliance requirements through the online management system.

Accelerated program compliance requirements are comprised of both university requirements and clinical agency requirements. SDSU College of Nursing does not guarantee clinical placement for students who are not in compliance with clinical agency requirements. Clinical agencies may change their compliance requirements at any point in time and students are expected to be in compliance with any of these changes.

Compliance Requirements

Criminal background check: Students must complete a criminal background check through the online management system. An annual background check is required.

10-panel drug screen: Students will complete a drug screen through the online management system. Instructions will be provided at the time of purchase, including approved laboratory locations for completing the drug screen.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification (CPR): Certification must be Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Provider issued by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.

Health Insurance: Students must provide proof of health insurance coverage.

Online Training: HIPAA and infection control training will be completed through a designated online platform.

Required SDSU College of Nursing Forms:

• Certificate of Health
• Multi-Waiver release form
• Room scan consent form
• Participation and self-transportation agreement

Additional Compliance Requirements/Immunizations:

• Tuberculin (TB) testing
• Hepatitis B
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
• Varicella (Chicken Pox)
• TDaP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis)
• Influenza
• COVID-19

Immunization exemption requests will be submitted in writing using the SDSU immunization exemption request form which will be available in the online management system. An exemption approved by SDSU College of Nursing does not guarantee the exemption will be granted by clinical agencies.

The College of Nursing provides a state-of-the-art nursing program that prepares graduates for the diversity necessary to practice anywhere in the United States. An emphasis in liberal studies and humanities, as well as in social and natural sciences, provides the foundation for a student's nursing education.

The accelerated nursing programs in Rapid City and Sioux Falls are South Dakota State University programs. They are just conducted at our distance sites. Graduates of these programs will receive their degree from SDSU but will complete their coursework and clinical in and around Rapid City or Sioux Falls.

The program is designed to be completed in one year. Each of the five semesters of the major are compressed into variable-week terms, typically between 8 and 12 weeks in length. Students typically take 11-13 credits per term. Students in Rapid City complete the program between January and December. Students in Sioux Falls complete the program between August and August.

Before discussing differences, let’s look at similarities between the programs:

• Graduates from both programs take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN).
• Students take arts and sciences to support the nursing core requirements.
• Entry-level staff nurse position appear similar, however, the baccalaureate-prepared nurse has a broader education background, thus affording greater career opportunities.
• Students complete coursework in communication skills, technical skill mastery, and clinical care of child-bearing women, psychiatric patients and children and adults with health variations.

Now, the differences. A baccalaureate degree requires 120-130 credits and 620-945 clinical practice hours. Graduates are classified as professional nurses. In addition to basic knowledge, the baccalaureate student completes courses in professional issues, statistics research, health promotion and maintenance, health assessment, pathophysiology, community health and leadership. We prepare graduates to work in unstructured settings with more complex patients, and they manage and direct themselves and others as well as work in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team.

As a general rule, associate degree programs require 65-91 credits and 585-810 clinical practice hours and can be completed in four to six semesters. Graduates of associate degree programs are classified as technical nurses. They have basic nursing knowledge and are prepared to work in structured settings with less complex patients. They direct themselves and others, and they work as part of team.

Discuss financial aid options with the Financial Aid Office early in the application process by calling them at 605-688-4702. There are also multiple scholarship opportunities available to nursing students.

Evaluation is based on completed courses, cumulative grade point average, written statements and oral interview questions.

Approximately four to five weeks after the application deadline, applicants who have met all eligibility requirements and have complete NursingCAS applications will be notified of their eligibility for a personal interview.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance by email after completing all phases of the application process, including applicant interview. Acceptance is conditional on meeting all additional requirements including payment of a nonrefundable program deposit, completion of in progress coursework, maintaining GPA requirements, drug screening, background checks, evidence of health insurance, current immunization status, CPR certification and purchase of program materials, including scrubs, community polos and an approved laptop computer.

Admission into the nursing program is competitive, and the College of Nursing usually receives more applications than there are available spaces in the program. If a student is qualified but not admitted, he or she is placed on the waiting list. Students who are not admitted may apply to the standard program, reapply to the same accelerated program the following year or apply to different SDSU nursing site.

Typically, many (but not all) of the prerequisite courses students must take will transfer to SDSU from another institution. To ensure you will receive appropriate credit, check the transfer equivalency calculator to see if a course you are considering has previously been evaluated by the Registrar's Office or check with your advisor to make sure the course you wish to take will equate to the proper SDSU course. The best information regarding transfer credit comes from an academic advisor. You can attach unofficial copies of your transcript to an email and receive individual course evaluation. If the application has already opened for the year, your transcripts will be reviewed by an advisor after NursingCAS has verified your transcripts.