What is the RN to B.S.N.?
The RN to B.S.N. program is a fully online, flexible and affordable option designed to help registered nurses who have an associate's degree in nursing move ahead in their nursing career. Each course in the program is offered a minimum of three times per year. Students have the ability to design their own pace of degree completion. Our faculty and staff are here to help you map your nursing career and reach your professional goals.
Whether you are an associate degree RN wanting to pursue your B.S.N., or you are an associate RN with a goal of working towards a master's or doctorate degree, we have a pathway for you and we want to help you streamline your journey. Graduate level courses can be substituted for courses in the RN to B.S.N. program to help you jump start your application to a graduate nursing program at ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ. Check out our RN to M.S.N. information page if that's you.
As South Dakota's No. 1 RN to B.S.N. program, ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ prepares future nurse leaders with flexibility, innovation and agility.
Program Information
Applicants for the RN to B.S.N. program must:
- Be a registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing and an unencumbered license in the state of practice.
- Meet ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ GPA transfer requirements.
- Have achieved "C" grades in all courses.
- Have three or fewer prerequisite courses to complete.
Conditional admission may be granted to approved students currently enrolled in an associate degree program. For more information on special circumstances, contact the program adviser.
Each session is seven weeks long.
Term | Application due date | Session start date | Session end date |
Spring Term 1 | Dec. 1 | Jan. 13 | Feb. 23 |
Spring Term 2 | Feb. 1 | Mar. 17 | May 2 |
Summer Term 1 | Apr. 1 | May 12 | Jun. 27 |
Summer Term 2 | Jun. 1 | July 7 | Aug. 22 |
Fall Term 1 | July 1 | Sept. 8 | Oct. 24 |
Fall Term 2 | Sept. 1 | Oct. 27 | Dec. 12 |
Tuition Information
Group | Price per credit | Core curriculum cost |
---|---|---|
South Dakota Residents | $408 | $12,240 |
South Dakota Advantage | $408 | $12,240 |
Non-Resident | $525 | $15,750 |
» Estimated cost is based on 2024-2025 BOR tuition/fees.
» All courses are worth three credits each and delivered in seven-week format.
» 30 ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ credits are required for program completion.
» Full-time: 12 credits per semester • Completion in 10 months.
» Part-time: 6 credits per semester • Completion in 18 months.
» Additional costs will be incurred throughout the B.S.N. program, including but not limited to textbooks.
Financial Aid
³ÉÈËÊÓƵ is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college — our Office of Financial Aid is here for you.
Please contact your adviser regarding financial aid if you would like to consider dual enrollment in you associate degree program and RN to B.S.N. program.
Academic Advising Guide Sheet
The academic advising guide sheet promotes student success by guiding all students to timely completion their degree.
RN to B.S.N. Courses
- NURS 300: Transition to B.S.N. (3 credits)
- NURS 301: Emerging Issues in Nursing (3 credits)
- NURS 452: Introduction to Population Health (3 credits)
- NURS 455: Quality Improvement and Safety (3 credits)
- NURS 462: Application of Population Health (3 credits)
- NURS 463: Systems-Based Practice in Healthcare (3 credits)
- NURS 465: Evidence-Based Practice and Research (3 credits)
- NURS 466: Healthcare Informatics and Technologies (3 credits)
- NURS 468: Palliative Care Nursing (3 credits)
- NURS 469: Nursing Leadership in Practice (3 credits)
30 credits must be completed with ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ
Details | Credits |
---|---|
System General Education Requirements (SGRs) | 32-33 |
Pre-Nursing Requirements | 11 |
Major Requirements | 76 |
Associate Degree completion | 46 |
³ÉÈËÊÓƵ College of Nursing Courses | 30 |
Electives | 1 |
Total number of hours required for major | 76 |
Total number of hours required for B.S.N. degree | 120 |
As a graduate of the RN to B.S.N. 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.
To apply, you must complete the:
- General application to the university (if you are not currently an ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ student)
Have Questions? Get answers.
Online Degree Completion
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Let's Talk
Our Nursing Student Services team is ready to help you find a path to meet your nursing goals. Fill out this online form and our staff will get back to you as soon as possible to answer your questions.
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