Are you a Registered Nurse with dreams of becoming an Advanced Practice Nurse, a Nurse Educator, or Nurse Administrator in the Mount Rushmore State? We have assembled the list below of colleges and universities in South Dakota offering Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree programs to aid you in your search for an MSN program that best suits your needs.
National American University School of Nursing
National American University’s School of Nursing offers Registered Nurses (RNs) a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Students in the program specialize as a Nurse Educator.
Applicants to the MSN program are required to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited institution. Students should have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They must hold a current active unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the US.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
5301 South Highway 16, Suite 200
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 721-5280
South Dakota State University College of Nursing
South Dakota State University’s College of Nursing offers multiple pathways to a Master of Science in Nursing degree. They offer an RN to MSN pathway as well as a BSN to MSN pathway.
The RN to MSN pathway is designed for those RNs with a diploma or Associate’s in nursing interested in graduate nursing preparation. RNs are allowed to take two graduate level courses and have them apply to both their BSN and MSN curriculum.
Students may choose from the following specializations:
- Clinical Nursing Leadership (Concentrations available as a Clinical Nurse Leader or Nursing Administrator)
- Nurse Educator
Programs are available on a part-time enrollment basis with the majority of the coursework delivered online, though some on campus time is required.
Applicants seeking entry via the RN to MSN pathway are required to hold a diploma or Associate’s degree in nursing from an NLNAC/ACEN accredited program with a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale. They must have completed a Statistics course within five years prior to applying. They must have an active RN license in their state of practice.
Applicants seeking entry via the BSN to MSN pathway must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from a CCNE or NLNAC/ACEN accredited program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. They must have successfully completed courses in Physical Assessment and Community Health Nursing. They must have also completed a course in Statistics with the past 5 years. Candidates must hold licensure as an RN prior to enrollment in the first graduate nursing course and have at least 1500 hours of experience as a Registered Nurse before enrolling in the first clinical course.
Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education
Wagner Hall (SWG) 255
Box 2275
Brookings, SD 57007
(605) 688-5178