Program Overview

RN to BSN Program

The RN to BSN program is a fully online, flexible, and affordable option designed to help registered nurses who have an associate 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.

Admission Criteria

Applicants for the RN to BSN program must:

• Be a registered nurse with an associate degree in nursing and an unencumbered license in the state of practice.
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
• Have achieved C grades in all coursework applied to baccalaureate requirements.
• Have three or fewer prerequisite courses to complete.

Application Information

To apply, students must complete the general application to the university and the NursingCAS Application.

Program Information

• The program is 100% online.
• Courses are seven weeks long.
• The program requires 30 credit hours.
• Students can complete the program in 10 months (full-time) or 18 months (part-time).

Cost of Attendance

• Tuition information:
  • South Dakota Residents: $451 per credit, $13,530 for the core curriculum
  • South Dakota Advantage (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Wyoming): $451 per credit, $13,530 for the core curriculum
  • Nonresident: $572 per credit, $17,160 for the core curriculum
• Estimated cost is based on the South Dakota Board of Regents tuition/fees.
• All courses are worth three credits each and are delivered in a seven-week format.
• 30 SDSU credits are required for program completion.

Financial Aid

SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is available to assist students.

Curriculum

• The academic advising guide sheet promotes student success by guiding all students to timely completion of their degree.
• RN to BSN courses include:
  • NURS 300: Transition to BSN (three credits)
  • NURS 301: Emerging Issues in Nursing (three credits)
  • NURS 452: Introduction to Population Health (three credits)
  • NURS 455: Quality Improvement and Safety (three credits)
  • NURS 462: Application of Population Health (three credits)
  • NURS 463: Systems-Based Practice in Healthcare (three credits)
  • NURS 465: Evidence-Based Practice and Research (three credits)
  • NURS 466: Healthcare Informatics and Technologies (three credits)
  • NURS 468: Palliative Care Nursing (three credits)
  • NURS 469: Nursing Leadership in Practice (three credits)

Credit Requirements

• 30 credits must be completed with SDSU.
• Details:
  • System general education requirements: 32-33 credits
  • Prenursing requirements: 11 credits
  • Major requirements: 76 credits
  • Associate degree completion: 46 credits
  • SDSU College of Nursing courses: 30 credits
  • Electives: 1 credit
  • Total number of hours required for major: 76
  • Total number of hours required for BSN degree: 120

Student Learning Outcomes

As a graduate of the RN to BSN program, students will have the knowledge to:

• Integrate knowledge, skills, and values from a liberal education into the nursing discipline.
• Integrate nurse-led initiatives and leadership to improve the quality and safety of healthcare.
• Incorporate evidence-based practice in complex healthcare systems to enhance quality of care and safety.
• Demonstrate proficiency in informatics and healthcare technologies to support the healthcare process and improve outcomes.
• Interpret and evaluate implications of health policy and system-based practice in nursing.
• Integrate effective interprofessional communication and collaborative team-based partnerships into professional nursing practice.
• Improve equitable population health outcomes through healthcare management across the lifespan.
• Integrate behaviors that reflect nursing values, ethics, and professional standards into practice.
• Provide compassionate, person-centered care.

Fast Track

The RN to Grad program is designed to help registered nurses who have an associate degree in nursing move ahead in their career. The program allows students in the RN to BSN program to substitute up to four graduate-level courses (12 credits) as part of the RN to BSN curriculum to help jump-start progress towards select master's or doctoral degrees at SDSU.