Nursing
Northern State University has a cooperative program with the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University for students wishing to take two years of the curriculum prior to transferring to the professional nursing course sequence at SDSU to complete the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. The baccalaureate degree in nursing is now the recommended degree for entry into a professional nursing career. The South Dakota State University nursing program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing. The student should complete as many as possible of the basic science and system-wide core, institutional graduation and degree requirements at Northern State University prior to transfer to ensure flexibility in the planning and scheduling of courses at SDSU. In order to be eligible for transfer into the professional portion of the program (the nursing courses at SDSU) you must have no grade below a C; have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50; and complete an Application for Admission to the College of Nursing, SDSU, by mid-term of the semester preceding transfer.
You may enter the nursing major sequence at SDSU in either fall or spring semester. Upon completion of all course requirements, the degree Bachelor of Science with a major in nursing will be conferred by SDSU, after which you are eligible to take the National council Licensure Examination-RN which is given twice yearly (once in February and once in July). Successful performance on this examination will enable you to enter practice as a professional (registered) nurse.
Contact the Dean, College of Nursing, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, for additional information.
The following program is recommended. Students should confer with the pre-nursing advisor.
Freshman Year (pending approval)
BIOL 151-151L, General Biology (4 credits)
CHEM 106-106L, Chemistry Survey (3 credits)
CHEM 112/112L, General Chemistry I (4 credits)
CHEM 114/114L, General Chemsitry II (4 credits)
ENGL 101, Composition I (3 credits)
Any upper division literature course (3 credits)
MATH 102, College Algebra (3 credits)
PSYC 101/101A, General Psychology (3 credits)
SOC 100, Principles of Sociology (3 credits)
SPCM 101, Fundamentals of Speech (3 credits)
WEL 100/100L, Principles of Fitness and Wellness (2 credits)
Sophomore Year
BIOL 221-221L, Human Anatomy (4 credits)
BIOL 325-325L, Physiology (4 credits)
BIOL 331-331L, Microbiology (4 credits)
ENGL 201, Composition II (3 credits)
PSYC 122, Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
PSYC 329, Psychology of Adulthood and Aging (2 credits)
PSYC 451, Psychology of Abnormal Behavior (3 credits)
Specific course from the Humanities Core (in the current SDSU catalog) (3 credits)
Electives (1 credit)
Students whose career goal is to enter professional, baccalaureate degree programs that are not offered at NSU can customize the AA in General Studies degree with courses required in the first two years of the chose professional degree. Advisors will work closely with the students and the catalog from the professional school to determine core course selections and the electives in the AA degree. Please see the General Studies degree for complete degree requirements.