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Eligibility Requirements

Standard B.S.N. Program

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. Selection is made from among the best qualified for the study and practice of nursing. Learn more about our admission process.

For students entering the university under the 2023-24 undergraduate catalog and later, the following admission criteria will apply:

To be considered for competitive admission to the standard B.S.N. program, students must have:
  • a cumulative GPA of 2.700
  • a grade of “C” or higher in all completed courses required for graduation
  • the following courses (both pre-nursing and general education) completed or in progress at the time of application to the program: 
    • Pre-nursing courses
      • CHEM 106/106L Chemistry Survey and lab (or CHEM 112/112L Gen Chem I and lab)
      • SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 150 Social Problems or SOC 240 Sociology of Rural America or ANTH 210 Cultural Anthropology
      • PSYC 101 General Psychology
      • BIOL 221/221L Anatomy and lab
      • HDFS 210 Lifespan Development
      • MICR 231/231L General Microbiology and lab
      • NUTR 315 Human Nutrition
      • BIOL 325/325L Physiology and lab
    • System General Education Requirements (SGRs) and other courses
      • SGR 1 Written Communication: any eligible course
      • SGR 2 Oral Communication: any eligible course
      • SGR 5 Mathematics: MATH 103 or higher course
      • NURS 119 Seminar

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 for admission to the professional program 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.

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, SD 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 offence (excluding minor traffic violations), you are advised that it may not be possible for you to be accepted into the major at South Dakota State University. 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.

Transferring From Another Nursing Program

Transfer students must also apply for admission to SDSU, as well as to the College of Nursing.