Nurses are health care heroes, helping patients through their most challenging and transformative chapters. At USD, you'll become a compassionate and skilled practitioner who makes holistic healing possible.
As a nursing major at USD, you will gain the expertise and adaptability you need to be a leader in health care. We see your passion for helping others, and our program nurtures that passion; we focus on putting people first, equipping you with not only the technical skills you need to provide high quality care, but also invaluable skills in compassion and empathy. Here you'll find numerous opportunities to learn by doing; participate in clinical experiences, service learning, and simulations in state-of-the-art facilities. As a student in the USD School of Health Sciences, you'll study and practice alongside students from a variety of disciplines, which will prepare you to be a collaborative member of your future patients' care teams.
Our faculty care about you and your future patients, and they are committed to helping you find the educational path that's right for you. Our nursing program will focus on your success, promote your passion for helping others and develop the skills you need to thrive in the healthcare profession as a nursing student at USD.
Gain the skills and hands-on experience you need to thrive as a nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This degree prepares you to meet the increasingly complex demands of the health care profession with confidence and compassion. You will initially be admitted as a pre-nursing student and then will apply to the BSN program.
If you are a licensed practical nurse ready to take the next step in your career, the LPN-BSN program can help you reach your goals. This program will build on your educational and professional experiences, equipping you with the education and credentials to unlock additional career opportunities and improve patient care. As a nursing major, you will gain hands-on experience at hospitals in the region. USD partners with large urban hospitals as well as rural hospitals which allows our graduates to care for a variety of patients and populations and to improve healthcare outcomes. You'll experience a variety of clinical experiences each semester, working alongside hospital staff who will guide you through your clinical.
As a registered nurse, you have the foundational education and passion you need to help patients. Now, position yourself for career advancement opportunities and enhance your professional skills by building on your associate degree. Through the RN-BSN program, you will enhance your leadership, communication and critical thinking skills, preparing you to be a confident leader who is qualified for a wide range of positions in the nursing field. Our program is delivered online with two different plans of study, offering the flexibility you need to pursue your education as a working professional.
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*The National Institute of Education
As a student at USD, the opportunities available to you extend beyond the classroom. Explore your interests, find your community and experience your education to the fullest extent through the following opportunities.
A unique part of your USD education is access to undergraduate research opportunities. As a nursing student at USD, you will have the chance to explore your interests and conduct innovative research with the support of professors who care about your success.
You'll have the opportunity to be involved in several research and professional development activities, such as data collection and management, data analysis, publications, presentations, seminars, workshops and more. Our nursing students have studied everything from the use of naloxone by first responders in response to opioid overdoses to the impact of yoga breathing on lung volume. Grants and travel funding are available through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
At USD, you will have opportunities to serve others on a local and global level throughout your education. Service-learning experiences complement the nursing curriculum by providing you with hands-on experience helping others outside traditional health care settings.
USD nursing students have the opportunity to travel to Guatemala to provide health care services to people with limited access to quality healthcare. Working together with students from the physical therapy, physician assistant and occupational therapy programs, students will provide services ranging from health screens to neuro-musculoskeletal exams. You'll also experience and learn about the culture in Guatemala while gaining a unique perspective on providing health care services.
Additional service learning experiences, such as assisting a children's program through training staff and families, are also available.
If you are passionate about nursing and also want to enhance your leadership skills, you may be interested in pairing your nursing degree with education in military science. ROTC, a leadership training program, will set you apart as you prepare for a successful career. Full tuition four-year scholarships are available to ROTC students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at USD.
Students enrolled in ROTC courses can apply for direct admission to the nursing program as early as their freshman year. Students must meet the following criteria to maintain eligibility:
Our department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, supporting today's health care workforce and delivery of quality patient care.
The Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation is a state-of-the-art learning environment that allows collaboration among students and safely simulates real-patient experiences.
The University of South Dakota’s human anatomy lab offers a cadaver-based experience to undergraduate, graduate, medical and health sciences students. Our lab enables future health care professionals to assist their patients through the mastery of human anatomy.
Learn more about tuition and fees for undergraduate students and see how your out-of-pocket costs at USD compare to those at other colleges and universities. Visit the Undergraduate Tuition & Costs Detailed page for program specific costs and fees.
Navigating options for how to pay for college can be challenging, but you are not alone. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and your family to explore how you can make your college education even more affordable.
USD awards nearly $9.5 million in scholarships each year. View our scholarships to see which ones you may qualify for and how you can apply.
USD Nursing has a very good relationship with both of the hospitals in Sioux Falls, so clinical hours allowed me to gain experience with complex patients and learn about what I valued in a workplace. My favorite thing about USD Nursing is the great community that exists between nursing students and their peers in the program.
Jordan Martin
Quality Educational Experiences
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of South Dakota is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
