SDSU:Standard Option - Rapid City Site

Pre-nursing courses for the West River Nursing Program, located in Rapid City, South Dakota, are taken at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) or at Black Hills State University (BHSU) in Spearfish or the BHSU Extension site in Rapid City. Students apply to the Nursing Major when they have successfully completed the pre-nursing program requirements. Application to the nursing program at West River occurs in the Spring and Fall terms.

Program Accreditation:
South Dakota State University College of Nursing offers Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees with a major in Nursing. Both programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing. SDSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

SDSU College of Nursing, West River Department
1011 11th Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
1-888-819-1725
Office (605) 394-5390
Fax (605) 394-1250

For more information or to see an Academic Advisor, contact:
Carol.Racanelli@sdstate.edu
Academic Advisor, West River Nursing Program

South Dakota State University
Admissions Office
PO Box 2201
Brookings, SD 57007
1-800-952-3541

Admission or Financial Aid Information:
1-800-952-3541

Admission as a Pre-Nursing Student

West River students interested in completing the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing need to apply for admission directly to South Dakota State University.

Undergraduate Student Admissions

When applying for admission to South Dakota State University, West River applicants need to have an official high school transcript, as well as official transcripts from any universities attended outside the South Dakota Regental System sent from the institution directly to:

South Dakota State University
Admissions Office
Box 2201
Brookings, SD 57007

Once admitted to SDSU as a pre-nursing student, pre-requisite nursing courses and General Education courses can be completed at either South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) or Black Hills State University (BHSU) without application to those universities.

Admission to the College of Nursing

West River students apply to the nursing major during the Fall or Spring semester, once pre-requisites have been met. All prerequisite courses must be completed at the time students enter the nursing major. Click here for admission requirement details.

Application Checklist

College of Nursing Major Application

All nursing students are required to purchase an approved laptop computer from the eSDSU website to use during the five semesters of the nursing major. The following links provide rationale for the laptop requirement as well as information on purchasing an approved laptop computer from the eSDSU website. Similar computers purchased elsewhere are not acceptable as we cannot support them.

Laptop Rationale

eSDSU Program

Housing

SDSU West River does not have campus housing. However, West River pre-nursing and nursing students are eligible for campus housing at either SDSM&T or BHSU if taking prerequisite or support courses on those campuses.

Students who desire campus housing at SDSMT should contact Maureen Wilson, Residential Life at 605/394-2348 or Maureen.Wilson@sdsmt.edu . Students living on SDSM&T campus will be issued a SDSM&T photo ID which is needed for meals and dorm access.

Students who desire campus housing at BHSU should contact Beth Azevedo, BHSU Admissions at 605/642-6411 or Beth.Azevedo@bhsu.edu. Students living on BHSU campus will be issued a BHSU photo ID for meals and dorm access.

Advising

The following links provide a general overview of the courses that need to be completed for the nursing major.

Plan of study for students taking prerequisites and support courses at SDSM&T

Plan of study for students taking prerequisites and support courses at BHSU

All Pre-nursing students need to contact the SDSU nursing advisor before registering for classes to ensure prerequisites are completed in the appropriate sequence. Please call (605) 394-5390 or email Carol Racanelli, Academic Advisor at Carol.Racanelli@sdstate.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Nursing Student Handbook

Nursing Student Handbook

WebAdvisor (Register for courses, adjust course schedules, look at academic history and financial aid information)

Instructions on how to use WebAdvisor

Nursing Textbooks: available from the SDSMT Bookstore http://www.sdsmtbookstore.com

Financial Aid

For information from SDSU's Financial Aid Office on how to apply for financial aid, click here. SDSU's financial code is 003471.

To receive priority consideration for Federation Work Study, Federal Supplemental Grants, and Federal Perkins, Nursing, and Health Professions Student Loans, you will need to send your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal Processor before March each year.

However, there is no priority date for Federal Pell Grants and the Federal Stafford Loan Programs.

For any questions or concerns related to financial aid, please contact Julie Hamer in the Financial Aid Office at:

     SDSU Financial Aid Office
     Administration Building - Room 106
     PO Box 2201
     Brookings, SD 57007
     1-800-952-3541 or 605-688-4702
    Julie.Hamer@sdstate.edu

Scholarships

Pre-nursing students are eligible for general SDSU scholarships. Students are encouraged to submit their application by January 25th for priority consideration.

Nursing students are eligible for College of Nursing Scholarships.

There are sources of scholarship and loan money available to students other than those specifically listed. Examples of types of organizations, which students are encouraged to explore independently, are hospitals, fraternal organizations, community groups, and professional associations.

Additional scholarship information is available at: West River Scholarship Information

College of Nursing Scholarship application

Last update: January 2009