2026-2028 Catalog

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Admission, Progression, and Graduation Requirements

Students wishing to apply for admission to the nursing programs must complete a formal application to BOTH Dickinson State University and the Nursing Program. Admission to Dickinson State University does not automatically ensure admission to the nursing program(s). For further information, contact the Director of Nursing or access the nursing application form(s) on the DSU website.

Admission requirements for the nursing programs are listed on the following pages. Progression and graduation criteria are found in the Nursing Program Policy Handbook and prospective nursing students can refer to the Nursing Program website copy or request a copy. Admission, progression, and graduation criteria are subject to annual revision.

Students planning to re-enter a nursing program must meet the Admission and Progression program requirements that are in effect at the time classes start following official readmission into the nursing program. Readmission to the nursing program cannot be guaranteed.

CATALOG YEARS OF LIMITATIONS

  1. A student who has an academic "break" (has not completed a course at Dickinson State University) of two consecutive years or more, excluding summer sessions, must change to the University catalog which is in effect at the time the student resumed his/her studies.
  2. A student may not complete a degree from an academic catalog that was put into effect more than six calendar years prior to their graduation date.

Criminal Background Check (CBC): All nursing students admitted or readmitted to a nursing program are required to complete an annual CBC via the Nursing Program. Participation in the CBC is necessary to obtain clearance for students prior to participation in clinical. Please contact the Director of Nursing with any questions.

Drug Screening: All nursing students admitted or readmitted to a nursing program are required to complete Drug Screening via the Nursing Program. Participation is necessary to obtain clearance for students prior to participating in clinical. Please contact the Director of Nursing with any questions.

Health Information and Immunizations: All nursing students admitted or readmitted to a nursing program MUST provide documented proof of all required health information, health insurance coverage and immunizations prior to the start of the semester.

Required Functional Abilities: All nursing students admitted or readmitted to a nursing program are required to complete annual required functional abilities assessments. The nursing profession requires specific physical/motor, sensory, cognitive, behavioral/emotional, and communication functional abilities of its practitioners and these same functional abilities are required of students throughout the nursing education programs.

Please contact the Director of Nursing with any questions. When deemed necessary, students will be required to have a physical and/or mental examination(s) from appropriate health care provider(s) to identify accommodations and/or prove sufficient capacity in each area prior to continuing in the program.

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE IN PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students not holding nurse licensure seeking admission to the first year of the AASPN Program must submit:

  1. Official transcripts of high school coursework (partial or complete), GED (if appropriate), and all colleges/universities attended (if appropriate). These official records must show evidence of the following:
    1. Minimum 2.25 cumulative high school or college/university GPA or GED minimum average standard score of 145 or 450.

      i.  College cumulative GPA, after a minimum of one semester and with a minimum of 12 credit hours attempted or completed, supersedes the High School GPA or GED Scores for Admission.

      ii.  High school students who completed early entry courses will be admitted and selected based on their high school cumulative GPA (inclusive of dual credit courses). College GPAs earned solely through early entry (while in high school) will not be used to consider an applicant for Admission

    2. Minimum grade of “C” (2.00) in high school or college/university algebra (submit evidence of course in process) or GED math standard score of 145 or 410.
  2. A completed North Dakota University System application to Dickinson State University (available online).
  3. A completed AASPN Program application to the Nursing Program (available online or print and send to the Nursing Program). Application deadline is February 1st. Applications received after February 1st will continue to be reviewed and considered until the Thursday prior to the fall or spring semester course start date. Letters of acceptance/denial are sent by the School of Applied Sciences - Nursing in the spring.
    • It is the student's responsibility to keep current contact information on file in the Nursing Program; incorrect information may result in delay or exclusion of admission to the program.
    • Provisional acceptance to the AASPN Program may be granted to students who are in the process of meeting admission requirements. To begin the nursing education program, all admission requirements must continue to be met up to the time the student begins the program.
    • To begin the nursing education program, all admission requirements must continue to be met up to the time the student begins the program.
    • All students who have previously attended any other college/university must request a transcript audit from the Registrar, contact the Director of Nursing and secure appropriate course substitution forms.
    • Students who have previously taken nursing courses at any other college/university must submit copies of nursing course syllabi to the School of Applied Sciences - Nursing for consideration of course substitution.
    • Enrollment is limited to 50.
    • Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis.
    • To begin the nursing education program, all admission requirements must continue to be met up to the time the student begins the program.

Additional Admission Requirements for Permanent Residents and International Applicants

(International Students are non-U.S. citizens, nor permanent residents of the United States)

An applicant whose native language is not English* (as identified in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Fact Book at www.cia.gov) is required to demonstrate proficiency in the English Language. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test exams are considered the official DSU English Language Proficiency exams. The applicant’s results of the specified test determine a student’s eligibility for AASPN or BSN Program admission consideration.

Students who have completed ENGL 110, or who transfer to DSU from a regionally accredited college/university and have previously completed ENGL 110 (or equivalent course) and obtained a grade > ‘C’ will be considered for admission. These transfer students will not be required to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exams. International students applying for admission to the nursing program must complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam if they have not already done so.

Minimum TOEFL scores of 22 are required for all students in the respective content areas of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Minimum IELTS scores of 6 in the respective content areas of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing, with an overall score of 6.5 are required for eligibility. Minimum Duolingo scores of 90 in respective content areas of Literacy (Reading), Comprehension (Listening), Conversation (Speaking), and Production (Writing), with an overall score of 115 are required for eligibility. These scores are required due to the higher degree of rigor within the nursing education majors, as well as the need for English language proficiency required of students to function effectively as a member of the healthcare team within multiple clinical settings.

Students who are unable to achieve the minimum required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores MUST meet the following for admission consideration:

1. Attain a WritePlacer minimum score of 5; or

2. Complete ASC 088 (if WritePlacer score is below 5) with ENGL 110 Composition I; and receive course grades of > ‘C’.

Once the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo exam scores are submitted, students will not be allowed to re-take the exam for Nursing Program admission consideration.

All international students must:

1. Be admitted to Dickinson State University; and

2. Complete an AASPN or BSN Program application.         

International students who are admitted to the AASPN program are not required to repeat the any of the exams for admission to the BSN program.

Students who meet the required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores or attain a minimum grade of a “C” in ASC 088 and ENGL110, or have previously completed ENGL110 (or an equivalent course) with a “C” or better will continue to be screened by the APG Committee with all other applicants, and must also meet the other established admission criteria.

Social Security Number Needed

Prior to graduation, all permanent residents and international students must obtain a U. S. Social Security number to be eligible to take the respective nurse licensure exam.