RN-BA Degree Completion Program
Nursing Courses Online

Admission to Program
Admission into the RN-BAN Completion Program is competitive. Course size for all online nursing courses is limited to 20 students in order to enhance student/teacher interaction.

No applicant is barred from the RN-BAN Completion Program because of sex, race, creed, color, marital status or national origin. Individual consideration is given to persons with special circumstances, or those who do not meet the entrance requirements as listed.

A nursing admission committee selects applicants deemed to be best qualified to succeed in the RN-BAN Completion Program. Initial consideration of applications for all semester admission into the RN-BAN Completion Program will begin October 1. Application materials received after October 1 will be considered on a space available basis.

If there is not an available opening for the RN-BAN Completion Program, students who have met admission requirements and been accepted will be put on a waiting list and will be notified by the RN-BAN Completion Program Director if an opening becomes available.

An admission appeal process exists for students who don’t meet the admission requirements but have extenuating circumstances. Students should address written requests for exceptions to the admission requirements policy to the Nursing Admission Committee and mail to: Admissions, DWU Campus Box 902, 1200 W. University Ave., Mitchell, SD, 57301.

Admission Requirements

Clinical Requirements
These requirements must be met before students can participate in clinical experiences. 

DWU RN-BAN Completion Program students are covered under a blanket professional liability insurance policy ($1,000,000 per occurrence and up to $5,000,000 aggregate), which only covers the student while he/she is participating in clinical learning experiences for the DWU RN-BAN Completion Program. It does not cover the student at any other time in which he/she is practicing nursing. The student is strongly urged to purchase his/her own professional liability insurance at his/her own cost.

Transfer Credit
Students are allowed to transfer up to 40 credits of approved nursing coursework from an accredited university or college associate degree nursing program. A grade of “C” or better is required for all nursing courses being considered for transfer credit.

Students may transfer non-nursing coursework from accredited universities and colleges. However, 30 of the last 40 credits must be earned at DWU. Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis. A grade of “C-“ or higher must be earned in all non-nursing courses being considered for transfer credit, except for transfer credit for English 111 Expository Writing, which must be a “C” or higher. Science courses must have been completed in the past 10 years. The university may waive this requirement for applicants who have maintained current knowledge by practicing in nursing.

Diploma program nursing and non-nursing coursework will be reviewed on a course by course basis. Criteria that may be used to award appropriate transfer credit include the comparison of course competencies and objectives and credentials of faculty who taught the coursework.

Credit for learning may be granted for nursing and related non-nursing coursework. Credit for learning is accepted toward the hours required for graduation if the experience produced learning outcomes similar to those approved for the regular academic credit at DWU, and upon acceptance and approval of documentation which explains the learning experience. Credit for learning may be granted only with the approval of the RN-BAN Completion Program Director, the faculty advisor, and the Dean of the College of Healthcare, Fitness, and Sciences. The cost for each semester hour of credit for learning is payable to the DWU Business Office. Further policies related to nontraditional credits may be found in the DWU Catalog.

RN students who have graduated from an associate degree nursing program that has less than 40 credits of nursing coursework, have passed the NCLEX RN, but do not meet the requirements for granting nursing credit through Credit for Learning, will not be required to take additional nursing coursework to equal 40 credits. However, the student will be required to take, along with the required general education and support course credits, additional credits to equal 127 credits for graduation.

How do I Apply?

For questions about the program or to schedule an advising appointment: