Nursing Application

Student Education Plans

Review the Nursing Student Education Plans for course sequencing, program requirements, and advising notes.

Program Description

The Dakota Associate Degree in Nursing program is a 1+1 pathway. After Year 1, students qualify for the Practical Nursing certificate. After Year 2, students complete the Associate in Applied Science degree and are eligible to apply for the NCLEX-RN to become a Registered Nurse in North Dakota.

To begin the AAS year, students must be a U.S. LPN with an unencumbered license or be finishing the Dakota Practical Nursing program. Coursework builds independent nursing skills to care for patients of all ages across many settings.

Career settings include hospitals, long-term care, clinics, outpatient centers, industry, and community health. Many credits can transfer toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The program is offered collaboratively by Bismarck State College, Lake Region State College, Dakota College at Bottineau, and Williston State College.

Admission Criteria

General baseline requirements apply to both the PN and AAS pathways.

• Admission to Williston State College.
• High school diploma or equivalent with GPA of 2.5 or higher. If a student has 12 or more college credits, college GPA is used.
• Current CPR/BLS for Health Care Providers through the American Heart Association or Red Cross.
• Math readiness within 5 years: minimum ASC 093 with Satisfactory or C+ to enter MATH 103 or higher, or qualifying EdReady, ACT, PLAN, SAT, COMPASS, or Accuplacer scores.
• One of the following: ACT composite score of 19 or higher, qualifying test scores, or 12 or more college credits with GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• ATI TEAS score of 45.0% or higher. The TEAS must be completed in person at WSC Nursing; online-proctored TEAS is not accepted.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
• All required college courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher; required nursing coursework GPA must be 2.75 or higher.
• Prerequisites include Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, Introduction to Pharmacology, Developmental Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, and College Composition I. Microbiology is required for the ADN program.
• Language proficiency requirements may apply if English is not the student’s native language.
• Background check and drug screen are required before starting classes.

AAS pathway specifics:

• Current Dakota Practical Nursing students must complete Year 1 with GPA of 2.75 or higher in prerequisites and program courses, maintain current CPR, complete all department forms, and pass the pre-admission exam.
• Applicants from outside the consortium must be graduates of an accredited, state-approved PN program; hold an active, unencumbered U.S. LPN license; complete WSC admission and the Dakota ADN application; pass the pre-admission exam; complete listed prerequisites with C or better; maintain overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in prerequisites and program courses; maintain overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher; and meet English proficiency requirements as applicable.

Applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Capacity varies by location, and notifications are sent in writing.

Learning Outcomes

• Teamwork and Communication: Deliver and coordinate care with members of the healthcare team.
• Professionalism and Leadership: Practice within nursing scope and standards while following legal and ethical guidelines.
• Client-Centered Care: Provide culturally responsive care that supports dignity, safety, and patient choice.
• Evidence-Based Nursing Judgment: Apply the nursing process and clinical reasoning to patient care.
• Quality Improvement and Safety: Make evidence-based decisions that support safe, effective care.
• Informatics: Use technology to communicate, document, and manage healthcare information.

AAS Nursing Core Courses

After Year 2, students are eligible for the Associate in Applied Science degree. Students must have reliable high-speed internet and NDUS email access; some components may be online.

View course descriptions.

Practical Nursing — Program Certificate

Minimum required credits: 43

The Practical Nursing program prepares students to become Licensed Practical Nurses. LPNs provide direct, hands-on care under the supervision of an RN, physician, or dentist in hospitals, long-term care, clinics, health centers, and other healthcare settings. Graduates are eligible to apply for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam.

Summer term required: The PN program includes a summer semester. Students should plan for summer tuition, fees, and living costs.

All PN courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C. Students must complete 43 credits with minimum C in all courses and a program GPA of 2.75 or higher to earn the PN certificate.

Clinical Experience

Clinical experiences are supervised by WSC Nursing faculty and may be scheduled at CHI St. Alexius Health–Williston, local clinics, Northwest Human Services Center, Upper Missouri District Health Unit, Bethel Lutheran Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown, and other approved locations.

Alternate validation of outcomes may be considered by the Nursing Department upon individual review. Students should contact the Nursing Program Director for additional guidance.

Accreditation

The Williston State College Associate Degree in Nursing program is accredited through the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).

The Associate Degree in Nursing program delivered via distance education at Williston State College is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037. Phone: 202-909-2487.

Estimated Cost of Attendance