Preparing you for admission into any nursing program
About The Program
When it comes to medical professions, nursing is crucial. As a nurse, you’ll demonstrate compassion and critical thinking while taking care of your patients. Northern will help you gain those skills and more, preparing you for admission to any school of nursing. While pre-nursing itself isn’t a major, we’ll match you with a degree program and provide required coursework.
Northern offers two paths to nursing
NSU pre-nursing program
You can take the courses in the NSU pre-nursing program and then transfer to another university that offers the degree in nursing. See NSU Pre-Nursing Program for more information.
SDSU Accelerated BSN program on NSU’s campus
Through an agreement with South Dakota State University, Northern graduates have guaranteed acceptance to SDSU’s accelerated nursing program on Northern’s campus.
Requirements include:
- Successful completion of a bachelor's degree at Northern
- Successful completion of pre-requisite courses
- Maintenance of grade point average of 2.8 overall and 3.0 in pre-requisite courses, and
- A "C" or higher in pre-requisite courses
Please see SDSU Accelerated B.S.N. Program - Aberdeen for details.
For assistance and answers, contact Secretary Kylie Waldo.
This program will be a good fit if you are:
- Caring and compassionate
- Detail-oriented
- A good problem solver and critical thinker
- A skilled communicator with active listening skills
- Someone who likes to work with people and help others
- An individual with integrity
- Someone with a desire to continue learning
As a nurse, you'll be in high demand. Registered nursing employment in the U.S. is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. With a degree in nursing, you could work as a registered nurse, nurse anesthetist, certified nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist or even as a teacher.
Beyond the traditional hospital or clinic setting, nurses are needed in countless areas, including:
- Schools
- Military units
- Home healthcare services
- Nursing care facilities
At Northern, we believe getting you out of the classroom and into a real-world workplace setting is a critical part of your education. You'll have several opportunities for internships and other forms of experiential learning throughout your time at Northern. Learn more at Student Experiences!
The NSU WolfPACT is the highest guaranteed, four-year scholarship in the region. But that isn't the only scholarship available at Northern. Visit Arts and Sciences Scholarships for other scholarship opportunities!
Students in our pre-nursing program often major in:
Experience the world while earning your degree through NSU Study Abroad! With hundreds of opportunities available around the globe, Northern can make your study abroad dream become a reality. Learn more at Study Abroad!
At Northern, you'll have the chance to conduct cutting-edge research that can have real-world impacts - while still an undergraduate student. With our new, state-of-the-art Jewett Regional Science Education Center, the sky is truly the limit. Learn more at Student Research!
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today:
Pre-Nursing Faculty Advisor: Dr. Amy Dolan, 605-626-2620 or amy.dolan@northern.edu.
Want to learn more about living and learning at Northern? Contact NSU Admissions today 605-626-2544 or admissions@northern.edu!
Still unsure of a major? We can help! Contact NSU Career Services at 605-626-3007 or careerservices@northern.edu.
Our Faculty



Ph.D. Montana State University
M.S. Montana State University
B.S. State University of New York
Dr. John Long joined the NSU faculty in the summer of 2015. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the State University of New York, a master’s degree in environmental and ecological statistics and a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental sciences, both from Montana State University. His area of expertise is the mathematical and physical aspects of the environment.
Dr. Long is a part of the SEA-PHAGES team trained by Howard Hughes Medical Institute to discover new viruses in environmental samples and to sequence their genome. Dr. Long is a retired U.S. Air Force major with 21 years of service as a B-52 electronic warfare officer.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Physics I and II
University Physics I and II
Biological Statistics I and II
R Programming
Geographic Information…
Dr. George Nora began at Northern State University in 2010 and has been promoted to associate professor of chemistry.

Ph.D. University of South Dakota
M.S. North Dakota State University
B.S. North Dakota State University