Master's Degree
Online WHNP Program
for South Dakota Residents
CLASSES START
Sept. 4th
24-28 Mo. Program Length | CCNE Accredited† |
Online Format | We Pledge Clinical Placement |
Master's Degree
Online WHNP Program
for South Dakota Residents
Find your calling as a women's health nurse practitioner in South Dakota
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited,† Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | MSN-WHNP pathways available for current RNs in South Dakota who hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing |
| Clinicals | We pledge your clinical placement! Herzing has partnerships with select clinical sites in the state of South Dakota |
| Start soon | 6 start dates per year |
| Future pathways | Build a foundation to pursue the terminal degree in nursing: the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) |
| For non-nurses | Not yet an RN? Current RN licensure is required for Herzing WHNP offerings; South Dakota residents may qualify for our Online BSN program to begin their path to RN |
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2024
Propel your nursing career to advanced practice as a women’s health nurse practitioner in South Dakota
Embrace a dynamic, rewarding field of nursing where every interaction holds the potential to make a lasting impact. Become a champion of women’s health and advance your nursing career to the next level of practice as a nurse practitioner.
South Dakota residents can choose their pathway to earn a WHNP education with Herzing University: our MSN-WHNP program for RNs with a BSN, or our Accelerated RN to MSN-WHNP option for RNs with an associate degree.
Our roots in online learning
Herzing University has been providing online learning to students throughout the United States since 2003.
Every year we work to improve our processes to create strong, supportive online communities of students and faculty eager to help each other succeed in their education and work.
You can become a part of our vibrant online community—we’re thrilled to open our online WHNP program to South Dakota residents.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Learn More Today
Find your calling as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Herzing University offers unique pathways for current Registered Nurses (RN) to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Post Master's Certificate, or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and take the first step towards becoming a WHNP.
- Program length: 24 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Enrollment: View the admissions requirements
- Program length: 28 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Enrollment: View the admissions requirements
- Program length: 20 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Enrollment: View the admissions requirements
- Program length: 28 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Enrollment: View the admissions requirements
Courses & curriculum details
Our MSN curriculum includes a selection of core, direct care, and specialty courses containing 100% online didactic lecture-style courses as well as clinical practicums designed to fully prepare you for success in your first job as a WHNP.
The Accelerated RN to MSN-WHNP option includes a selection of undergraduate coursework to support advancement to the graduate level later in the program. These students also have an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) on the way to MSN-WHNP in our RN to BSN to MSN track (RN to BSN + RN to MSN) – please contact admissions for more details.
| Program | Monthsi | Semester Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (MSNWHNP) | 24 | 54 |
| Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner - Accelerated RN to MSN (MSNWHNPA) | 28 | 70 |
| Post Master's Certificate in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner | 20 | 39 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program.
MSN-WHNP curriculum
Required Core Courses
All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Direct Care Courses
All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Specialty Courses
All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Clinical Proficiency Exam and Policy Courses
The following courses are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite courses along with NU 611, NU 642, NU 664 or NU 671, depending on the program of study. NSG 0600 - Clinical Proficiency Course Semester Credit Hours: 0.00 NSG 0600R - Clinical Proficiency Remediation Course (if needed) Semester Credit Hours: 0.00
Accelerated RN to MSN-WHNP curriculum
Required Bridge Courses
All courses, 16.00 semester credit hours, are required prior to completing graduate level coursework.
Required Core Courses
All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Direct Care Courses
All courses, 9.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Specialty Courses
All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Clinical Proficiency Exam and Policy Courses
The following courses are 0.00 semester credit hours associated with the policy outlined above. Students are required to take as co-requisite courses along with NU 611, NU 642, NU 664 or NU 671, depending on the program of study. NSG 0600 - Clinical Proficiency Course Semester Credit Hours: 0.00 NSG 0600R - Clinical Proficiency Remediation Course (if needed) Semester Credit Hours: 0.00
Post Master's WHNP curriculum
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the WHNP program varies depending on the pathway you choose:
MSN-WHNP enrollment requirements
To enroll in Herzing’s online MSN - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program, prospective students must live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the MSN-WHNP program, and:
- Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Accelerated RN to MSN-WHNP enrollment requirements
Enrollment requirements are the same whether you choose the Accelerated RN to MSN-WHNP or RN to BSN to MSN-WHNP track. Prerequisites include:
- Live in a state where Herzing University is authorized to offer the RN to MSN program
- Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they practice
- Hold an associate degree (ADN/ASN/AASN) in nursing from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
- Participate in an interview to identify your goals and determine if the program is right for you
Post Master's WHNP enrollment requirements
Enrollment in the post master’s certificate nursing program is open to registered nurses who:
- Hold a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited university or college (such as a master’s or doctoral degree)
- Hold a current, active and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the state in which they live (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement).
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing degree programs in 2024.
✝The master's degree, post-graduate APRN certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program in nursing at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of an MSN-WHNP program in South Dakota is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.
As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.
Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Now Through Dec 31st
RN career info
Average salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners in the state of South Dakota earn an average annual salary of $120,980 per year ($58.17 per hour).*
Employment outlook
Projections Central projects employment of nurse practitioners in the state of South Dakota to increase 56.1% from 2022-2032, translating to an additional 460 jobs.**
Careers
Become an indispensable caregiver as a nurse practitioner in the state of South Dakota
U.S. News and World Report identifies nurse practitioner as the #1 best health care job in 2024 – as well as the #1 best overall job across all categories – due primarily to high marks in potential salary and future growth.
The Health Resources & Services Administration projects significant growth of women’s health nurse practitioners from 2021-2036 (+123%), coinciding with a notable lack in supply of obstetrics & gynecology physicians.
It’s a great time to consider earning the education needed to become a WHNP and help meet an important growing need for women’s healthcare. Our School of Nursing exists to help you build the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a WHNP and reach new heights in the field of nursing.
Related Programs
Disclosures
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
** Projections Central, Long-Term Projections (2022-2032). Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work, and degree field will affect career outcomes. Herzing does not guarantee that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, or other career growth.