Department of Graduate Nursing

Student talking with an advisor.

Heidi Mennenga, Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Department of Graduate Nursing
Wagner Hall 255, Box 2275
605-688-6924 or 1-888-216-9806 Ext. 3

Graduate nursing education is crucial for role preparation in advanced practice, nursing education, nursing administration, nursing leadership, and research. Collectively, these roles meet the growing needs of the healthcare and academic settings. The Department of Graduate Nursing offers a variety of degrees, specializations, and curriculum plans.

Students can earn a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in three specializations: Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator, and Clinical Nurse Leader.

For students with a previous Master’s degree, five post-graduate certificate options are available: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Leader, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Graduate options continue in the doctoral programs. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree will prepare Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to bring a transformative level of care and leadership to primary care settings in rural and underserved communities. Students can earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) with the specialty area of a Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Students may enter these programs with either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in nursing. Established in 2005, the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing prepares nurse scientists to assume roles as healthcare researchers, faculty, and healthcare administrators with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention in underserved and rural populations. The Ph.D. program educates nurse scientists in academic, research, practice, and policy roles to address healthcare issues in urban, rural, frontier, and reservation areas.

Graduate Faculty

Alham Abuatiq, Associate Professor
Robin Arends, Clinical Associate Professor
Brittany Brennan, Assistant Professor
Robin Brown, Associate Professor
Dannica Callies, Assistant Professor
Paula Carson, Associate Professor Emerita
Cynthia Elverson, Assistant Dean / Associate Professor
Karin Emery, Assistant Dean (Brookings) / Assistant Professor
Theresa Garren-Grubbs, Clinical Assistant Professor
Kay Foland, Professor Emerita
Margaret Hegge, Distinguished Professor Emerita
Lori Hendrickx, Professor
Barbara Hobbs, Associate Professor Emerita
Mary Isaacson, Associate Professor
Mary Anne Krogh, Dean / Professor
Michelle Lichtenberg, Assistant Professor
Heidi Mennenga, Associate Dean / Professor
Sarah Mollman, Associate Dean / Associate Professor
Lea Niederbaumer, Clinical Assistant Professor
Roberta Olson, Dean and Professor Emerita of Nursing
Christina Plemmons, Assistant Dean / Clinical Assistant Professor
Brandi Pravecek, Clinical Assistant Professor
Danielle Schievelbein, Assistant Professor
Nicole Selle, Clinical Assistant Professor
Thomas Stenvig, Associate Professor
Brandon Varilek, Assistant Professor
Jo Voss, Associate Professor

Department of Graduate Nursing

Graduate Faculty

Programs

Master’s Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Professional Doctoral Degrees

Certificates