Palliative Care Certificate
The palliative care certificate equips you with the knowledge and skills to care for patients facing serious or life-limiting illness. You’ll explore how to manage symptoms, support families and communicate with empathy in stressful healthcare situations. This program focuses on holistic, patient-centered care across the lifespan.
As a value-added credential, this certificate enhances majors in nursing, pharmacy, medical laboratory science, health studies, prehealth pathways, nutrition and dietetics, and human development and family science.
Graduates are better prepared to enter clinical and allied health careers with confidence and compassion.
Required Coursework
These requirements are for students meeting the 2026-27 catalog and after. Twelve credits total are required.
- HSC 311 – Introduction to Principles of Palliative Care (three credits)
- HSC 411 – Symptom Management in Serious Illness (three credits)
- HSC 412 – Foundations of Trauma, Loss, and Grief (three credits)
- HSC 486 – Experiential Learning in Palliative Care (one to three credits) or NURS 498 – Research (one to three credits)
Tuition and Fees
Cost is based on 2026-27 South Dakota Board of Regents tuition and fees.
| State of Residence | Price per credit |
|---|---|
| South Dakota Residents | $462 |
| South Dakota Advantage Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Wyoming | $462 |
| Nonresident | $586 |
SDSU is committed to helping students find the resources available to help pay for college. Our Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is here for you.
