Information about:
The School of Education at the University of South Dakota has a long history of teaching, research, and service in the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers, school administrators, and school counselors in the state of South Dakota and the mid-continental region of the United States. Graduate programs in education are offered in health, physical education and recreation (HPER) [M.A. only], technology for education and training (TET) [M.S. and Ed.S. only], teacher education (Curriculum and Instruction - C&I), school administration, and adult and higher education (Educational Administration - EDAD), and counseling, research, educational psychology, and school psychology (Counseling and Psychology in Education - CPE) at the Master's, Educational Specialist, and Doctoral levels.
The School of Education offers programs designed to meet the high standards of quality established by accrediting agencies and other organizations. Both graduate and undergraduate education are mandated as functions of South Dakota's senior university and programs are developed to optimally prepare students for educational leadership roles in a changing society. The quality of educational preparation is enhanced by the inclusion of a myriad of experiences from multiple sources such as internships, practicums, seminars, presentations, conferences, etc. Continued recognition of the unique qualities of students and other groups served is paramount. Consideration of cultural, economic and geographic characteristics of clientele is essential for the effective planning and delivery essential to the statewide mission.
Graduate degree programs in the School of Education are as follows:
Master of Arts Degree (M.A.)
Counseling and Psychology in Education
Elementary Education
Educational Administration
Health, Physical Education and Recreation
Secondary Education
Special Education
Master of Science Degree (M.S.)
Technology for Education and Training
Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.)
Counseling and Psychology in Education
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Administration
Technology for Education and Training
Doctor of Education Degree (Ed.D.)
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Administration
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Ph.D.)
Counseling and Psychology in Education
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The Graduate School at the University of South Dakota is charged with the responsibility of extending educational opportunities beyond the undergraduate level. In keeping with this responsibility, the purpose of the Graduate School is to offer to qualified students opportunities for professional training through advanced learning and research and to promote the extension of human knowledge.
A student admitted to the Graduate School is expected to demonstrate intellectual maturity and independence in the pursuit of advanced knowledge. Devotion to the exacting demands of advanced learning while utilizing a variety of intellectual skills is expected of a graduate student. A graduate degree represents more than an accumulation of hours and credits in specific competencies in a major field. The student will be judged at all stages on the above grounds and, regardless of grades in courses, may be dropped from the graduate program if progress or behavior is found to be unsatisfactory.
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Graduates of The University of South Dakota or other institutions having similar requirements for a Bachelor's degree are eligible to seek admission to a program of graduate studies. Application materials may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Education, The University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390. You can also reach the Graduate Office by calling (605) 677-62897, by e-mail at gradsch@usd.edu, or refer to the website at www.usd.edu/gradsch.
All students who desire to take graduate level courses must register through the Office of Graduate Education at The University of South Dakota. Students seeking admission to graduate programs must display evidence of academic aptitude, achievement and motivation. Additionally, previous behaviors contrary or in violation of ethical or professional standards of the degree program being sought may be cause for denial or admission to a program by the Dean of Graduate Education.
A completed application packet should be sent to the Graduate School. For programs in the School of Education, send application materials to the Delzell Education Center, Student Services Office, Room 104. The application packet requirements include:
- Completed Application Form - Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Education. The School of Education requires additional information and students may contact the School for the additional forms. The application forms must be signed and dated. A $35.00 non-refundable fee should accompany the application form. Checks must be made out to The University of South Dakota. The fee cannot be waived and application packets will not be processed until the University has received the $35.00 fee.
- Three Letters of Recommendation - Three letters of recommendation are required for any School of Education program, with some divisions requiring more than three (contact individual departments for number of recommendations). Forms are available from the Office of Graduate Education or on the website.The applicant must complete the first section of the form and sign in the designated area. The person writing the recommendation must complete the form, seal the form in an envelope, and write his/her name across the flap on the back of the envelope. The sealed envelope is to be returned to the applicant and enclosed along with the application materials. Alternatively, the recommendation forms may be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Education
- Two Official Transcripts -Two official transcripts of all previous degrees must accompany an application. Official transcripts may be sent directly form the issuing institution to the applicant for inclusion in their packet. Applicants who have received their baccalaureate degree from USD may submit unofficial transcripts. Applicants who apply before receiving the baccalaureate degree will be required to submit a final transcript in their first semester of graduate studies, showing that the degree has been conferred.
- Official Test Score Results - Results not more than five years old of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required by the School of Education, with the Miller's Analogy Test (MAT) also accepted by some divisions (check with each division). These standardized test scores will be sent directly to the School of Education from the testing center. The student may wish to include a copy of the test scores in the packet for faster processing.
NOTE: - Once a packet containing the information above has been submitted, it becomes property of The University of South Dakota Graduate School.
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Before an international student's application file can be evaluated, the following items must be submitted to the department in which the applicant plans to pursue graduate work.
- Completed application form and non-refundable application fee of $35.00 U.S. dollars.
- Three completed recommendation forms.
- Two official transcripts of academic work at the undergraduate level (with English translation stating a 2.7 or better undergraduate grade point average based on a 4.0 system). Review by an education credentials service is preferred.
- Any required test for the program in which the student is applying.
- Statement of Finance form and certified bank statement or sponsor's letter showing that the student is financially self-supported.
- Proficiency Test of English as a Foreign Language by scoring a 550 on the paper TOEFL test or 213 on computer-based TOEFL test (description of the TOEFL test can be found in the current Graduate Catalog on pg. 17).
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Requirements
Admission Requirements to Graduate Programs in the School of Education:
Students are admitted to graduate programs in the School of Education by their respective divisions (EDAD, C&I, CPE, HPER, & TET). There are two levels of admission as outlined below. (Some programs within the School of Education have higher or additional requirements. Contact the specific division for those exceptions.)
Full Admission - Students meeting the criteria will be fully admitted to do graduate study in the School of Education. (Each division will determine how and when the student becomes a candidate for the Ed.D. degree.)
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or a graduate GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale.
- GRE scores of 900 or more (verbal + quantitative).
- Three satisfactory professional recommendations.
Provisional Admission - Students who do not meet the criteria for full admission may be admitted to graduate programs by the divisions on a provisional basis if they meet the following criteria and must move to full admission before the completion of 18 hours.
- Baccalaureate degree from an institution not having full regional accreditation.
- An undergraduate GPA of less than 2.7 but greater than 2.5, based on a 4.0 scale.
- GRE scores of 700 or more (verbal + quantitative).
- Three satisfactory professional recommendations.
- Applicants with M.A./M.S. degree from an accredited institution must have a 3.0 graduate GPA.
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The I.D. Weeks and Lommen Health Sciences Library offer academic resources and services that are integral to the mission of the University. The library faculty works closely with the University faculty in support of research and classroom teaching. An emphasis on information literacy instruction complements the University goal to provide students with life-long learning skills.
The Library was expanded and remodeled in 1993-94 increasing its total size by 60,000 square feet toa total of 120,000 square feet. The new building included space for the Lommen Health sciences Library. A glass-enclosed link with convenient access to the Coyote Student Center houses a computer laboratory. The Library has seating for 860 people in carrel, table, and lounge settings as well as 85 computer terminals for student and faculty use. Twenty-five of these computers are located in a classroom used for bibliographic and Internet instruction. The library is open 92 hours per week with extended hours during test and finals week.
The McKusik Law Library, located in the Law School Building, is the largest law library in South Dakota, containing an estimated 190,000 volumes of primary and secondary legal materials. It also has a number of electronic databases, most of which, because of licensing agreements, are restricted to use by law students and faculty. Its book collection is open to the public, but most of the volumes do not circulate. The particular strengths of the collection are in Indian Law, Natural Resources Law, and Health Law.
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