For educators, career development and continuing education is important to stay up-to-date with your teaching skills and innovations. Instead of spending your summer break on-campus or at a workshop, enroll in an online class from USD. We offer quality courses at affordable rates that make it possible to advance your career.
Some programs are funded externally by non-university partnerships as projects or classes. You may earn college credits for the courses; however, the funding to offer the course is provided by the external source or organization.
If you are interested in offering a course for educators through partnership with USD, please contact us.
Inquire About Offering Course(s)
SPED 592: Autism Spectrum Education & Resource Training (ASERT 2 of 3)
Instructor: Heidi Aderhold
Credits: 3
Tuition: $120
Dates: September 24 – December 11, 2026
Course Description: ASERT sessions 1, 2, and 3 provide training focused on supporting students with autism through evidence-based practices, mentorship, synchronous training sessions, and implementation support.
Participants are expected to complete all ASERT sessions sequentially within the same school year.
Register for USD Credit Here
ART 592 Advanced Fine Art Methods
Instructor: Marica Shannon
Dates: October 8, 2026 - October 24, 2026
Credits: 1
Location: USD, Vermillion, SD
PLEASE NOTE: This course requires dual enrollment. Participants must register for the event first and then separately register for USD credit.
Course Description: Offers professional development in the arts and learning for educators in all disciplines. This program gives participants an opportunity to explore a variety of methods and mediums to develop ideas for lesson plans and teaching strategies.
Register for Event Here Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 492: Providing Intervention for Children who are DeafBlind, Part 1
Instructor: Amy Scepaniak
Dates: October 23, 2026 - December 9, 2026
Credits: 2
Tuition: $80
Location: Sioux Falls, SD and Arden Hills, MN
Course Description: This course will provide in-person training for interveners in training and school-based educators to enhance the capacity to serve and educate students who have combined vision and hearing loss or deaf-blindness. The content of this training is aligned with the Intervener standards published by the Council for Exceptional Children.
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Providing Intervention for Children who are DeafBlind, Part 1
Instructor: Amy Scepaniak
Dates: October 23, 2026 - December 9, 2026
Credits: 2
Tuition: $80
Location: Sioux Falls, SD and Arden Hills, MN
Course Description: This course will provide in-person training for interveners in training and school-based educators to enhance the capacity to serve and educate students who have combined vision and hearing loss or deaf-blindness. The content of this training is aligned with the Intervener standards published by the Council for Exceptional Children.
Register for USD Credit Here
AHED 790: LERN Annual Conference 2026
Instructors: Julie Coates
Dates: November 16-19, 2026
Location: Online
Credit Hours: 1
Fees: $40
*Participants must also register for the conference at Lern.org.
Course Description: The content of the LERN Annual Conference consists of in-depth educational opportunities in the areas of adult and continuing education administration, program analysis and market research and design. Upon completion of the core track of the conference agenda, participants are prepared to sit for the Certified Program Planner exam and to earn the CPP designation upon demonstration of content mastery. Other conference content addresses issues related to contract and corporate training, adult teaching and learning, program development and analytics, online learning, eMarketing, and promotion of adult education programs.
Register Here at LERN.org Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Dr. Russell Barkley Professional Training Series
Instructor: Aimee Deliramich
Dates: November 25, 2026 - December 16, 2026
Location: Online
Credits: 1
Fees: $40/Credit
PLEASE NOTE: You must register through Canvas first before you can enroll for USD graduate credits.
Course Description: This course aims to provide training and assistance to South Dakota educators, administrators, other related professionals, and graduate students interested in learning more about Executive Functioning and ADHD. Many of the cognitive deficits associated with ADHD lie in the domain of executive functioning in neuropsychology. The focus of this course will be to promote a better understanding of the nature of ADHD symptoms, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and the modifications necessary for its use with special populations.
Register for Event Through Canvas Here
Register for USD Credit Here
January 2027
SPED 592: Autism Spectrum Education & Resource Training (ASERT 3 of 3)
Instructor: Heidi Aderhold
Credits: 1
Tuition: $40
Dates: January 4 – March 30, 2027
Location: Online
Course Description: ASERT sessions 1, 2, and 3 provide guidance and support for implementing evidence-based practices for students with autism through mentorship, synchronous training, and ongoing instructional support.
Students must complete all three ASERT sessions sequentially within the same school year.
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Life Planning for Success: DeafBlind Strategies
Instructor: Brandy Sebera
Dates: January 6, 2027 - April 14, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 3
Fee: $120
Course Description: The course includes an overview of topics and issues that are highlighted in the final years of the educational careers of young adults who are DeafBlind but that also can and should be addressed in educational programs across the age span of students. The course includes selected content from five Open Hands, Open Access modules: 1) Transition to Adulthood and Community Living, 2) Self-Determination, 3) Social Skills and Peer Relationships, 4) Sexuality, and 5) Collaborative Teaming and Family Partnerships.
Synchronous and asynchronous course meetings and coursework address best practices in adult learning by focusing on professional relevance and immediate applicability, and by recognizing and benefiting from the knowledge and experience of participants. In addition, assignments can be customized to meet specific professional goals, both personal and institutional.
This course will provide online training for school-based educators and clinicians to enhance the capacity to serve and educate students who have sensory disabilities including DeafBlindness and high intensity support needs. The content of this course is aligned with the standards published by the Council for Exceptional Children. The participants will have 45 hours of online instruction (3 graduate credits) to incorporate the skills and techniques which are beneficial to students with DeafBlindness and high intensity support needs.
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Autism Spectrum Disorders - Behavior Basics
Instructor: Heidi Aderhold
Dates: January 11, 2027 - May 7, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 1
Fees: $40/Credit
PLEASE NOTE: This course requires dual enrollment. After registering for USD credit and paying the tuition fee, you must also register through Canvas for the class.
Course Description: This course aims to provide information to educators, administrators, related professionals, and graduate students interested in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder. The focus of this course will be to introduce information about the behavioral principles often utilized in educational settings.
Register for Event Through Canvas Here
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592 Understanding and Responding to Student Behavior in the Classroom
Instructors: Heidi Aderhold and Jessica McHugh Conlin
Dates: January 11, 2027 - May 7, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 1
Fees: $40/Credit
Course Description: This course provides educators and other professionals with practical tools for understanding and responding to student behavior in the classroom. Participants will work with one target student and one target behavior throughout the course to practice defining behavior clearly, collecting meaningful data, considering the function of behavior, distinguishing skill deficits from performance deficits, selecting proactive classroom supports, developing a simple behavior intervention plan, and using data to monitor and adjust interventions. The course emphasizes practical, usable systems that can be implemented in real classroom settings.
The course consists of five sessions totaling 15 hours, including asynchronous and synchronous live learning. Participants will complete a series of applied assignments connected to an identified student and target behavior and will use feedback and data to refine their work. Participants are expected to complete the required learning activities and assignments associated with each session. Course materials, templates, and tools will be provided by the instructor.
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Deafblindness: Communication Strategies
Instructor: Brandy Sebera
Dates: January 13, 2027 - April 21, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 3
Fee: $120
Course Description: This course will provide online training for school-based educators and clinicians to enhance the capacity to serve and educate students who have sensory disabilities including deafblindness and high intensity needs. The content of this course is aligned with the standards published by the Council for Exceptional Children. This course includes selected content from seven Open Hands, Open Access modules: 1) Understanding Communication Principles, 2) Emergent Communication, 3) Progression from Non-Symbolic to Symbolic Communication, 4) Concept Development, 5) Calendars, 6) Introduction to Sign Language and Braille, and 7) Touch for Connection and communication. The participants will have 45 hours of online instruction (3 graduate credits) to incorporate the skills and techniques which are beneficial to students with deafblindness and high intensity needs.
Addressing the unique needs of students with low incidence disabilities is often a struggle for educators. This course is designed to prepare educators to address educational and communication needs of students with deafblindness and high intensity needs in a proactive, functionally based manner using evidence-based practices. Through learning activities, reflections, discussion boards and synchronous online meetings, participants will expand their knowledge of communication strategies for students who are deafblind.
As you progress through this course, you will find that the knowledge and skills covered in the various modules are closely linked. Together, they represent the foundational competencies needed to work with children who are deafblind. The skills you will learn in this course will be valuable and useful to you throughout your career.
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: 2027 South Dakota Special Education Conference
Dates: March 23, 2027 - April 30, 2027
Location: The Monument Convention Center, Rapid City, SD
Credit Hours: 1
Fees: $40
Course Description: The South Dakota Special Education Conference (SPED Conference), hosted annually by the Center for Disabilities on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Education, Division of Special Education, serves as the state’s primary professional learning forum for school-based personnel. The 2027 conference provides two full days (March 23 and 24) of in-person instruction covering a wide range of evidence-based and emerging practices across the field of special education. Sessions cover AI use in education, literacy development, South Dakota special education law, classroom management, behavior intervention, trauma-informed care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a broad array of additional special-education-related topics. Participants will engage with state and national experts, explore innovative tools and practices, and benefit from structured and informal opportunities to network, collaborate, and exchange best-practice strategies with colleagues from across South Dakota.
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Dr. Russell Barkley Professional Training Series
Instructor: Aimee Deliramich
Dates: April 16, 2027 - May 7, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 1
Fees: $40/Credit
PLEASE NOTE: You must register through Canvas first before you can enroll for USD graduate credits.
Course Description: This course aims to provide training and assistance to South Dakota educators, administrators, other related professionals, and graduate students interested in learning more about Executive Functioning and ADHD. Many of the cognitive deficits associated with ADHD lie in the domain of executive functioning in neuropsychology. The focus of this course will be to promote a better understanding of the nature of ADHD symptoms, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and the modifications necessary for its use with special populations.
Register for Event Through Canvas Here
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Interventions Overview
Instructor: Heidi Aderhold
Dates: July 6, 2027 - August 6, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 1-2 Credits
Tuition: $40/Credit
PLEASE NOTE: This course requires dual enrollment. After registering for USD credit and paying the tuition fee, you must also register through Canvas for the class.
Course Description: This course aims to provide training and assistance to South Dakota educators, administrators, other related professionals, and graduate students interested in learning more about Evidence-Based Practices specific to autistic individuals.
Register for Event Through Canvas Here
Register for USD Credit Here
SPED 592: Dr. Russell Barkley Professional Training Series
Instructor: Aimee Deliramich
Dates: July 16, 2027 - August 6, 2027
Location: Online
Credits: 1
Fees: $40/Credit
PLEASE NOTE: You must register through Canvas first before you can enroll for USD graduate credits.
Course Description: This course aims to provide training and assistance to South Dakota educators, administrators, other related professionals, and graduate students interested in learning more about Executive Functioning and ADHD. Many of the cognitive deficits associated with ADHD lie in the domain of executive functioning in neuropsychology. The focus of this course will be to promote a better understanding of the nature of ADHD symptoms, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and the modifications necessary for its use with special populations.
Register for Event Through Canvas Here
Register for USD Credit Here
