President - James W. Abbott
Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs - Matthew C. Moen
Dean of Graduate Education and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs - Karen L. Olmstead
The University of South Dakota is the “flagship” of the state’s higher education system and is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges to offer Master’s, Specialist, and Doctoral degree programs. The University of South Dakota has the largest graduate school in the state and is classified nationally in the “Doctoral/Research Universities” category by the Carnegie Foundation. The University is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and is supported by appropriations from the state government, student fees, research grants, gifts from alumni and friends, corporations, and federal assistance.
Having received its authorization from the first territorial legislature in 1862, The University of South Dakota is the oldest public institution of higher learning in the Dakotas. Approximately 9,200 students attend The University. It is located in the city of Vermillion in the southeastern corner of the state, a short distance from the Missouri River. Vermillion is a community with a population of about 10,000 and reasonably close to larger cities such as Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Sioux City, Iowa, both of which are served by major airlines.
The University is divided into the following colleges and schools: College of Arts and Sciences, Beacom School of Business, School of Education, College of Fine Arts, Graduate School, School of Law, and the Sanford School of Medicine. Off-campus courses are offered through the Division of Continuing Education. The University academic year is divided into two semesters of approximately sixteen weeks each and summer sessions of varying lengths. Some graduate programs may be completed by attending summer sessions or via distance or cohort programs.
Mission
As the flagship university in the South Dakota system of public higher education, The University of South Dakota’s mission includes liberal education, graduate and professional education, research and service to the state and region. Post-baccalaureate education and training is an integral part of The University. The mission of The Graduate School is to provide high-quality graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, business, fine arts, health sciences, law, and medicine; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; and to support research and creative scholarship.
University and Program Accreditations
The University of South Dakota has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and Member of the North Central Association since 1913. The University is an active member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Council of Graduate Schools, and many other educational organizations.
Individual schools, departments, and programs have received additional accreditations from their appropriate professional organizations . These school/departments, their accrediting agency, and dates of their initial accreditation are: (Note: not all of these are graduate programs)
| The University of South Dakota |
| |
Higher Learning Commission and Member of the North Central Association (NCA) 1913 |
| School of Business |
| |
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) 1949 |
| School of Education |
| |
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) 1956 |
| School of Law |
| |
Council on the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) 1923 |
| School of Medicine |
| |
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) 1929 |
| Office of Human Subjects Protection |
| |
Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) 2005 |
| Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies |
| |
International Coalition of Addiction Studies Educators (INCASE) 2006 |
| Art |
| |
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) 1979 |
| Center for Disabilities |
| |
Administration for Developmental Disabilities (ADD) 1971 |
| Chemistry |
| |
American Chemical Society (ACS) 1941 |
| Communications Disorders |
| |
Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 1974 |
| Counseling and Psychology in Education |
| |
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) 1993 |
| |
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 2000 |
| Dental Hygiene |
| |
Commission on Accreditation of Counseling |
| |
Dental Auxiliary Educational Programs of the American Dental Association (ADA) 1969 |
| Health Services Administration |
| |
Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) 1998 |
| Contemporary Media and Journalism |
| |
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (ACEJMC) 1997 |
| Music |
| |
National Association of School of Music (NASM) 1956 |
| National Music Museum |
| |
American Association of Museums (AAM) 1980 |
| Nursing |
| |
National League of Nursing (NLN) 1976 |
| Occupational Therapy |
| |
Accrediting Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) 1993 |
| Physical Therapy |
| |
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 1993 |
| Physician Assistant Studies |
| |
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants (ARC-PA) 1995 |
| Psychology |
| |
American Psychological Association (APA) 1995 |
| Public Administration |
| |
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) 1983 |
| Social Work |
| |
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 1974 |
| Theatre |
| |
National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) 1991 |
|
