Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2010 Graduate Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Administrative Studies (M.S., A.S.)


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The Master of Science in Administrative Studies (MSAS) degree began in 1993. It is designed for, but is not limited to, people currently in full-time employment. Therefore, course schedules are created around normal working hours for off-campus course delivery. Furthermore, the program is designed to allow a student to typically take six hours of course work per semester and during the summer, thereby enabling a student to complete the program within a two and one-half year to three-year period while working. The program is offered at four locations: Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Vermillion, and in Sioux City, IA.

Master of Science, Plan A (thesis): Total 36 credit hours


  •  Administrative Studies core: 18 credit hours
  •  Specialization area: 12 credit hours
  •  Thesis: 6 credit hours

Master of Science, Plan B (non–thesis): Total 36 credit hours


  • Administrative Studies core: 21 credit hours
  • Specialization area: 12 credit hours
  • Professional Report or MSAS capstone: 3 credit hours

Alcohol and Drug Studies specialization required course work: 12 credit hours*


 Select 4 of the following courses:

Criminal Justice specialization required course work: 12 credit hours


Rapid City and Sioux Falls sites only.

Health Services Administration specialization required course work: 12 credit hours


Courses delivered online.

Interdisciplinary specialization: 12 credit hours


The interdisciplinary specialization requires students to work with their advisor to design a specialization consisting of 12 credit hours to suit the students’ specific interest from course work available in the area. Students are required to submit a list of proposed specialization courses along with an explanation of the appropriateness of the designed specialization in terms of career and personal development. Selected course work should be interdisciplinary in nature or come from different fields that integrate to represent a cohesive theme.

Organizational Leadership specialization required course work: 12 credit hours


Two MSAS Specializations


You can easily complete two specializations in the Master of Science in Administrative Studies program. Complete 36 credit hours of required course work in one area of specialization and complete an additional 12 credit hours of specified course work in another area of specialization to obtain two specializations. The diploma and transcript will indicate both specializations.

The Long-Term Care Administration specialization and the Health Services Administration specialization share one three-credit hour course; consequently these two specializations may be obtained with merely nine additional credit hours.

The Organizational Leadership specialization and the Human Resources specialization share two three-credit hour courses; consequently these two specializations may be obtained with merely six additional credit hours.

MSAS Dual Degree Program


Occasionally students choose to obtain more than one Master’s degree. An additional Master’s degree may be earned by a student at The University of South Dakota with the following restrictions: no more than nine credit hours from one Mater’s degree may be applied toward another Master’s degree, provided the course work does not exceed the seven-year time limit. Please note that this requires careful coordination of course work. Approval of the program must be obtained from the chairperson of the major department, the chairperson of the department in which supporting courses are completed, and the Graduate School Dean. A separate thesis and/or professional report may be required in both programs.

Joint MSAS with Juris Doctor


A student can concurrently pursue a Master of Science in Administrative Studies and a Juris Doctor. Admission to the joint degree program is a formal process that requires approval from the School of Law and admission to the Master of Science in Administrative Studies. Students admitted to this program must complete their first-year law curriculum with a grade point average of at least 75%. Upon successful completion of the first year, they may take courses concurrently leading to both degrees in three years. Students may receive up to nine hours of law credit (from those courses approved as a graduate course for this program) toward the 90 credit hours required for the Juris Doctor degree. Classes taken in a master’s program prior to matriculation in the School of Law will not receive Law School credit.

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