About USD
The University of South Dakota, the first public university established in the Dakota Territory and the flagship university within the South Dakota system of higher education, highly values excellence in teaching and learning, advancement of knowledge, public service, freedom of thought and expression, and personal responsibility and development. USD provides a strong liberal arts education and an array of regionally and nationally recognized professional and graduate programs. Undergraduate programs provide a solid foundation for entry-level careers and for graduate and professional degrees at USD or other institutions of higher education. Graduate and professional programs at USD prepare students to contribute to their disciplines and professions as well as to their communities through scholarship, leadership, and service.
The University provides students an intellectually stimulating educational experience, in and out of the classroom, within a supportive and diverse community of active learners. The students’ academic and personal growth is assured through an innovative curriculum that integrates excellence in teaching with research and service. At USD, students are inspired to become lifelong learners who will make significant contributions through leadership and service as citizens of the state, the nation, and the world. USD relies on strategic planning, program review, and assessment activities to refine its vision and measure its success in achieving its goal to be the best small, public flagship university in the nation built upon a liberal arts foundation.
University and Program Accreditations
The University of South Dakota has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1913 (http://www.hlcommission.org). The University is an active member of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, 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 agencies, and dates of their initial accreditation are shared below (Note: not all of these are undergraduate programs)
| The University of South Dakota |
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Higher Learning Commission (HLC) 1913 (http://www.hlcommission.org) |
| School of Business |
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Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) 1949 |
| School of Education |
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Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (NCATE/National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) 1956 |
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South Dakota Department of Education |
| School of Law |
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Council on the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) 1923 |
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Council on the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association Foreign Programs Subcommittee of the Accreditation Committee 2011 |
| School of Medicine |
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Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) 1929 |
| Office of Research and Sponsored Programs |
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Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) 2005 |
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Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) 2009 |
| Addiction Studies |
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National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission 2006 |
| Art |
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National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) 1979 |
| Center for Disabilities |
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Administration for Developmental Disabilities (ADD) 1971 |
| Chemistry |
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American Chemical Society (ACS) 1941 |
| Clinical Psychology |
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American Psychological Association (APA) 1971 |
| Communications Sciences and Disorders |
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Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 1974 |
| Computer Science |
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Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) 2017 |
| Counseling and Psychology in Education |
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Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) 1993 |
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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) 2000 |
| Dental Hygiene |
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American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation 1969 |
| Health Services Administration |
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Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) 1998 |
| Health Sciences, Paramedic Specialization |
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 2019 |
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Media & Journalism
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Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communication (ACEJMC) 1997 |
| Music |
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National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) 1956 |
| Nursing |
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South Dakota Board of Nursing 2006 |
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Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) 2011 |
| Occupational Therapy |
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Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) 1993 |
| Physical Therapy |
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Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 1993 |
| Physician Assistant Studies |
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Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants (ARC-PA) 1995 |
| Public Administration |
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National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration (NASPAA) 1983 |
| Social Work |
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Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 1974 |
| Theatre |
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National Association of Schools for Theatre (NAST) 1991 |
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