President - James W. Abbott
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs - Chuck Staben
Dean of Graduate Education - Laurie Becvar
The University of South Dakota is the “flagship” university in the state’s higher education system and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools 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 9,600 students enroll each semester with The University. The home campus 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 is 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, School of Health Science, Graduate School, School of Law, and the Sanford School of Medicine. Off-campus courses and programs are offered through the Division of Continuing and Distance 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 and many graduate programs are available online and off-campus.
Mission
As the flagship university in the South Dakota system of public higher education, The University of South Dakota’s mission is to provide undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and sciences; professional education in business, education, fine arts, law, and medicine; and research and service to the state, region, and nation. The University promotes excellence in teaching and learning, research and creative scholarship, and engagement.*
*South Dakota Board of Regents Policy 1:10:1 legally defines the mission of the University
University and Program Accreditations
The University of South Dakota has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1913 (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.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 graduate programs)
| The University of South Dakota |
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Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC) 1913 (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.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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National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) 1956 |
| 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 |
| School of Medicine |
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Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) 1929 |
| Office of Human Subjects Protection |
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Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) 2005 |
| Alcohol and Drug Studies |
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International Coalition of Addiction Studies Education (INCASE) 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 of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 1974 |
| 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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Commission on Accreditation of Dental & Dental Auxiliary Educational Programs of the American Dental Association (ADA) 1969 |
| Health Services Administration |
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Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) 1998 |
| Contemporary Media and 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 |
| National Music Museum |
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American Association of Museums (AAM) 1980 |
| Nursing |
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National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) 1976 |
| 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 and 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 of Theatre (NAST) 1991 |
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