2011-2012 Graduate Catalog

The University of South Dakota Graduate Catalog 2011-2012

The information contained in this catalog is the most accurate available at the time of publication, but changes may become effective before the next catalog is printed. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to stay abreast of current regulations, curricula, and the status of specific programs being offered. Further, the university reserves the right, as approved by the Board of Regents, to modify requirements, curricula offerings, and charges, and to add, alter, or delete courses and programs through appropriate procedures. While reasonable efforts will be made to publicize such changes, a student is encouraged to seek current information from appropriate offices.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy

In accordance with the South Dakota Board of Regents Policy 1:19, the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents shall offer equal opportunities in employment and for access to and participation in educational, extension and other institutional services to all persons qualified by academic preparation, experience, and ability for the various levels of employment or academic program or other institutional service, without discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, transgender, sexual orientation , religion, age, or disability. The Board reaffirms its commitment to the objectives of affirmative action, equal opportunity and non-discrimination in accordance with state and federal law. Redress for alleged violations of those laws may be pursued at law or through the procedures established by the provisions of 1:18 of this policy. For additional information, please contact the Director of Equal Opportunity, Room 205 - Slagle, Vermillion, SD 57069. Phone: 605-677-5651 E-Mail: equalopp@usd.edu.

Admission decisions at the U are made without regard to disabilities. All prospective students are expected to present academic credentials at or above the minimum standards for admission and meet any technical standards that may be required for admission to a specific program. If you are a prospective student with a disability and need assistance or accommodations during the admission/application process, please contact the Director of Disability Services, 119B Service Center North, USD, Vermillion, SD 57069. Phone: 605-677-6389 Fax: 605-677-3172 E-Mail: dservice@usd.edu

Federal Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act). The University has designated Ms. Roberta Ambur, Vice President of Administration & ITS, as the Coordinator to monitor compliance with these statutes. Section 504 obligates USD and Ms. Ambur to provide equal access for all persons with disabilities.

Ms. Ambur can be reached at Room 209, Slagle Hall, Phone: 605-677-5661.

Welcome to The University of South Dakota’s Graduate School

Thank you for choosing The University of South Dakota for your graduate or professional education. USD’s Graduate School is the largest in South Dakota, with more than 60 graduate and professional programs producing more than half of the graduate and professional students from South Dakota public universities. Graduate and professional students play an integral role in the education, research, and creative scholarship provided through USD.

The mission of The Graduate School is to provide high-quality graduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education, business, fine arts, law, and medicine; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; and to support research and creative scholarship. In partnership with individual degree programs, this mission is accomplished by providing students with excellent academic preparation and extraordinary opportunities for research, creative scholarship, clinical experiences, and internships.

Graduate education at The University of South Dakota is called to accomplish one or more of the following purposes:

Create a workforce for the new global economy
Conduct ground breaking research
Facilitate Technology Transfer
Develop entrepreneurs and innovators
Prepare future college and university faculty
Develop leaders for business, nonprofit, and government sectors
Prepare K-12 teacher workforce
Establish new start ups that create jobs
Strengthen communities through social action
Promote public health initiatives
Enhance society through the arts, humanities, and social services

An important function of The Graduate School is to develop and communicate expectations, policies, and procedures. This Graduate Catalog is central to that communication and describes academic policies, graduate school procedures, and degree requirements. Other important communication avenues are your academic department, the Graduate School website (http://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/), and a listserv to which entering students are automatically subscribed. If you seek information that is unavailable from these resources, please do not hesitate to contact our office directly at 605-677-6240 or by e-mail at grad@usd.edu.

This catalog is intended for general information only. It may not contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between any applicant, student, or faculty member and The University of South Dakota. The University reserves the right to withdraw courses any time, change fees, rules, calendar, curriculum, degree programs, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students with appropriate student notice and timely degree completion options for active students. Changes become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and may apply to both prospective students and to those already enrolled. Students are held individually responsible for complying with all requirements of the rules and regulations of The University and the South Dakota Board of Regents. It is the responsibility of the graduate student to read and comply with policies, regulations, and procedures described in this document, on the Graduate School website (http://www.usd.edu/graduate-school/) and communicated through the individual degree programs.

Expectations

A student admitted to The Graduate School is expected to demonstrate intellectual maturity and independence in the pursuit of advanced knowledge. Graduate students are expected to meet the exacting demands of advanced learning through the use of intellectual skill. Thus, a graduate degree represents more than an accumulation of hours and credits in specific competencies in a major field. The student will be judged at all stages on the above grounds and, regardless of grades in courses, may be dropped from the graduate program if progress or behavior is found to be unsatisfactory.

Administration

The Graduate Dean exercises overall supervision and responsibility for administering the policies and procedures relating to graduate study. In collaboration with the Graduate Council, the Graduate Dean provides leadership in establishing standards for graduate education, developing new programs, and maintaining standards and guidelines for existing programs. Within the standards and guidelines of the Graduate Council, the responsibility for the development and implementation of the individual graduate programs resides with the graduate faculty of individual academic disciplines.