Leadership and Management (B.S.)

The B.S. degree in Leadership and Management is an interdisciplinary degree intended for students who have earned an A.A.S. technical associate degree or have completed a “career” degree program. The program will provide the knowledge and skills needed to undertake leadership and supervisory roles that complement the technical expertise the student acquired at the community or technical college. Students will be able to enter this program directly after completing their associate degree program or after years of technical experience and practice in the field. The program will help students develop their interpersonal and managerial skills.

Students earning a B.S. in Leadership and Management complete all general education requirements (30 hours), as well as one emphasis area (minimum 9 credit hours of coursework), internship course or a capstone course specific to the B.S. degree in Leadership and Management program.

This program requires the following: 

• Completed A.A.S. technical associate degree or have completed a “career” degree program (up to 60 credit hours may be awarded by a block transfer) 
• General Education Requirements 30-32 credit hours 
• Program Requirements 30-38  

• Communication and Leadership 
• Digital Marketing  
• Disaster Response (online pending - Fall 2025)
• Healthcare Analytics 
• Healthcare Leadership 
• Tourism & Hospitality Marketing (online pending)
• Marketing Essentials  
• Management 
• Organizational Communication 
• Personnel Supervision 
• Small Business Entrepreneurship 

One must have a total of 30 upper division (300/400-level)

• SGR #1 Written Communication 6 cr required 
• SGR #2 Oral Communication 3 cr required
• SGR #3 Social Science 6 cr required (6 credit hours in 2 disciplines/prefixes)
• SGR #4 Fine Arts and Humanities 6 cr required (6 credit hours total within 2 disciplines)
• SGR #5 Mathematics 3 cr required
• SGR #6 Natural Sciences 6-8 cr required (6 hours required, most science courses with lab are 4 credit hours) 

To review the full list of eligible system general education courses, visit the General Education Requirements catalog page.

Note: Some of the two-year institution general education courses will fulfill the general education requirements at USD.

This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.