Master of Science Administration (M.S.A.)

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

•  MSA core: 24 credit hours (Includes 6 hours of thesis)
•  Specialization area: 12 credit hours

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

• MSA core: 24 credit hours (includes 3 credit hour elective and 3 hours of professional report or MSAS Capstone)
• Specialization area: 12 credit hours 

Two MSA Specializations

You can easily complete two specializations in the Master of Science in Administration program. Complete 36 credit hours of required course work in one area of specialization and complete the additional credit hours of 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.

MSA 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 Master’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 MSA with Juris Doctor

A student can concurrently pursue a Master of Science in Administration 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 Administration. 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.

The remaining 9 hours are to be taken in one of the following recommended fields of specialization: State and Local Government Administration, Leadership Studies, Nonprofit Administration, Criminal Justice, or Health Services Administration. Other specializations may be approved by the Graduate Program Director.