Technical Leadership (B.S.)

30-38 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

The B.S. degree in Technical Leadership 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 Technical Leadership complete all general education requirements (30 hours) , as well as one emphasis area (minimum 11 credit hours of coursework), internship course or a capstone course specific to the B.S. degree in Technical Leadership 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  

Program Requirements (3 credit hours)

• Choose one of the following courses:

• ASC 489 - Technical Leadership Capstone
• ASC 494 - Internship (C)

Choose one of the following emphasis areas (11-12 credit hours)

• Communication and Leadership
    
• Healthcare Leadership
    
• Management
    
• Personnel Supervision
    
• Regulatory Affairs
    
• Small Business Entrepreneurship
    
• Web Design
    

Electives (15-24 credit hours)

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

General Education Requirements (30-32 credit hours)

• 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.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization