Bachelor of Science, Major in Animal Science with Specialization in Science

at South Dakota State University USA

The English Education Specialization requires 39 hours in English and linguistics courses and is designed to prepare the student for a career in high school or middle school teaching. Students preparing for careers in secondary education will also complete the required education courses for teacher certification.

Student Learning Outcomes
The English department’s B.A. program prepares students to become innovative professionals and global citizens by teaching them to read closely and critically, write creatively and persuasively, and explore the beauty and value of diverse literatures and cultures.

• Analyze texts closely and critically, using key literary terms and concepts to interpret how the specific elements of a text contribute to its larger meanings. (Cross-Curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Integrative Learning)
• Identify significant texts, authors, periods, movements, genres, theories, or modes from literary history, explaining how literary texts engage with their historical, cultural, aesthetic, or ideological contexts. (Cross-Curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Integrative Learning)
• Identify key theoretical ideas, concepts, or methodologies and apply them to the reading and writing of texts. (Cross-Curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Integrative Learning)
• Write argumentative, creative, and reflective texts that demonstrate focus, content, structure, evidence, style, and grammar appropriate to their rhetorical contexts. (Cross-Curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Integrative Learning)
• Conduct scholarly research that incorporates the use of library resources and discipline-specific databases; the evaluation and integration of secondary sources; and the documentation of primary and secondary sources using MLA style.  (Cross-Curricular Skills: Information Literacy; Inquiry and Analysis)
• Explain how literature both reflects and enriches the diversity of human experience through its exploration of the ways in which race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, ability, or class shape identity and influence perception. (Cross-Curricular Skills: Critical and Creative Thinking; Inquiry and Analysis; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity)

Fashion Studies and Retail Merchandising is the perfect major for students who would like to spend their career in one of many roles in the dynamic, competitive, and creative fashion industry. After gaining a good understanding of fundamental business principles related to merchandising and globalization of the industry, they are qualified to become a store or department manager, buyer, or visual merchandiser. Our students also acquire a broad knowledge of people and their behavior, and an understanding of the world at large, and technical knowledge and skills to select fabrics and plan and produce fashion goods.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of the Fashion Studies and Retail Merchandising major, students will:

• Apply industry terminology, theories, and concepts in appropriate ways to discuss and critique product quality, serviceability, regulatory compliance standards, merchandising strategies, market trends, retail environments, regulatory factors, and global factors related to the fashion and textile industry. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning)
• Demonstrate understanding of the fashion process, including the forces that drive fashion changes and diffusion of innovation and ideas. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning)
• Identify and interpret needs, wants, and aspirations of consumers, and outline how industry processes can be applied to forecast, plan, develop, produce, communicate, and sell profitable product lines of products that meet the marketplace’ needs. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning)
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge about the role of dress as it reflects and shapes intra- and inter-cultural interactions, ideals, values, norms, traditions, appearance management, and human behavior. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Apply knowledge of the role of dress as it is used to create, express, and fulfill identities, lifestyles, and fantasies. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Understand the role of historic, socio-cultural, economic, technological, political, and psychological factors in aesthetic expression and development of styles.
• Understand how aesthetics and the design process can support quality of life.
• Demonstrate understanding how globalization, market conditions, diverse economic systems and political structures, regulatory factors, cultural norms and values, historic events, geographic locations, and social issues affect industry processes and sourcing strategies.
• Identify and evaluate issues of social responsibility, environmental sustainability, professional behavior, and ethics related to the impact of individual, organizational, societal, and corporate decision-making. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Apply critical and creative thinking skills, including the ability to objectively evaluate and compare diverse perspectives. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
• Formulate sound conclusions and decisions by using appropriate technology, knowledge, and business practices to identify, assess, analyze relevant factors that influence the industry and related strategies. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
• Apply qualitative and quantitative skills to problem solving and formulate creative strategies to current issues and future opportunities in the industry. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
• Use effective and professional written, oral, and visual communication skills to inform, explain, and support ideas, decisions, evaluations, and strategies.
• Demonstrate ability to take appropriate responsibility for their personal and professional growth, including reflection and critiquing of their progress, outlining their career goals, and demonstrate self-directedness.
• Illustrate effective team working and leadership skills within professional and culturally diverse environments. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork; Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

The curriculum in the Biology Secondary Education specialization is designed to provide students with the background needed for a successful career teaching biology in middle and high schools. Students complete a broad distribution of courses that include all the major areas in Biology as well as coursework in pedagogical and professional development. For secondary education majors that may teach in a rural school or apply to graduate school, speak to an advisor about taking additional chemistry, physics, and math classes.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Biology major with a Secondary Education specialization, students will:

• Demonstrate understanding and application of evolution; biological structure and function; biological and biochemical pathways and transformations of energy and matter; and biological systems.
• Apply the process of science.
• Demonstrate understanding of and application of quantitative reasoning; information flow, exchange, and storage; relationship between science and society.
• Tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science.
• Communicate and collaborate with other disciplines.
• Understand how learners grow and develop, recognize that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and design and implement developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
• Understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
• Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
• Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

This area of specialization is designed for the person who plans to become a communication educator. While the emphasis is primarily on secondary education, the area can serve as a specialization for teaching higher education as well.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be prepared to:

• Describe the Communication discipline and its central questions by employing communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Engage in Communication inquiry. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Create and critically analyze messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Demonstrate the ability to accomplish communicative goals (self-efficacy). (Cross-curricular Skill: Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
• Prepare for ethical public influence that embraces differences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Civic Knowledge and Engagement; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

Mechanical engineers design devices and systems that efficiently employ the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of society. Mechanical Engineering is an applied science profession based on mathematics, physics and chemistry. Expertise and sound judgment in application of the sciences are gained through a combination of study and practice.

Mechanical engineers have a remarkable range of career options from which to choose. Work is found in design and development of a wide range of machines and systems, in manufacturing and automation, in energy and power production, and in various related fields of research, management or business.

Program Educational Objectives
The Mechanical Engineering program provides a learning environment that prepares graduates to achieve the following career and professional accomplishments:

• Achieve positions of increasing responsibility or leadership with employers, professional organizations, or civic organizations in recognition of professional competence and the ability to function in team environments.
• Complete licensure, certification, short courses, workshops or advanced degrees in technical or professional subject areas as they adapt to contemporary engineering practice and the global business environment.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the Mechanical Engineering program, the student outcomes are:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• The ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and social contexts.
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences offers graduate students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science Degree. The curriculum, organized through formal courses, seminars, internship experiences, and supervised research, is designed to prepare students for positions in such professional areas as planning, remote sensing, geographic information sciences, government service, research, business, and teaching. The program also is designed to provide students with the education needed to pursue further graduate study. Students seeking this degree are expected to select courses that will provide a sound foundation in geography (philosophical, physical and human, and research techniques) supported, if appropriate, by courses outside the department. Students may also seek out opportunities such as the cooperative program with the EROS Data Center and/or internships, generally available with planning districts, governmental agencies, business, and industry.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Critical thinking: Demonstrate foundational and specialized knowledge in both the physical and human sciences and their interconnectedness at local, regional, and global scales.
• Critical thinking: Interpret the ethical consequences of global issues concerning the environment to strengthen commitment to local, national, and global citizenship.
• Problem solving: Demonstrate proficiency in the application of appropriate geographical technologies and techniques to address issues in the physical and/or human sciences.
• Written communication: Communicate geographic ideas clearly and effectively (e.g., maps, writing, oral presentations, posters, photos, flowcharts, tables, graphs, and illustrations).
• Creative thinking: Apply observations from laboratory and/or field experiences to analyze problems and offer solutions.
• Creative thinking: Demonstrate the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and synthesize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial-temporal context.
• Inquiry and analysis: Explore complex local, regional, and global issues using a geographical perspective to formulate questions and draw informed conclusions that are based on critical scientific analysis and interpretation of information.

The M.S. in Interdisciplinary Sciences program is an innovative, flexible, and highly individualized graduate program designed to meet students’ academic and professional goals. Students will work with their advisor to finalize their plan of study in at least two or three disciplines, using classes that are relevant to supporting the student in achieving their educational goals. Students will complete a plan of study with a research/design paper or coursework only option.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the various disciplines incorporated into their plan of study;
• Identify and apply relevant theoretical frameworks;
• Have fundamental knowledge of their disciplines and specific knowledge of their particular area of study; and
• Demonstrate mastery of subject matter on their plan of study.

Students who undertake a project will be able to:

• Develop a plan for the project or develop a plan for a scholarly or creative work;
• Locate, retrieve and utilize appropriate information;
• Read, understand, and critically review the primary literature or previous creative works;
• Utilize appropriate methodologies to conduct an applied study, implement a project, or utilize appropriate skills to produce a creative work;
• Analyze results using qualitative or quantitative techniques when appropriate;
• Compare their results to previous studies when appropriate;
• Explain the contribution of their work to the broader field of existing knowledge or to previously created works; and
• Communicate the originality of, as well as the independent thinking and rationale for their work, in oral or written format.

Students who undertake the course completion option will be able to:

• Undertake scholarly or creative work as demonstrated in specific class assignments;
• Locate, retrieve and utilize appropriate information;
• Read, understand, and critically review the primary literature or previous creative works;
• Analyze results using qualitative or quantitative techniques when appropriate;
• Compare their results to previous studies when appropriate;
• Explain the contribution of their work to the broader field of existing knowledge or to previously created works; and
• Communicate the originality of, as well as the independent thinking and rationale for their work, in written or oral format.

Secondary school mathematics educators need to be mathematicians as well as skilled educators, so the Mathematics Education Specialists take the same challenging core upper level mathematics courses as those math majors pursuing other professional goals. In addition to this rigorous mathematics curriculum, Mathematics Education Specialists take the full block of education courses. This program allows graduates to find meaningful careers in secondary education, as well as preparing students for graduate study.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Mathematics major with teaching specialization, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate competence in all core areas of undergraduate mathematics. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking, Problem Solving)
• Develop a career as a mathematics educator.
• Use contemporary mathematical and presentation software and technology. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Apply pedagogical knowledge to allow them to grow as a teacher. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning, Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Communicate clearly and succinctly in writing in the discipline. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Articulate complex ideas to an audience. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)

A degree in Journalism prepares students with essential skills including: writing, speaking, critical thinking and technology. Through coursework and experiential learning opportunities, including a required internship, graduates are well-positioned for a wide variety of careers. Students may pursue a B.A. or B.S. in Journalism with coursework in both broadcast and news-editorial journalism. This versatile major prepares students to be digital storytellers, reporters, editors, designers for print, broadcast or online media, photojournalists, or communicators in government, with non-profit organizations or in the corporate world.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students completing the Journalism major will be equipped to:

• Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances. (Cross-curricular Skill: Civic Knowledge and Engagement)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity. (Cross-curricular Skill: Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Think critically, creatively and independently. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
• Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)

Dietetics prepares Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to practice dietetics at an advanced level and/or pursue doctoral study.  The program seeks to develop research skills, stimulate independent thought, and provide up-to-date knowledge in foods, nutrition, and food service/business management. This program prepares individuals to integrate and apply the principles ranging from the biomedical sciences, human behavior, and management to design, and to lead effective food, nutrition, health and wellness programs in a variety of settings. This online program will be a degree tailored for credentialed, practicing dietetics professionals who seek to enhance their knowledge in a specific area of dietetics practice or to retool for new career opportunities in dietetics practice. The student must already have the RDN credential or have a Verification Statement from an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics. This degree does not prepare one to become a credentialed RDN.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Foundational knowledge: Apply foundational knowledge and skills in the theory and application of nutrition and dietetics sciences to professional practice, education, and research.
• Communication skills: Develop effective written and oral communication skills.
• Critical thinking: Critically analyze and synthesize scientific evidence to defend a position.
• Career preparedness: Demonstrate effective career preparedness.