Master of Science in Human Sciences with Specialization in Merchandising

at South Dakota State University USA

Electrical engineers play key roles in solving technical problems in many areas including biomedical engineering, communications, computers and digital hardware, electronic materials and sensor devices, image processing, control systems, alternative energy and power systems.

The program begins the first year developing a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and communication. Unique to SDSU, the EE program boasts a first semester introductory hands-on lab experience followed by a first course in linear circuits and lab in the second semester. Following this are two intensive years of study in circuits, energy conversion, electronics, signal, systems and control theory, electronic material and devices, digital and microprocessor systems. The junior and senior years include courses that cover the breadth and depth of the field.  During their senior year, students will select a specialization and take technical electives in their chosen area. The capstone of the program is Senior Design I and II, a two-semester sequence taken in the senior year that places every student on a team that designs, builds, tests, and demonstrates a significant electrical engineering project (typically industry sponsored), which 1) incorporates appropriate engineering standards and multiple constraints, and 2) is based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work; students also take a Project Management and Engineering Economics course that supports this sequence. The projects are developed in collaboration with SDSU researchers or industry and provide students valuable “real world” team design experience.

Program Educational Objectives
The undergraduate EE program educational objectives are to equip individuals who, after graduation and initial work experience,

•  Provide innovative and state-of-the-art approaches to solving complex technical problems through application of sound electrical engineering principles and make high quality technical decisions based on accumulated knowledge, experience, wisdom and common sense.
• Create positive organizational impact through individual contribution and teamwork with a commitment to working with others of diverse culture and interdisciplinary backgrounds.
• Demonstrate professional stewardship and ethical responsibility and exemplify a productive member of society by serving their communities and society.
• Illustrate initiative and successful career growth through measurable and impactful contributions that strongly support the organization’s core high-level goals, accompanied by lifelong learning through graduate work, professional development and self-study, leading to increases in organizational responsibility.

Student Outcomes
All graduates will have:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• An 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 societal 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 Master’s degree in Agricultural Education is designed to meet the needs of individuals who work (or plan to work) in agricultural education, non-profit organizations, post-secondary education or in agriculture leadership. The School of Education, Counseling and Human Development provides professional preparation for those who want to expand their knowledge and advance themselves professionally in the agricultural industry.

Students are able to choose from either a program in which only coursework is required or a program in which they must complete a research project or creative component. If a student elects to complete a thesis (Plan A) the program will include 30 credit hours. If a student elects to complete a creative component (Plan B), the student must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours in order to graduate. If a full coursework option is selected (Plan C), the student must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of current issues: The graduate of the curriculum and instruction program displays knowledge of current practices, research, theories, and issues in education.
• Knowledge of learning: The graduate of the curriculum and instruction program demonstrates knowledge of how students learn and is able to effectively apply that knowledge within a variety of educational roles.
• Curricular processes: The graduate of the curriculum and instruction program effectively participates in curricular processes.
• Communication skills: The graduate of the curriculum and instruction program effectively communicates.
• Foundational lifetime learning skills: The graduate of the curriculum and instruction program displays commitment to professional involvement and growth through continual learning, reflective practice, and collaboration.
• Technology: The graduate of the curriculum and instruction program makes appropriate use of educational technology.

Students majoring in Consumer Affairs who pursue the Family Financial Management specialization are usually interested in financial markets, financial decision, economics, business concepts and working with individuals to develop personal financial management skills. Required courses for the Family Financial Management specialization focus on principles and practice of insurance planning, investment strategies, income tax planning, retirement preparation, and estate planning.

Completion of the Consumer Affairs major and Family Financial Management specialization prepares students to engage in a variety of careers such as: financial services, financial planning, credit/financial counseling, human resources, marketing and sales.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will apply the consumer decision-making process to improve consumer well-being.
• Students will demonstrate effective resource management skills. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
• Students will integrate knowledge of policy and community resources to solve consumer issues. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy; Problem Solving)
• Students will increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding of individual and social differences in consumer behavior. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

As a family and consumer sciences educator, the FCSE graduate is qualified to teach content in a wide range of settings, including in middle and high schools, occupational training programs, adult programs, or to serve as an extension educator. The FCSE program prepares students with comprehensive subject matter background from all areas of family and consumer sciences, (human development, family studies, consumer affairs, apparel, housing, nutrition, hospitality, and personal finance) contributing to the versatility of the major. The program focuses on characteristics of various learners or clients, learning principles and different applications of the teaching-learning process.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Family and Consumer Sciences major students will:

• Analyze family, community, and work interrelationships; investigate career paths; examine family and consumer sciences careers; and apply career decision making and transitioning processes. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Use resources responsibly to address the diverse needs and goals of individuals, families, and communities in family and consumer sciences areas such as resource management, consumer economics, financial literacy, living environments, and textiles and apparel. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Apply principles of human development, interpersonal relationships, and family to strengthen individuals and families across the lifespan in contexts such as parenting, care giving, and the workplace. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Civic Knowledge and Engagement; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Promote nutrition, food, and wellness practices that enhance individual and family well- being across the lifespan and address related concerns in a global society. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Problem Solving; Civic Knowledge and Engagement; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Develop, justify, and implement curricula that address perennial and evolving family, career, and community issues; reflect the integrative nature of family and consumer sciences; and integrate core academic areas. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Problem Solving; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Facilitate students’ critical thinking and problem solving in family and consumer sciences through varied instructional strategies and technologies and through responsible management of resources in schools, communities, and the workplace. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Problem Solving; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Create and implement a safe, supportive learning environment that shows sensitivity to diverse needs, values, and characteristics of students, families, and communities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Engage in ethical professional practice based on the history and philosophy of family and consumer sciences and career and technical education through civic engagement, advocacy, and ongoing professional development. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Ethical Reasoning; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Assess, evaluate, and improve student learning and programs in family and consumer sciences using appropriate criteria, standards, and processes. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Problem Solving; Ethical Reasoning; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Integrate the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America student organization into the program to foster students’ academic growth, application of family and consumer sciences content, leadership, service learning, and career development. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Information Literacy; Problem Solving; Civic Knowledge and Engagement; Ethical Reasoning; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills; Integrative Learning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• The teacher candidate will foster relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well being.

The Department of Natural Resource Management offers graduate programs in both Biological Science with a Specialization in Natural Resource Management and Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Both degree programs award M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences

The M.S. degree program in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences is intended to educate students for management-level positions with state and federal agencies, private companies, and for the pursuit of higher academic degrees. By using specifically identified coursework and mentoring, we strive to assist students in developing their intellectual capabilities in working with natural resources and people. In addition, each student must propose and conduct an original scientific investigation. Placement rates for M.S. graduates into positions as fisheries biologists, wildlife biologists, and other natural resource positions with state and federal agencies is extremely high.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Be knowledgeable regarding biological systems at a level appropriate to a M.S. degree holder.
• Be able to effectively express themselves orally and in written form.
• Understand the scientific method of solving problems.
• Be computer and statistically capable.
• Be specialized in some area of wildlife or fisheries, but still be broadly based in knowledge.
• Be able to conduct scholarly research.
• Understand the relationships between biological information and socioeconomic factors.
• Demonstrate professional development, especially in regard to the need for continued learning after their degree program.
• Develop a concern and feeling for the natural resources of the world.

The Horticulture major is designed to prepare students for careers in nursery production, local food production, landscape, tree management, garden center operation, greenhouse production, or for entry into research and graduate study in horticultural science. Greenhouse facilities and extensive field plots in woody and herbaceous ornamentals, fruit, and vegetables provide students with the opportunity to experience all aspects of plant production and management.

Program Emphases
The Horticulture Major offers four areas of emphasis. Students with an interest in:

• Crop management and production technologies of greenhouse, nursery, fruit, or vegetable crops can tailor their program of studies using the Production Emphasis.
• Careers in managing nurseries, landscape maintenance, arboriculture, garden centers or greenhouse businesses should follow the Business Emphasis.
• Careers in food crop or local food production and marketing should follow the Food Crop Emphasis.
• Pursuing a graduate degree or laboratory science career should follow the Science Emphasis.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Horticulture major, students will:

• Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of basic Horticultural principles and practices.
• Demonstrate the ability to think creatively and to apply critical thinking skills when evaluating and analyzing information. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Demonstrate the ability to learn, develop, and apply skills for the application of existing and emerging knowledge and technologies in Horticulture. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Demonstrate the ability to apply scientific principles, quantitative skills, and other problem solving skills in Horticulture. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• Demonstrate knowledge and application of ethical and sustainable practices in the Horticultural fields. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of local food production principles and practices.
• Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of plant identification, selection, use, and maintenance of plant material best suited for conventional and sustainable landscapes.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate (written, listening and oral) with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

The Aviation Education Specialization is for students who wish to become Certified Flight Instructors and later be professional pilots in industry. Many of our graduates are in the airlines, military, government, and corporate workplaces. Top performing students of this option are often brought on as flight instructors in the SDSU program during their junior and senior years.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Aviation Education program will be able to:

• Apply their educational experience to the aviation profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Demonstrate instructional knowledge in single- and multi-engine aircraft to the FAA commercial pilot standard. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Demonstrate instructional knowledge by creating and teaching relevant aviation topics to colleagues. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy; Teamwork)

Additionally, all students will participate in a senior capstone course that is designed to bridge the gap between their educational experience and future career. Students are evaluated using direct and indirect assessment to assure competency within the profession using a comprehensive assessment plan.

The history curriculum is adaptable to personal interests and needs, allowing students to explore the past and make connections to the present.  The Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree in history prepares students for careers in various professional occupations, law, journalism, teaching, business, public service, library sciences, international work, historical research, and provides a necessary background for graduate work or other specialized training.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students with a major in History will be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the most important historical events in U.S. History, including an in-depth study of issues facing minorities within the U.S. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the most important historical events beyond the United States. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge)
• Interpret the past in context; contextualize the past on its own terms. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Develop a disciplined, skeptical stand and outlook on the world that demands evidence and a sophisticated use of information. This includes recognizing the difference between strong and weak arguments based on evidence, seeking use of proper citations and peer review in other works. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Demonstrate an awareness that knowledge is often incomplete or imperfect, and thus multiple alternatives must be considered and conclusions are subject to change. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Know the difference between primary and secondary documents, demonstrate how and when to cite in the format of the profession.
• Identify and summarize the historical arguments of other scholars.
• Frame a historical question and develop research strategies to address it, generate historical argument that is reasoned and based on evidence selected, arranged and analyzed. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Effectively navigate the library and online databases, as well as the archives or in the community for primary sources, peer-reviewed literature and book reviews. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)

The English major requires 45 credits in English and linguistics courses and is designed to give the student a broad overview of literature, writing, and the language.

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)

Geography is the scientific study of the distribution of both physical and human features of the Earth’s surface. Geographers seek to describe, relate and explain the natural and cultural phenomena that distinguish places around the world. Geographers focus upon “where” and “why” questions concerning the global environment. Geography also functions as a bridge between the natural sciences; its perspective on the location of phenomena makes it unique among the academic disciplines. The process of change is a fundamental theme in geography and the examination of how humankind modifies the Earth is a continual emphasis. The study of geography is thus of vital concern to all citizens and provides graduates with numerous career opportunities in business, education, and government.

The Geography program is designed to provide the student with a general education as well as a concentration in the major field of study. The faculty recommends that majors take several courses in disciplines closely related to their specific area of interest in geography. Those interested in physical geography might register for associated courses in physics, agricultural sciences, botany or other allied disciplines. If one is interested in human geography, course work in sociology, economics, history, political science or foreign language or some other social science might be considered. For technical geography, computer science and mathematics courses are recommended. Qualified students may also enhance their academic experience with participation in the Undergraduate Scholars Program.

Program Emphases

• The Planning Emphasis stresses research techniques and is oriented toward future employment in governmental, industrial, military, or planning positions.
• The Environmental Planning and Management Emphasis is designed to prepare students for careers in governmental, industrial, managerial, recreational areas, and commercial corporations.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a major in Geography will:

• Demonstrate foundational and specialized knowledge in both the physical and human sciences and their interconnectedness at local, regional, and global scales. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Interpret the ethical consequences of global issues concerning the environment to strengthen commitment to local, national, and global citizenship. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• Demonstrate proficiency in the application of appropriate geographical technologies and techniques to address issues in the physical and/or human sciences.
• Communicate geographic ideas clearly and effectively (e.g., maps, writing, oral presentations, posters, photos, flowcharts, tables, graphs, and illustrations).
• Apply observations from laboratory and/or field experiences to analyze problems and offer solutions. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis; Problem Solving)
• Demonstrate the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and synthesize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial-temporal context. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy; Problem Solving)
• 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. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)