Baccalaureate Degree Requirements Regarding Upper Division Coursework
Baccalaureate degree graduates must have earned a minimum of 32 semester hours of upper division (300-400) course credit, either from Dickinson State University or another regionally accredited institution.
Major/Minor Minimum Credit Requirements
Majors must consist of a minimum of 32 semester hours, 18 hours must be from Dickinson State University.
Minors must consist of a minimum of 21 semester hours, 12 hours must be from Dickinson State University.
A student cannot minor within their major field of study.
Bachelor of Arts Degrees
The Bachelor of Arts degree provides a strong liberal arts curricular foundation designed to encourage knowledge of human cultures, to promote proficiency in writing and speaking, and to provide concentrated study in a major and a minor area.
Major and Minor – The student’s major and minor areas must ordinarily be part of the Bachelor of Arts curriculum, but some departments allow the selection of a cognate or an interdisciplinary area in lieu of a minor. A minor is also required for graduation unless the major consists of 56 or more credit hours.
Bachelor of Arts graduates must complete a minimum of eight credit hours of foreign language study. The eight credit hours can be in one language or in multiple languages. American Sign Language credits may also be used to meet this requirement.
Bachelor of Science Degrees
Students seeking a Bachelor of Science degree may choose a major from departments in the College of Education, Business and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. A minor is also required for graduation unless the major consists of 56 or more credit hours.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Students who seek a Bachelor of Business Administration may choose one or more of four majors from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship. These include:
- Accounting
- Administration
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
Bachelor of University Studies Degrees
The Bachelor of University Studies (BUS) program affords students the opportunity to plan their own curriculum, and to choose those courses which seem most valuable and interesting to them. Students should note that the BUS degree does not qualify the graduate for teacher certification.
Degree available in Bismarck, Williston, DSUlive, and online
Bachelor of Applied Science Degree
The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree is intended to build on an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) but can be pursued independently by completing all 120 semester hours at DSU and meeting the minimum program requirements as listed in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship section.
Bachelor of Science in Education Degrees
The Bachelor of Science in Education curriculum offers two programs for teaching in elementary (1-8, K-8) and secondary schools (5-12).
Elementary Education
The Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Elementary Education includes General Education courses and both pre-professional and professional education courses. Early childhood education and reading concentrations are available, as are courses for middle school English, mathematics, social studies, and science. These concentrations and options lead to special state endorsements and/or credentials.
Secondary Education
The Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in an approved secondary teaching subject includes courses in General Education, pre-professional and professional education, the major field, and elective areas. In selecting major and minor fields, students should consider both their own interests and the most common combinations in secondary schools.
Major Fields Are:
Biology Education
Business Education
Chemistry Education
English Education
History Education
Mathematics Education
Music Education – Instrumental, Choral, or Composite options
Physical Education
Composite Science Education - Biology or Earth Science tracks
Composite Social Science Education
Technology Education (in cooperation with Valley City State University)
For K-12 licensure in art, physical education, and music, students must take additional work in the major plus a sequence of professional education courses that give them a background in working with elementary students. The specific courses in the major can be found under the appropriate major section in the catalog. Specifics of the professional core are found under the Department of Teacher Education.