2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Sep 28, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

School of Education, Counseling and Human Development


Instructor presenting to students.

Anne Karabon, Wendell and Marlys Thompson Director
School of Education, Counseling and Human Development
Wenona Hall 108
605-688-5039

Faculty

Professors

Mary Bowne, Hande Briddick, Kay Cutler, Amber Letcher, Jay Trenhaile

Associate Professors

Andrea Bjornestad, William Briddick, Christin Carotta, Ann Michelle Daniels, Anthony Durr, Nicole Graves, Carie Green, Patrick Hales, Laura Hasselquist, Anne Karabon, Erin Lavender-Stott, Katelyn Romsa

Assistant Professors

Matthew Albritton, Hamada Elfraragy, Heidi Sackreiter, Naomi Timm-Davis

Senior Lecturer

Teri Johnson

Lecturers

Valerie Albert, Ilyani Bigcrow-Abourezk, Laura Gloege, Melissa Granum, Emily Lake, Nicole Linstad, Bonnie Shinn, Lynda Venhuizen

Instructors

Laura Ackerwold, Carrie Benson, Renee Estebo, Jamie Fryslie, Katie Gilmore, Meagan Irvine-Miller, Jen Johnson

Emeritus

Lowell Amiotte, Keith Corbett, Alan Davis, Carl Edeburn, V. Duane Everett, Clark Hanson, Ruth Harper, Darrell Jensen, Peggy Gordon Miller, Lon Moeller, Marla Muxen, Cindi Penor-Ceglian, Lawrence Rogers, Howard Smith, Gary Steinley, Andrew Stremmel, Ann Wilson

Overview

The mission of the School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development is to provide high quality educational experiences to learners across the education and human science fields, and to generate knowledge of human behavior, learning science, and interpersonal relationships.

The School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development creates a unique niche across programs in education and human science fields that emphasizes developmental sciences and the science of learning. By more fully integrating human development and education, we will be able to better ground teacher education in the context of developmental and cultural relevance, and we will further strengthen our offerings in human development by grounding them in the science of learning. Both areas underscore the importance of how learning across the lifespan develops in diverse learners. Diverse here references not only differences in cognitive and learning styles, but differences in culture, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle.

Students will participate in practical experiences designed to provide the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for careers in individual and family service settings; child/adult focused human services, and/or continued coursework in graduate school.

For those students who are uncertain about a major, the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development is home to the Exploratory Studies program, a designated program for South Dakota State University to assist students in identifying the right field of study. The Exploratory Studies program is closely supported by university academic advisors, who help identify courses and experiences based on majors and career areas of interest.

The School of Education, Counseling and Human Development prepares educational professionals to be teachers and educational leaders for the 21st century. The school is committed to preparing highly qualified professionals, creating and sharing new knowledge in our profession, and developing outreach opportunities with stakeholders in the field. The School of Education, Counseling and Human Development is one of the few public university departments in South Dakota that delivers programs at the main campus in Brookings, BHSU - Rapid City, and online.

Programs

Majors

Minors

Certificates

Certification Preparation

Endorsements 

Graduate Programs*

  • Academic Advising Certificate
  • Agricultural Education (M.S.)
  • Competency-Based Learning Certificate
  • Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.Ed.) - Administration of Student Affairs Specialization
  • Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization
  • Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - College Counseling Specialization
  • Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - Marriage and Family Counseling Specialization
  • Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization
  • Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - School Counseling Specialization
  • Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) - Early Childhood Education Specialization
  • Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) - Elementary Education Specialization
  • Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.) - Secondary Education Specialization
  • Educational Administration (M.Ed.)
  • Human Sciences (M.S.) - Developmental Sciences Specialization 
  • Human Sciences (M.S.) - Family and Community Services Specialization
  • Human Sciences (M.S.) - Family and Consumer Sciences Education Specialization

* Graduate degrees are offered in collaboration with the Graduate School. For details, see the Graduate Catalog.

Exploratory Studies Program for Deciding Students

SDSU allows admitted students to enter the university as a deciding student without a declared major to take a planful approach in the major selection process. With over 200 majors and minors available, this program is an option students have upon entering the university that provides them with an opportunity to explore a variety of academic areas prior to selecting a major. There are three core classes in the Exploratory Studies Program, along with other general education classes. Deciding student enrollment is normally for the freshman year, as they are encouraged to choose a major within two semesters. The three core classes of the program are designated with the ACS prefix, which stands for Academic and Career Success. This program assists students in the transition to the university, provides them with resources to help them be a successful student, and helps them to solidify their major decision early in their college career. Deciding students are assisted during their first year by a support team of academic advisors, faculty, and staff in planning their college program and are encouraged to explore various fields of study when selecting a major.

In the Exploratory Studies Program, a two-credit class is designed to help students select a major: ACS 102 Exploratory Studies. SDSU has identified five (5) interest area tracks reflecting majors offered at the university. When students apply to SDSU, they select a track of their choice during the application process that best fits their interest areas. Each track exposes them to specific insights about careers and opportunities within specific fields of study, along with supporting coursework, to holistically support the students in their major selection process.

Exploratory Studies Program Tracks

Students are expected to be in good academic standing as they explore academic and career options and declare a major. Academic advisors assist first year students to identify their interests, aptitudes, and abilities. Students work with advisors to plan out a plan of study that will meet their interests and needs. Along with ACS 102 Exploratory Studies, first year students at SDSU also enroll in a two-credit ACS 119 First Year Seminar, which helps them acclimate to college life and learn about SDSU resources. Transfer and non-traditional students enroll in ACS 219 Transition Year Seminar. The third core class of the Exploratory Studies Program is ACS 143 Mastering Lifetime Learning Skills, and it is designed to fine-tune academic and life skills for a successful college experience. A suggested first year schedule follows:

Freshman Year Fall   Spring
ACS 102 - Exploratory Studies   2 or 2
ACS 119 - First Year Seminar   2    
ACS 143 - Mastering Lifetime Learning Skills   2 or 2
CMST 101 - Foundations of Communication (COM) [SGR #2, HSDC]   3 or 3
ENGL 101 - Composition I (COM) [SGR #1, HSDC]   3 or 3
MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC]  (or prescribed MATH course) 3 or 3
Humanities Core Courses 3 or 3
Social Sciences Core Courses 3 or 3
Biological or Physical Science Core Courses 3-4 or 3-4
Interest Area Courses 3 or 3

Facilities and Services

The school has several unique facilities and services.

Student Support and Engagement Opportunities

The school encourages student participation in organizations and honor societies.

  • Alpha Tau Alpha is an honor society in Agricultural Education open to majors.
  • Kappa Delta Pi is an honor society that recognizes outstanding contributions to education.
  • Student National Education Association is affiliated with the South Dakota Education Association and the National Education Association and provides opportunities for professional growth.
  • South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children provides opportunities for professional growth for Early Childhood majors.
  • Human Development and Family Studies Club provides opportunities for professional development and service for students interested in the human services fields.
  • American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of American (FCCLA) Alumni student organization provides opportunities for professional development and service and is open to all majors.

The school also provides information and assistance as students seek out scholarship, internship, and career opportunities.