Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED 2017-2018 
    
Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

About DSU



Accreditation

Dakota State University or specific programs offered are accredited by the following agencies:

  • The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools through the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) process.
    230 S. LaSalle St. - Suite 7-500
    Chicago, IL 60604-1413 • (312) 263-0456 • 1-800-621-7440
  • Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
  • Division of Education of the South Dakota Department of Education and Cultural Affairs
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • State Approving Agency as programs eligible for veterans benefits
  • Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
  • Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
  • Servicemembers Opportunity College

Mission Statement

The Legislature established Dakota State University as an institution specializing in programs in computer management, computer information systems, and other related undergraduate and graduate programs as outlined in SDCL 13-59-2.2. A special emphasis is the preparation of the elementary and secondary teachers with expertise in the use of computer technology and information processing in the teaching and learning process.

The Board implemented SDCL 13-59-2.2 by authorizing undergraduate and graduate programs that are technology-infused and promote excellence in teaching and learning. These programs support research, scholarly and creative activities and provide service to the State of South Dakota and the region. Dakota State University is a member of the South Dakota System of Higher Education.

Curriculum

Degrees are authorized at the associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctorate levels.

The following curriculum is approved for the university:

  1. Undergraduate Programs
    • Associate degree programs are approved in allied health care, business, general studies, and information technology.
    • Baccalaureate programs are approved in allied health care, business, computer game design, digital arts and design, education, information technology, information security, mathematics, and sciences.
  2. Graduate Programs
    • Master’s degree programs are approved in education, analytics, information systems, information assurance and computer security, health informatics and information management, applied computer science and business administration.
    • Doctorate of Science degree program are approved in information systems and in cyber security.

Strategic Plan

Mission:  Dakota State University provides learning that integrates technology and innovation to develop graduates ready to contribute to local, national, and global prosperity.

Vision:  Building upon its distinctive mission, DSU will become: 

  • The university of choice for those seeking a student-centered institution that offers innovative programs grounded in teaching, research, technology, scholarship, and service excellence.
  • An academic community that serves as an economic engine in local, national, and global markets.
  • A campus recognized for its achievements in continuous quality improvement.

Values:  At Dakota State University, we value

  • Student Success.
  • University-wide Excellence.
  • Distinction in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service.
  • Academic Freedom and Integrity.
  • Diversity, Respect, and Inclusion.
  • Change and Continuous Improvement.
  • Community, Collaboration, and Communication.
  • Technology and Innovation inside and outside the classroom.

Goals and Initiatives:

Educate to Inspire:  Dedicated to Academic Quality and Excellence.

  • Offer innovative and robust academic programs that link to our mission.
  • Advance inquiry, scholarship, research, and creative activity.
  • Provide opportunities for experiential learning within the curriculum.
  • Infuse innovative technology in the delivery of academic programs.
  • Support clear and defined learning outcomes to ensure that DSU graduates are competitive in their fields.

Grow to Thrive:  Dedicated to Student Access and Success.

  • Optimize undergraduate and graduate enrollment.
  • Recruit a more diverse student, faculty, and staff population.
  • Support a quality co-curricular educational experience.
  • Create a campus environment that supports student engagement and learning.

Innovate to Transform:  Dedicated to Continuous Improvement.

  • Focus on maximizing cost-effectiveness and supporting the development of new resources to support the university’s mission.
  • Through continuous quality improvement, DSU will evaluate university-wide processes to promote a student-friendly environment.
  • Create a campus culture that promotes transparent decision making, effective communication, and shared governance.
  • Improve brand awareness regionally, nationally, and globally.

Collaborate to Lead:  Dedicated to Internal and External Partnerships.

  • Develop a robust University Advancement program that increases resources for scholarship, facilities, and faculty/staff development.
  • Expand industry, government, and K-12 partnerships to enhance the student educational experience.
  • Increase alumni involvement through university-wide programs that engage both current and former students.

Campus Diversity Plan

Dakota State University is committed to providing an opportunity to learn in a rich environment free of intolerance and bigotry, one that teaches and honors the importance of the acceptance of differences in others. All members of the community have a responsibility to make DSU campuses and classrooms welcoming and respectful of each member’s differences and/or abilities. An investment in diversity is more than the act of recruiting diverse peoples to campus or celebrating ethnically themed events or holidays.

Diversity Mission Statement:

The Dakota State University community asserts these fundamental beliefs:

  • Individuals who differ in age, creed, culture, exceptionalities, ethnicity, gender, race, sexuality, and social-economic status all contribute to the diversity which we value in the university community.
  • Respect for all individuals and interaction with people different from oneself are essential components of a university education.
  • The university community pledges to promote an atmosphere, which encourages the development of potential and promotes the value of diversity.

Dakota State University’s History

Dakota State University was founded in 1881 as the first teacher education institution in Dakota Territory. It began as Dakota Normal School, and over the years the name changed to Madison State Normal School, Eastern State Normal, Eastern State Teachers College, General Beadle State Teachers College and General Beadle State College. The name Dakota State College was adopted in 1969. On July 1, 1989, the South Dakota Legislature changed the name to Dakota State University to better reflect its purpose in the total scheme of the state’s higher education system.

While prospective elementary and secondary teachers continued to be educated at DSU, in the 1960s business and traditional arts and science programs were added. Two health services programs, health information management and respiratory care, were added in the late 1970s.

In 1984, the South Dakota Legislature and the South Dakota Board of Regents changed the mission of Dakota State to emphasize computer technology and information systems. The purpose of this legislative action was two-fold - to address economic development in the state, particularly within the growing banking and financial services industry, and to add technology education to the programs offerings by South Dakota regental schools.

To fulfill this mission, Dakota State University developed leading-edge computer technology and information systems degree programs. DSU was the first university in the state and one of the few in the country to implement a wireless mobile computing initiative by providing all students with notebooks. DSU has also focused on applying computer technology to traditional academic fields, leading to the development of unique technology-focused degree programs in English, mathematics, and biology and physical sciences.

Dakota State is recognized nationally for its innovative curriculum. In Spring 2004, DSU was one of ten colleges in the country named a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency. The university now has four CAE distinctions, in cyber defense education, cyber defense research, cyber operations, and as a cyber defense consultative regional resource center. Also, DSU is the only university in the country that partners with the NSA National Cryptologic School, through which NSA military and civilian employees are able finish their associate, undergraduate and graduate degrees in cyber operations.

To reach broader audiences, including non-traditional, rural and international students, the institution began offering its quality, ground-breaking programs through distance course options in 1989. As of fall 2017, 18 undergraduate programs and all DSU’s graduate programs are offered online. Graduates of DSU programs enjoy enviable status in the national marketplace, with a 100 percent placement rate in many of the technology programs.

Equal Opportunity

Dakota State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal educational opportunity in all student services and in all staff and faculty employment actions, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

Institutional Administration

South Dakota Board of Regents Officers for 2017-2018

President: Bob Sutton
Secretary: John Bastian
Vice President: Kevin Schieffer
Executive Director: Dr. Michael Rush

  Conrad Adam Pierre  
  John Bastian Belle Fourche  
  Pam Roberts Pierre
  Randy Schaefer Madison
  Jim Morgan Brookings
  Bob Sutton Pierre
  Joan Wink Howes (Meade)
  Jim Thares Aberdeen
  Kevin Schieffer Pierre
     
  Board of Regents
State of South Dakota
306 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501-2545

Governance and Organization of the University

Dakota State University is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and operates under the policies and regulations of the Regents. The President is the chief executive officer of the University. The principal officers of the University are the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Business & Administrative Services, the Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs, the Vice President for Technology and CIO and the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.  The general faculty oversee the policies and regulations governing academic and student affairs of the university. Committees are elected or appointed to address matters of importance to students and the faculty.

Executive Administration

  President Jose’-Marie Griffiths
  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott McKay
  Associate Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Judy Dittman
  Vice President for Business and Administrative Services Stacy Krusemark
  Vice President for Student Affairs Marcus Garstecki
  Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mark Johnston
  Vice President for Technology & CIO David Overby

 Academic Administration

  Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Benjamin Jones
  Dean of the College of Business and Information Systems Dorine Bennett
  Dean of the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences Richard Hanson
  Dean of the College of Education Crystal Pauli
  Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Mark Hawkes

Library Staff

  Jan Enright Director of the Karl Mundt Library
  Vaughan Hennen Digital Design and Access Librarian
  Mary Francis Reference Librarian, Associate Professor
  Ryan Burdge Archivist

Graduate Faculty

RICHARD I. AVERY (1998), Professor of Mathematics

B.S., University of New Hampshire
M.A.T., University of New Hampshire
M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

KRISTEL BAKKER (1998), Professor of Biology

B.S., South Dakota State University
M.S., South Dakota State University
Ph.D., South Dakota State University

DORINE BENNETT (1987), Professor, Dean of the College of Business & Information Systems, Chair of HIM Department, Graduate Program Coordinator for MSHI, RHIA, FAHIMA,

B.S., Dakota State University
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
Ed.D., University of South Dakota

GLENN R. BERMAN (2001), Associate Professor of Mathematics

B.A., University of California-Santa Cruz
M.S., Louisiana State University
Ph.D., Louisiana State University

STACEY L. BERRY (2010), Associate Professor of English for New Media

B.A., Austin State University
M.S., Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

DAVID BISHOP (2016), Associate Professor of Information Systems

       B.S., Western Washington University
       M.S., Dakota State University
       D.Sc., Dakota State University 

JUSTIN BLESSINGER (2003), Professor of English

B.A., Tabor College
M.A., Emporia State University
Ph.D., University of South Dakota

YEN-LING CHANG (2010), Associate Professor of Finance

       B.S., National Cheng Chi University
       M.B.A., National Cheng Chi University
       M.S., Iowa State University
       Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

SUSAN CONOVER (1999), Professor of Speech

B.S., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
M.S., Southern Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

DALE DROGE (1992), Professor of Biology and Academic Coordinator for Math and Science

B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

OMAR F. EL-GAYAR (2000), Professor of Information Systems

B.S., M.S., University of Alexandria (Egypt)
M.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa
Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa

KARI FORBES-BOYTE (2005), Professor of Geography

B.A., California State University, Sacramento
M.A., California State University, Chico
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

MARK GEARY (2006), Associate Professor of Education

B.A., University of Central Florida
M.A., University of Central Florida
Ed.D., University of Central Florida

STEVEN GRAHAM (2004), Associate Professor of Computer Game Design/Computer Science

B.S., University of Kansas
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Additional work toward M.S.E.E. at Stanford University

TOM HALVERSON (1999), Associate Professor of Computer Science

B.A., University of Minnesota-Morris
M.S., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Iowa

MICHAEL HAM (2013) Assistant Professor of Cyber Security/Network & Security

       B.S., Dakota State University
       M.S., Dakota State University
       D.Sc., Dakota State University

MARK HAWKES (1999), Professor of Instructional Technology, Dean of the Graduate Studies and Research and Graduate Program Coordinator for MSET

B.S., Brigham Young University
M.S., Brigham Young University
Ph.D., Syracuse University

ROBERT J. HONOMICHL (2009) Instructor of Computer Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S.Ed., Dakota State University

VIKI JOHNSON (2006), Assistant Professor of Sociology

B.A., Dickinson State University
M.S., North Dakota State University
Ph.D., University of North Dakota

BENJAMIN JONES (2013), Associate Professor of History and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

B.A., South Dakota State University
M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Kansas

DANIEL KLUMPER (2016), Instructor of Social Science Pedagogy

       B.A., Augustana College
       MSET., Dakota State University

STEPHEN KREBSBACH (2000), Professor of Computer Science and Graduate Program Coordinator for the MSACS

B.S., Moorhead State University
M.S., Moorhead State University
Ph.D., North Dakota State University

JUN LIU (2012), Associate Professor of Information Systems and Graduate Program Coordinator for MSA

         B.A., Nanjing University, China
         M.S., University of Arizona
         Ph.D., University of Arizona

JAMES MCKEOWN (1989), Lecturer of Computer Education

B.S., South Dakota State University
M.A., Teachers College / Columbia University
Ph.D., University of Iowa

DANIEL MORTENSON (1994), Associate Professor of Music

B.A., Moody Bible Institute
B.S., Northwest Missouri State University
M.M., University of South Dakota
M.S., Dakota State University

GABE MYDLAND (1998), Associate Professor of Education

B.S., Augustana College
M.S., South Dakota State University
Ph.D., University of South Dakota

JENNIFER NASH (2005), Associate Professor of Science Education

B.S., Minnesota State University, Mankato
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

JOHN NELSON (1996), Professor of English

B.S., Black Hills State University
M.A., University of Wyoming
Additional post-graduate work at University of Kansas
P.D., University of South Dakota

CHERIE NOTEBOOM (2009) Associate Professor of Management Information Systems and Graduate Program Coordinator for D.Sc. Info Systems

B.S., South Dakota State University
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
E.D., University of South Dakota
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Omaha

AUSTIN O’BRIEN (2015), Assistant Professor of Computer Science

      B.S., South Dakota State University
      M.S., South Dakota State University
      Ph.D., South Dakota State University

CHRIS OLSON (2006), Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., Northcentral University

JEFFREY PALMER (1991), Professor of Mathematics

B.A., Bemidji State University
B.S., Bemidji State University
M.S., Washington State University
Ph.D., Washington State University

INSU PARK (2014) Assistant Professor of Information Systems

         B.C., Hanyang University
         M.S., Hanyang University
         Ph.D., State University of NY, Buffalo

LINDA J. PARKS (2010) Associate Professor of Health Information Management

B.S., Park College, Parkville, MO
M.A., College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN

JOSH PAULI (2004), Professor of Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., North Dakota State University

WAYNE PAULI (2001), Professor of Information Systems, Graduate Program Coordinator for D.Sc. Cyber Security

B.S., Northern State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., Capella University

ASHLEY PODHRADSKY (2012), Associate Professor of Information Assurance/Forensics and Graduate Program Coordinator for the MSIA

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., Dakota State University

RONGHUA SHAN (1998), Associate Professor of Computer Science/Information Systems and Graduate Program Coordinator for MSIS

B.E., Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang, China
Post Graduate Diploma - China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

ZIXING SHEN (2009), Associate Professor Management/MIS

B.A., Sichuan University, China
M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University

KEVIN SMITH (2013), Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education

       B.S.Ed., Dakota State University
       M.Ed., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
       Ed.D., University of Memphis

RENAE L. SPOHN (2012), Assistant Professor of Health Information Management, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA, FNAHQ

         A.S., Colorado Technical University
         A.S., Dakota State University
         B.S., Dakota State University
         M.B.A., City University (Bellevue, WA)
         Additional study, Colorado Technical University

KEVIN STREFF (2002), Professor of Information Assurance

B.B.A., Dakota State University
M.B.A., Temple University
Ph.D., Capella University

JOSH STROSCHEIN (2013), Assistant Professor of Computer Science

       B.S., University of South Dakota
       M.S., Dakota State University

DANIEL TALLEY (1996), Professor of Economics

B.S., University of Puget Sound
Ph.D., University of Oregon

DEB TECH (1999), Associate Professor of Marketing

B.A., Concordia Teachers College
M.B.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., Northcentral University

BRENT TULLOSS (2001), Instructor of Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University

JACK WALTERS (2005), Professor of Management and Graduate Program Coordinator for the MBA

B.S., University of Pennsylvania
M.S., University of South Florida
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

HAOMIN WANG (1998), Associate Professor of Instructional Technology and Manager of Instructional Technology

B.A., Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
M.A., Northern Arizona University
Ed.D., Northern Arizona University

YONG WANG (2012), Associate Professor / Senior Researcher

         B.S., Wuhan University, China
         M.Eng., Wuhan University, China
         Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln