Bachelor of Science, Major in Horticulture

at South Dakota State University USA

The Department of Biology and Microbiology provides students with a wide range of opportunities for advanced study. The graduate faculty offer expertise and graduate student advisement in subdisciplines from molecular biology through ecology. Faculty members are very successful in obtaining extramural funds to support graduate student projects. Graduate students have modern research laboratories, equipment and field research sites available to carry out their research projects. The learning environment, scholarly excellence and quality of teaching are areas of strength in the department’s Graduate Program.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of program: Exhibit knowledge concerning biological and/or microbiological systems/sciences at a level appropriate to a M.S. degree holder.
• Communication skills: Be able to effectively express themselves orally and in written form.
• Understand scientific method: Understand the scientific methods and techniques for solving research problems and analyze scientific data using the appropriate statistics.
• Use statistics to analyze data: Be able to use statistics to analyze scientific data.
• Specialization: Specialize in some area of biology, biotechnology and/or microbiology, but still be broadly based in knowledge in cellular and molecular biology.
• Publish research: Be able to conduct and publish scholarly research. (Option A)
• Professional Development: Demonstrate professional development and competence so that they may enter the work force in academia or industry.

The major in Business Economics combines the analytical rigor of an economics degree with the practical skills of a management degree. Students can tailor the program to their interests by choosing from a variety of electives in areas such as accounting, business law, decision science, entrepreneurship, economics, finance, management, and marketing.  Career opportunities for Business Economics majors include management, finance, banking, sales, real estate, and marketing. The Business Economics major also serves to prepare students for graduate work in law, economics, and business.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates will:

• Be able to use analytical methods to make effective decisions. (Cross-curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis; Critical and Creative Thinking; Problem Solving)
• Be able to communicate effectively. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Be able to evaluate matters of ethics in the profession and the culture more broadly. (Cross-curricular Skills: Ethical Reasoning; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Have the requisite body of knowledge in management and economics.

The Electronics Engineering Technology Bachelor of Science degree program blends theory with an extensive hands-on, lab-based course sequence. The program has three key components: electronics foundations, advanced electronics applications, and applied management. The goal is to prepare graduates to use be proficient in using, developing, and troubleshooting electronic devices, networks, and controls. Electronics technology courses include circuits, analog and digital systems (intro and advanced), networking, programming, microcontrollers, industrial controls and PLCs, circuit board design, power systems, and communication systems. The program also includes courses in computer programming, project management, quality systems management, and statistics.

Program Educational Outcomes
SDSU Electronics Engineering Technology graduates will become professionals who:

• Achieve positions of increasing responsibility or leadership with employers, professional organizations, or civic organizations as an indicator of professional competence, demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, and successfully function in team environments;
• Apply principles of mathematics, science and management and use appropriate technology to solve current and future problems in the field of electronics technology; and,
• Complete licensure, certification, short courses, workshops, and/or advanced degrees to be effective technical managers in the global business environment.

Student Learning Outcomes
EET graduates have:

• An ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline; (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• An ability to design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline; (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• An ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
• An ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes; and
• An ability to function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)

The program provides coursework on campus, in classroom, laboratory, and in field-based settings.  The EET program has three dedicated electronics labs for bench work, circuit testing, and project fabrication.

A major in advertising will prepare students with effective written and visual communication, critical thinking, strategy, design, and research skills. Through coursework and experiential learning experiences, including a required internship, graduates gain experience working on teams to develop solutions for applied projects, clients, and competitive campaigns.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing an advertising 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.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications.
• 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 Skills: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, Information Literacy)
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity. (Cross-curricular skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• Think critically, creatively and independently. (Cross-curricular Skills: Inquiry and Analysis, 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, Information Literacy)
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
• Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• 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.

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 German Teaching specialization at SDSU consists of the same aims and content as the German B.A. In addition, teaching candidates are given training in the most current professional standards and methods for teaching excellence in Germanic language and cultures. Former candidates have gone on to teach in public and private schools and have gone for further training in order to teach English as a Second Language and prepare for University-level teaching.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of the German major, students should be able to:

• Speak, read and write German at the Intermediate-High or Advanced level, developing solid competence in the language needed for everyday life and advanced narrative skills in the past, present, and future. (Cross-curricular Skills: Intercultural Knowledge; Inquiry & Analysis; Information Literacy)
• Demonstrate understanding of and growth in the skills required for intercultural communication and competence and life-long learning. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity; Critical & Creative Thinking)
• Identify the cultural perspectives of the German-speaking world’s civilizations and their cultural products, such as literatures, arts, institutions, pop cultures, etc. and compare the cultural frames that determine everyday life in French- speaking cultures and the U.S. (Cross-curricular Skills: Intercultural Knowledge; Critical & Creative Thinking; Inquiry & Analysis; Information Literacy)
• Adapt behavior to a variety of cultural contexts through critical analysis of cultural frames. (Cross-curricular Skills: Intercultural Knowledge; Creative & Critical Thinking; and Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Articulate the value of their language and cultural studies and apply this knowledge in future employment. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

Geographic Information Science concerns the use of geographic information and data acquired from satellites and airborne platforms, and from ground based measurements and surveys of human activity and the environment. Geographic Information Science students learn how to work with geospatial data to study relationships, patterns, and trends. In the U.S. the explosion of geospatial data and their increasing use in business, government, and people’s everyday lives has led to a growing demand for qualified Geographic Information Science graduates. Geospatial science is developing rapidly, associated with developments in mobile, satellite and airborne remote sensing, computational, and big data technologies.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a major in Geographic Information Sciences 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: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• 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. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• 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: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• 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)
• 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)
• Demonstrate openness to new perspectives and diverse others, evaluate the complexity inherent to multiple perspectives, and demonstrate the ability to reassess their personal perspective when appropriate. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

The Construction Management (CM) program prepares graduates to assume entry-level management positions in construction and related industries. Our CM curriculum is primarily focused on commercial building construction, the program also covers heavy-highway-utilities and residential construction. Regardless of the construction industry sector chosen, students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills to deliver construction projects with respect to scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety and the environment.

Program Educational Outcomes
SDSU Construction Management graduates will become professionals who:

• Achieve positions of increasing responsibility or leadership with employers, professional organizations or civic organizations as an indicator of professional competence, demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, and successfully function in team environments;
• Apply principles of contemporary management techniques, critical thinking skills, and mathematics and science to solve problems, and manage construction projects; and,
• Continue to learn via professional organization engagement, continuing education, graduate degrees, employer-based training programs, or other development opportunities that increase productivity, open doors to promotion, and make them more effective managers.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation from the Construction Management program, our students will have:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or technical topics to areas relevant to the discipline. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure or program to meet desired needs.
• An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion & Equity)
• An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact of technical and/or scientific solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)

The study of Political Science examines political processes, governments, and international relations. The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science prepare graduates for a career in government - at state, local and federal levels, private sectors, advocacy organizations including political parties, and non-profit agencies. It is a flexible degree that offers multiple career tracks. Many of our students successfully pursue advanced degree in law school and other graduate programs.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students with a major in Political Science will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of concepts, theories and methods of political science, political systems beyond the United States, and political issues facing traditionally underrepresented communities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Civic Knowledge and Engagement; Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Develop critical thinking skills by a) including a disciplined, skeptical outlook on the world; b) assessing multiple - and often countervailing - theoretical perspectives, and c) recognizing the difference between strong and weak arguments based on evidence. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Understand international perspectives, a necessary prerequisite to becoming active and responsible global citizens. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge)
• Express themselves effectively through oral and written communication. This includes framing scholarly questions and developing discipline appropriate research strategies to address them. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy; Problem Solving)

SDSU’s English department offers the M.A. degree in English. There are two emphases available to students:

• Studies in Literature
• Studies in Writing and Rhetoric

Within these two areas of study, the department offers three options for completing the degree:

• Option A requires twenty-four credit hours of coursework, six credit hours of thesis, a thesis project, and an oral examination. Within this option, the student may write a critical or a creative thesis.
• Option B requires thirty credit hours of coursework, two credit hours of research, a research/design project, and an oral examination.
• Option C requires thirty-six credit hours of coursework, a comprehensive written examination, and an oral examination.

Each option will support a variety of educational or professional goals. Students generally complete the program in two to three years.

Student Learning Outcomes

The English department’s M.A program prepares students for professional careers or further graduate study by developing their capacities for textual analysis, research, theory, and creative and critical writing.

Upon completing the English M.A. program, students will be able to:

• Textual Analysis: Demonstrate an advanced ability to analyze and interpret literary and cultural texts.
• Literary History: Examine significant texts, authors, periods, movements, genres, theories, and modes from literary history, interpreting the relationship between texts and their historical, aesthetic, cultural, and ideological contexts.
• Writing: Compose sophisticated argumentative, creative, and reflective texts that demonstrate focus, content, structure, evidence, style, and grammar appropriate to their rhetorical contexts.
• Theory: Demonstrate an advanced ability to apply theoretical concepts to the writing and analysis of texts.
• Research: Produce original research that advances knowledge within the discipline; generates questions for scholarly inquiry; identifies its methodological and theoretical foundations; employs library resources and discipline-specific databases; evaluates and integrates secondary criticism; and documents sources using MLA style.
• Diversity: 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, and class shape identity and influence perception. (Transferable Skill: Diversity Awareness)
• Teaching: Deliver instruction that demonstrates a growing mastery of course content (cultural analysis, rhetoric, grammar, and research) and increasing skill in helping students of varying abilities improve their cultural awareness, critical acumen, reading comprehension, and writing competence. (Graduate teaching assistants only.) (Transferable Skill: Teaching/Training)