Master of Science in Mathematics with Specialization in Statistics

at South Dakota State University USA

The Precision Agriculture major prepares students for careers that bridge the gaps between agronomy, agriculture machinery management, and data sciences caused by the rapid evolution of high-speed sensor technology.

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

• Demonstrate foundational and specialized knowledge in crop management, environmental stewardships, and precision agriculture technologies and their integrations at local, regional, and global scales. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Explore complex local, regional, and global issues using a precision agriculture 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 economic and environmental proficiency in applying the proper principles and technologies of precision agriculture and to address socioeconomic issues in Agricultural sciences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Civic Knowledge and Engagement)
• Demonstrate the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and synthesize accurate digital field maps using specialized software and have the operational knowledge for specialized precision agriculture equipment, computers, and spreadsheet applications to produce meaningful management recommendations (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Effectively communicate and demonstrate openness to new perspectives and diverse others, and demonstrate the ability to reassess their personal perspective within precision agriculture activities when appropriate. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)

Learning one or more foreign languages is about much more than just grammar and structure of languages.  To learn a language is to engage with the heritage of entire civilizations, as well as with the contemporary norms that structure societies’ politics, religions, identities, and workplace, in order to communicate more effectively.  Furthermore, language study provides models for dealing with cultural differences that are applicable in any part of the world, including the U.S., taken together, courses offered in Spanish at SDSU prepare students with the skills to function and communicate effectively in any environment.

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

• Speak, read and write Spanish 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 Spanish-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)

The major in Economics provides rigorous training in economic theory and quantitative methods. Students develop analytical and critical-thinking skills, and are well trained for careers in policy analysis, financial analysis, business, or law school. Students may choose the general economics major in which they will customize their program of study by selecting electives in economics, finance or policy, or they can pursue the specialization in Agricultural Economics through the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences.  This program also provides strong preparation for students pursuing a graduate degree in economics, law, or a related field.

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 Community and Public Health Education program is designed to prepare students in planning, implementing, delivering and evaluating health programs that will improve the quality of life of individuals, groups and communities.

Majoring in Community and Public Health is an excellent foundation for students to apply to various graduate and professional programs, which may include: medical school, physician’s assistant school, chiropractor school, physical therapy school, occupational therapy school, and health administration and counseling.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Community and Public Health major, students will:

• Analyze factors that influence health and illness of individuals, groups or communities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate health information, in both oral and written forms, and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences. (Cross-curricular Skill: Intercultural Knowledge)
• Demonstrate knowledge of contributions made by individuals from diverse and/or underrepresented groups to one’s local, national and global communities. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Assess and reflect personal values in relation to current issues and ethical dilemmas within the health profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• Demonstrate the ability to locate, use, evaluate and synthesize health information. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Students will consider perspectives of diverse groups when planning, implementing and evaluating health programs. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Productively participate in a group activity. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)

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 program offers a variety of courses that encompass a broad range of Electrical Engineering areas including: alternative energy and power systems; computer engineering, communications; electronic materials, devices and sensors; nano technology, photovoltaic devices and systems; and signal and image processing. The department’s graduate faculty conduct active research in these areas using modern research facilities and equipment.

Program Educational Objectives

The EE graduate program objectives are to equip individuals to

• Discover and disseminate knowledge relevant to the discipline of electrical engineering.
• Provide leadership for increasingly complex roles in electrical engineering and industry.
• Contribute to the advancement of the science of electrical engineering serving regional and national needs.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Understand fundamental principles: Articulate a solid understanding of the fundamental principles in the area of specialization and supporting areas.
• Communication skills: Demonstrate an ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, technical information in an effective manner.
• Conduct research and/or design project: Conduct research and/or design projects that demonstrate ability to model, analyze and design electrical engineering processes and systems.

Physics is the foundation of almost all of the science and engineering disciplines. The curriculum in Physics has the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of student interests including engineering, physical science, mathematics, biological science, or health sciences. Graduates find careers in physics research, education, engineering, medicine, nuclear medicine, law, science journalism or alternatively many other choices.

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Physics - Science Teaching Specialization, students will be able to:

• Support an environment that is inclusive to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability status. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity)
• Write a laboratory report that is appropriate for the discipline of physics and suitable for publication in an undergraduate research journal. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
• Defend a hypothesis or a research project by giving an oral presentation in a colloquium setting.
• Solve complex physics problems by applying scientific and mathematical principles. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• Design experiments; build and use equipment; gather, analyze and interpret experimental data; and draw conclusions based upon the data. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Propose creative solutions for key issues of scientific, social, economic, or environmental merit and defend their hypothesis in either a research paper or by generating a proposal for an experimental design. (Cross-curricular Skill: Creative and Critical Thinking)

The English Education Specialization requires 39 hours in English and linguistics courses and is designed to prepare the student for a career in high school or middle school teaching. Students preparing for careers in secondary education will also complete the required education courses for teacher certification.

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)

The Department of Animal Science offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Animal Science, or the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biological Sciences. Faculty and graduate students are actively involved in basic and/or applied research in the fields of nutrition, reproductive physiology, animal breeding and genetics, meat science, gastrointestinal microbiology and animal production.

With the multi-disciplinary approaches towards production efficiency, product enhancement, and basic science graduate students gain strong skill sets. The graduate programs are administered in collaboration with the Departments of Animal Science, Dairy Science, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. The Department is committed to providing graduate students with quality educational and research experiences and preparing them to meet the challenges of a competitive job market upon graduation.

This program allows for considerable latitude in the education and training of students. Identification of a major professor with resources to support the student’s thesis project is required for unconditional acceptance into the program. An advisory committee will be formed for each student. The advisory committee will work with the student to design a unique and individualized plan of study to meet the interests and needs of the student. While the training of most students is largely directed to a single discipline represented within one of the participating departments, cross-discipline training is available and encouraged.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Communication skills: Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills
• Apply methods and interpret results: Apply scientific method, experimental design, statistically analyze data, and interpret results
• Demonstrate technical methods: Demonstrate a proficiency in technical methods necessary to conduct research in their field
• Professional Ethics: Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethics
• Critical thinking: Critically evaluate data and solve problems in their field
• Diversity and inclusion: Relate with people of diverse backgrounds with integrity and professionalism

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science offers the Master of Science in Computer Science. The program prepares graduate students for positions in the design and development of computer systems and applications in business and industry and for scientific positions in industrial or academic computing research. Areas of research interest within the department currently include Software Engineering, Medical Image Processing, Parallel Processing, Applied Computing, GIS, Computer Security, Cluster Computing, and Computer Networks.

Program Educational Objectives

The CS graduate program objectives are to equip individuals to:

• Discover and disseminate knowledge relevant to the discipline of computer science.
• Provide leadership for increasingly complex roles in computer science and industry.
• Contribute to the advancement of the science of computer science serving regional and national needs.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Conduct research and/or design software projects: Conduct research and/or design software projects that demonstrate ability to model, analyze, design, implement, and manage software development processes and systems.
• Understand fundamental principles: Articulate a solid understanding of the fundamental principles in the area of computer science.
• Communication skills: Demonstrate an ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, technical information effectively as an ethically and socially responsible computer science professional.