Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Administration

at South Dakota State University USA

The Operations Management (OM) program has been designed to prepare students to manage operations and resources including people, equipment, facilities, finances, and processes. The OM program is an applied management program tailored to entry-level positions of responsibility in manufacturing, technical services companies, suppliers to manufacturers, and/or industrial sales.

There are two emphases for the OM program. The Manufacturing emphasis includes Lean, quality management systems, process development, workplace safety, supply chain management, and industrial controls. Students may elect to pursue an additional professional certification at graduation. The Electronics emphasis prepares students to work as supervisors or project team leaders in industries that manufacture, service, or develop electronic devices or distributed systems. Courses include circuits, digital & analog devices, networks, microcontrollers, PCBs, industrial controls, and PLCs.

Program Educational Outcomes
SDSU Operations 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 (Professional Responsibility and Teamwork);
• Apply management, mathematics and science principles, and appropriate technology to the solution of current and future problems in the field of operations management, and (Problem Solving); and,
• Complete licensure, certification, short courses, workshops, or advanced degrees in technical, professional, or management subject areas to enhance their abilities in operations management practice and the global business environment (Professional Growth).

Student Learning Outcomes

Operations Management graduates 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 judgement to draw conclusions. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• 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)
• An ability to understand the value of diverse perspectives in the workplace. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion & Equity)

Sociology majors often make strong teachers because of their understanding of how people behave and interact. Students in this specialization gain mastery of sociology by studying and applying contemporary sociological theory and research to social issues such as globalization, social inequality, diversity, family, religion, or population. Additionally, students complete pedagogy courses to prepare for employment in middle school or senior high level teaching.

Student Learning Outcomes
In the Sociology major, students will:

• Apply sociological theories to understand social phenomena. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity)
• Critically evaluate explanations of human behavior and social phenomena. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creating Thinking)
• Apply scientific principles to understand the social world. (Cross-curricular Skill: Ethical Reasoning)
• Evaluate the quality of social scientific methods and data.
• Rigorously analyze social scientific data. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Use sociological knowledge to inform policy debates and promote public understanding. (Cross-curricular Skill: Civic Knowledge and Engagement)

The focus of the M.S. in Statistics program is the development of sophisticated statistical models and their implementation on high performance computing platforms. The curriculum features a balance of application, computation, and theory with particular emphasis in the areas of biostatistics/informatics and analytics. Areas of faculty and graduate student research activity include bioinformatics, biostatistics, business and financial analytics, forensic statistics, and general statistics. The program is particularly effective at preparing graduates to work in business, industry, or government as well as preparing students to continue on to the CSS Ph.D. or other Ph.D. program.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will understand mathematical or statistical models.
• Students will be able to construct and apply standard mathematical and statistical models.
• Students will be able to solve problems using appropriate software to implement the appropriate models.
• Students will be able to disseminate the results of their work to others.
• Students will be able to apply Argument Deconstruction in mathematics and statistics.

The Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science Department is an integrated department that includes programs in crop production, entomology, horticulture, plant biotechnology, plant breeding, plant pathology, precision farming, soils, water management, and weed science. The primary goals of the department are to conduct research in these areas, to transmit the results to the public, and to help prepare students for an occupation in these disciplines and to become productive members of a community. Graduate training includes classroom instruction, teaching experience, seminars designed to refine oral and written skills, and meaningful experience in laboratory and field research techniques. Departmental diversity encourages collaborations among disciplines and research programs that support this graduate training.

The Spanish major - Teaching specialization at SDSU consists of language, culture, literature and professional courses to prepare students for teaching careers in primary, middle or secondary schools or for further graduate study.

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 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.

The Aviation Education Specialization is for students who wish to become Certified Flight Instructors and later be professional pilots in industry. Many of our graduates are in the airlines, military, government, and corporate workplaces. Top performing students of this option are often brought on as flight instructors in the SDSU program during their junior and senior years.

Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Aviation Education program will be able to:

• Apply their educational experience to the aviation profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
• Demonstrate instructional knowledge in single- and multi-engine aircraft to the FAA commercial pilot standard. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
• Demonstrate instructional knowledge by creating and teaching relevant aviation topics to colleagues. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy; Teamwork)

Additionally, all students will participate in a senior capstone course that is designed to bridge the gap between their educational experience and future career. Students are evaluated using direct and indirect assessment to assure competency within the profession using a comprehensive assessment plan.

The Aviation Maintenance Management Specialization is focused on students who wish to repair and maintain aircraft. SDSU has partnered with approved FAA A&P programs across the United States to offer a four-year degree in aviation maintenance management. Students will go through maintenance training at an approved maintenance school and will then transfer to SDSU to complete the additional management degree requirements. Students may have the opportunity to work for the Chief of Aviation Maintenance at SDSU prior to graduation.

Student Learning Outcomes
Aviation Maintenance Management graduates will be able to:

• Apply the general education core to the aviation profession. (Cross-curricular Skill: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Foundational Lifelong Learning Skills)
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of aircraft systems and operations. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving; Teamwork)
• Apply financial, economic, and management aspects to the aviation maintenance field. (Cross-curricular Skill: Integrative Learning; Ethical Reasoning; Informational Literacy)

Civil Engineering includes design, construction, and operation and maintenance of highways, airports, buildings, bridges, dams, water supply and distribution systems, waste water collection systems and treatment plants, irrigation and drainage systems, river and harbor improvements and many other infrastructure facilities essential in modern life. Civil Engineers are custodians of the built environment and are responsible for all aspects of the world’s infrastructure.

To prepare students for these responsibilities, the program provides opportunities for them to solve engineering problems, promote original thought, illustrate the work expected of engineers and stimulate interest and enthusiasm for design. Seniors design teams work on comprehensive, open-ended projects involving scope and definition, evaluation of alternatives on the basis of economic, social, environmental, and other factors, concluding with the preparation of a functional design, plans, specifications and final cost estimates.

Program Educational Objectives

The civil engineering program at South Dakota State University is committed to preparing students to achieve the following educational objectives within five years beyond the baccalaureate degree.

• Graduates will have obtained professional licensure or specialized certification.
• Graduates will have engaged in professional development and life-long learning through earning advanced degrees, attending continuing education forums, or active participation in professional organizations.
• Graduates will have become actively involved in their profession, communities, and global society with a trajectory towards leadership positions.

Student Learning Outcomes

The program’s mission and educational objectives are accomplished by providing undergraduate students with an educational program that will result in the following outcomes by the time of graduation:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

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.