Guide to Dual Credit Success

High school juniors and seniors within South Dakota are eligible to participate in the dual credit program if they meet any of the following requirements:

1. High school junior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meets one of the following requirements:
   1. earn an ACT composite score of 24 reflective of the 70th percentile.
   2. rank in upper one-third of their graduating class.
   3. earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale.

OR

2. High school senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meets one of the following requirements:
   1. earn an ACT composite score of 21 reflective of the 50th percentile.
   2. rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class.
   3. earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.

OR

3. High School junior or senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota meeting Undergraduate admissions requirements:
   1. ACT score of 18 (or 21 for USD and SDSMT); and
   2. Successful completion of coursework Requirements:
      1. Four Years of English
      2. Three years of advanced mathematics
      3. Three years of laboratory science
      4. Three years of social studies
      5. One year of fine arts

OR

4. High School junior or senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meet the benchmark scores on one of the assessments listed below:
   1. Smarter Balanced – Score Level 3 or higher on the English Language Arts AND Mathematics 11th Grade Assessments.
   2. PreACT Exam Composite Score of 24 or higher
   3. ACCUPLACER Next Generation (QAS - Score 255 or higher AND Writing Score 263 or higher)

Note: Home-schooled students must meet ACT requirements or #4 requirements
* Please visit the Academic Testing Center for more information about the Accuplacer or to schedule an appointment to take the exam.

• System Recommendations
• Student Software

First-time students should create an account with a personal email address

• Apply Here
• Create an Account

Continuing students will log in with their university-provided email address and password.

• Apply Here

Students wishing to take Math or English courses must meet the ACT requirements or successfully complete a placement exam. Refer to the links below for placement tables:

• English Placement
• Math Placement

If a student has not taken the ACT, the College Board Accuplacer is then used to determine their placement into English 101 or Math 114. Please visit the Academic Testing Center for more information about the Accuplacer or to schedule an appointment to take the exam.

Elective Credits are college credits applied to graduation and account for any courses 100-level and above that do not meet a specific (general education, major, college, etc.) graduation requirement.

Major or Program Credits are the college courses that are required of the particular major or program the student intends to complete. These courses typically fall within the major or field of study, with the number of credits required determined by that major or program.

System General Education Requirements (SGRs) are courses approved by the South Dakota Board of Regents (SD BOR) to impart common knowledge and intellectual concepts to students and to develop in them the skills and attitudes that an organization’s faculty believe every educated person should possess. All students completing an undergraduate degree through a SD BOR institution must successfully complete coursework to fulfill the identified general education goals in written communication, oral communication, social sciences, arts and humanities, mathematics, natural sciences.

List of SGRs

What typically fulfills the requirements for an undergraduate degree at South Dakota State University?

Most undergraduate programs require a student to complete a minimum of 120 credits at the 100 course level or above. Some programs (i.e., engineering) require a minimum of 130 credits. Students will complete approximately 30 credits in system general education and institutional graduation requirements. Many academic programs require at least 63 credits in major or program requirements. Please note that this number varies by academic program; careful understanding and planning of major or program requirements is necessary. Programs vary greatly in the amount of elective coursework with an average of about 27 credits; this provides students an opportunity to explore other fields of study and interests and to add a minor or even a second major. The chart illustrates how credits are typically distributed within an undergraduate degree.

A large number of incoming credits does not in itself guarantee a shorter path to a degree!

The curricular requirements of many programs are linked to the requirements and standards of professional accreditation. How (and whether) a student’s credits apply to degree requirements will determine the student’s time to degree. Although credits from this dual credit program will count at SDSU (transfer of credits outside the SDBOR; including Technical Institutes are subject to established transfer polices), those credits may not help to fulfill the particular requirements for a specific degree. For example, though a student may earn a substantial number of credits in a foreign language by satisfactory completion of the language placement test (and though satisfactory testing and the resulting credits in a foreign language certainly represent an admirable level of academic achievement), those credits will not significantly advance progress toward a degree if the student’s program does not require 1) foreign language proficiency and/or 2) elective course work.

Majors in this option offer a wide range of degree programs aimed at preparing graduates to meet the many challenges of feeding and sustaining a rapidly growing global population.

Examples of careers in this option include:

The list of majors in this option can be viewed below. Find advising guide sheets.

Suggested general education courses

If the student is considering a major in this option, the following general education courses are suggested.

Note that general education courses vary by academic program. Consult the advising guide regarding the program of interest, talk with a high school guidance counselor, or contact Continuing and Distance Education by email or at 605-688-4154 to determine which courses would be the best fit.

** Enrollment based on placement

Majors in this option offer a wide range of degree programs aimed at preparing graduates to meet the many challenges of feeding and sustaining a rapidly growing global population.

Examples of careers in this option include:

• soil conservationist
• wildlife biologist
• dairy product development specialist
• biotechnologist
• livestock nutritionist
• forensic scientist
• applied research and product development
• drug discovery

The list of majors in this option can be viewed below. Find advising guide sheets.

Suggested general education courses

If the student is considering a major in this option, the following general education courses are suggested.

Note that general education courses vary by academic program. Consult the advising guide regarding the program of interest, talk with a high school guidance counselor, or contact Continuing and Distance Education by email or at 605-688-4154 to determine which courses would be the best fit.

** Enrollment based on placement

Ready for a rewarding career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM)? We prepare our students for the future through a rigorous, practical education focused on problem-solving in one of many STEM majors.

Students can also enhance their degree with many options for real-life work experience right here in Brookings or nearby. Most of our students complete part-time work in their major before graduation at nearby engineering and manufacturing companies who are eager to hire our students and graduates.

Examples of careers in this option include:

• Mechanical engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Civil engineer
• Agricultural and biosystems engineer
• Software engineer
• Computer programmer
• Data scientist
• Actuary
• Electronic engineering technician
• Operations manager
• Construction manager
• Precision agriculture technician

The list of majors in this option can be viewed below. Find advising guide sheets.

• Agricultural and biosystems engineering
• Civil engineering
• Computer science
• Construction management
• Data science
• Electrical engineering
• Electronics engineering technology
• Operations Mm
• Mathematics
• Mechanical engineering

Suggested general education courses

If the student is considering a major in this option, the following general education courses are suggested.

Note that general education courses vary by academic program. Consult the advising guide regarding the program of interest, talk with a high school guidance counselor, or contact Continuing and Distance Education by email or at 605-688-4154 to determine which courses would be the best fit.

* Enrollment based on placement
** Course selection depends on selection of major. Please contact Alaina Corgard for more information.

The Health Science option provides undergraduate programs in Athletic Training, Nutrition and Dietetics, Exercise Science, Health Education and Physical Education. The integration of academic programs, which focus on nutrition, health, recreation, exercise and human performance, provides students and faculty with unique opportunities to collaborate and to promote interaction among students in different majors with a common focus on promoting health through proper nutrition and physical activity.

Examples of careers in this option include:

• Athletic trainer
• Dietetic technician
• Medical lab technician
• Nurse pharmacist

The list of majors in this option can be viewed below. Find advising guide sheets.

• Athletic training
• Exercise science
• Health education
• Medical laboratory science
• Nursing
• Nutrition and dietetics
• Pharmacy
• Pre-professional interest areas

Suggested general education courses

If the student is considering a major in this option, the following general education courses are suggested.

Note that general education courses vary by academic program. Consult the advising guide regarding the program of interest, talk with a high school guidance counselor, or contact Continuing and Distance Education by email or at 605-688-4154 to determine which courses would be the best fit.

** Enrollment based on placement

 Students in the majors in this option will be provided the intellectual fabric and foundation for transforming student passion and creativity into a lifetime of discovery and opportunities for success. Students thrive in an atmosphere of engaged teaching and learning, interdisciplinary research and partnerships in meaningful service.

Examples of careers in this option include:

• Photographer
• Interior designer
• Publisher
• Graphic designer
• Architect
• Translator
• Broadcast journalist
• Museum curator
• Musician
• Stage Manager

The list of majors in this option can be viewed below. Find advising guide sheets.

Suggested general education courses

If the student is considering a major in this option, the following general education courses are suggested.

Note that general education courses vary by academic program. Consult the advising guide regarding the program of interest, talk with a high school guidance counselor, or contact Continuing and Distance Education by email or at 605-688-4154 to determine which courses would be the best fit.

** Enrollment based on placement

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

• Mary Christensen

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Jessica Lewis

College of Education and Human Sciences

• Carla Anderson

College of Natural Sciences

• Matthew Miller

College of Nursing

• Laura Jacobs

College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions

• Asha Hertler
• Brooke Merry

Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering

• Alaina Corgard

Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College

• Hanna Holmquist
• Rebecca Bott

Visit with our SDSU Undergraduate Admissions office to learn more about SDSU, schedule a visit, attend a recruitment event, or to apply.

Phone: 1-800-952-3541

Email: SDSU Admissions