The University of South Dakota - Data Science, Data Analytics, Accreditation, Applying, Tuition, Financial Aid

University of South Dakota Data Science Degree Programs

The University of South Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Online Certificates in Business Analytics.

Computer and information systems manager positions are expected to grow by 11 percent over the next ten years. These include positions that use data informatics, bioinformatics, analytics and other types of data science. The average annual salary for computer and information systems managers is $142,530 per year and most positions require a bachelor’s degree or higher. The University of South Dakota offers several degree programs designed to prepare individuals for careers in data science.

Bachelor of Business Administration Operation Analytics

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Operational Analytics provides students with an understanding of the massive quantities of data that are collected in business each day, regardless of the industry. It also explains how data can be used to improve decision-making and efficiency. In the first two years of the program, students complete the University of South Dakota’s general education requirements in English, math, science, and humanities. Courses required for the major may include:

Featured Programs

Applied Operation Analytics
Business Policy & Strategy
Business Statistics I & II
Information Systems for Business Professionals
Lean Operations Management
Legal Environment of Business
Marketing
Organizational Behavior & Theory
Principles of Accounting I & II
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Predictive Business Analytics
Production & Operations Management
Project Management
Supply Chain Management
Survey of Business

Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics

The University of South Dakota offers a graduate certificate in Business Analytics that is available completely online. The program prepares students to make informed decisions using data analysis. It explains the integration of science and technology that underlie business decisions. Students gain an understanding of how to harness the power of mathematics using information technology. They are able to use data mining and statistics and provide decision-makers with information to make informed decisions. Courses required for the program may include:

Data Management and Warehousing
Data Mining for Competitive Advantage
Data Mining for Managers
Operational Analytics
Quantitative Analysis

Master of Business Administration Business Analytics Specialization

The Master of Business Administration with a Business Analytics specialization prepares students to use and analyze data designed to improve the decision-making aspects of business. They are provided an understanding of science and technology designed to solve key business problems in areas of operations management, sales, marketing, finance, and economics. The program does not require a thesis. Courses required for the program may include:

Business and Its Environment
Data Management and Warehousing
Data Mining for Competitive Advantage
Data Mining for Managers
Foundations of Accounting
Foundations of Calculus & Statistics
Foundations of Economics
Foundations of Finance
Foundations of Information Systems
Foundations of Marketing and Organizational Behavior
Leadership Development
Managerial Accounting
Managerial Economics
Managerial Finance
Managerial Management
Operational Analytics
Operations Management
Quantitative Analysis
Production Operations Management

About the University of South Dakota

From the time the first legislators met to form the Dakota Territory in 1862, it established a university in Vermillion. However, the legislators did not fund the new school and it took 20 years before students began attending the University of Dakota which was originally privately incorporated. The school began with funding from the residents of Clay County.

By the end of 1883, 69 students were attending the University of Dakota and, by the time South Dakota became a state in 1889, enrollment had grown to 500 students. Today, it is the oldest public university governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents. It is also home to the state’s oldest and largest political science department. There are more than 10,000 students enrolled at the University of South Dakota.

University of South Dakota Accreditation Details

The University of South Dakota is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Regional accreditation assures parents, students, and employers that the programs offered meet the agency’s clearly stated criteria. It is the standard against which colleges and universities are evaluated by peer-review boards. In addition, programs throughout the organization are accredited by the following organizations:

Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism & Mass Communication
American Bar Association
American Chemical Association
American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation
American Psychological Association
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Council on Social Work Education
Liaison Committee on Medical Education
National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration
National Association of Schools of Theatre
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

University of South Dakota Application Requirements

Applicants to the University of South Dakota undergraduate program in Operational Analytics must have completed 45 semester hours in general studies with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. They also must have completed a pre-major business core before applying. They must provide official high transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Applicants to the graduate program in Operational Analytics or the certificate in Business Analytics must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. They must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and a resume must also be provided. Official GMAT or GRE scores are required as well. Applicants must have completed either a statistics or calculus course.

University of South Dakota Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduate tuition for South Dakota residents is $9,331.50 per year while Minnesota tuition is $9,693 per year. Out-of-state residents pay $12,807 per year. Graduate tuition for residents is $336.80 per credit hour and for non-residents is $391.30 per credit hour. Online undergraduate tuition is $351.25 per credit hour and graduate tuition is $465.80 per credit hour regardless of residency.

Financial aid is available and students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which must be renewed annually. Undergraduate students may be offered grants, scholarships or loans. Those who attend on campus may be offered work-study programs. Graduate students may be offered loans to cover the cost of tuition although they may apply for grants and scholarships from outside agencies. Those who attend on campus may be offered assistantships and fellowships.

The University of South Dakota is the oldest university in the state, serving as the flagship and the only public liberal arts school in the state. The University of South Dakota is committed to being a regional leader in diversity and inclusiveness while offering programs that are of the highest quality.

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Featured Programs