Becoming a Public Health Hero at SDSU
South Dakota State University appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Cheapest MPH Degrees Online.
The College of Education and Human Sciences grants a Community & Public Health B.S. for South Dakota State University undergrads dedicated to giving people the tools to avoid potentially life-threatening actions. Chaired by Dr. Kendra Kattelmann, a 2015 F.O. Butler Distinction of Excellence Award recipient, this 120-credit degree emphasizes physically and mentally fit behaviors. Required courses like Wellness for Life, Epidemiology, Health Psychology, and Exercise Science meet primarily in Wagner Hall or online via Desire2Learn at a 17:1 student-professor ratio. Other opportunities include declaring the Pre-Physical Therapy track, taking the CHES exam, attending the Hoch Family Lecture, entering the Fishback Honors Program, studying in Sweden, and joining HEROH. Majors boast 96 percent placement at Sanford Clinic, Avera Health, Brookings Health, the American Cancer Society, and more.
Launched in 2014, South Dakota State University’s Public Health M.P.H. is housed in the College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Professions for post-grads deepening their generalist skills to lead rural wellness campaigns. This 42-credit program overseen by Dr. Jane Mort in Avera Health Center abides CEPH standards of ethical population practice. Students can attend lectures in Brookings, at the University of South Dakota, or asynchronously 100 percent online with D2L Brightspace. Informal specializations are available with electives like Parasitology, Occupational Health, Aging, Child Nutrition, and Health Care Systems Management. Instead of a thesis, students complete a master’s project after 250+ fieldwork hours. Similar SDSU offerings include the Transdisciplinary Childhood Obesity Prevention Graduate Certificate, Family and Community Services M.S., and Nutrition & Exercise Science Ph.D.
About South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University was established in February 1881 as Dakota Agriculture College 20 years after Congress separated the Dakota Territory from Nebraska. In 1964, it attained university status and created the state’s first College of Pharmacy. By 1975, the Department of Education was opened with the precursor to today’s public health degree. Now budgeting $298.44 million yearly, SDSU excels as a public, space-grant doctoral MVFC member. Its nine colleges attract 12,527 Jackrabbits from 90+ nations with 78.6 percent retention. Adjacent to McCrory Gardens, South Dakota State University holds a 192-building campus with 4.11 million square feet of space in Brookings County. In its 137 years, SDSU has trained over 89,600 alumni like Theodore Schultz, Kristi Noem, Jim Langer, and Carole Hillard.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked South Dakota State the 216th best national university, 122th best public college, and 70th top pharmacy school. On Niche, SDSU has America’s 287th best location, 569th best campus, and 586th top value. Times Higher Education included South Dakota State University in its 600 best institutions. Forbes picked SDSU as the 471st top university with the 192nd best research. Online College Plan named South Dakota State the 36th best distance learning option. In Washington Monthly, SDSU boasts the Midwest’s 25th best buck and country’s 228th most social mobility. PayScale calculated a 20-year net ROI of $242,000 for South Dakota State University graduates. South Dakota was also the 24th healthiest state according to United Health.
South Dakota State University Accreditation Details
In November 2019, South Dakota State University will host a comprehensive evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to update the Level VI accreditation for another 10 years under its 20th president, Dr. Barry Dunn. Headquartered nearly 10 hours east in Chicago, this monstrous 19-state Midwest accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to protect the quality of SDSU’s 86 baccalaureate, 37 master’s, 17 doctoral, and 30 certificate programs from Rapid City to Sioux Falls or even online. In February 2017, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) also accepted South Dakota State for candidacy.
South Dakota State University Application Requirements
Enrolling at South Dakota State University is labeled “minimally difficult” by Peterson’s because 4,695 of the 5,173 Fall 2016 applicants were okayed for 90 percent acceptance. First-year Jackrabbits hopping into the Community & Public Health B.S. must fulfill 14 high school prerequisites with grades of “C” or better. Ranking in the top 60 percent of one’s graduating class is expected. Secondary GPAs in grades 9-12 should breach the 2.6 mark. Freshmen need a minimum 18 ACT score or 950 SAT score. Undergrads with 24+ college credits and cumulative GPAs above 2.0 are also worthy of transfer. The Public Health M.P.H. welcomes students who’ve verified receipt of an accredited, four-year baccalaureate. Avoiding provisional status relies on an undergrad GPA of 3.0 or better. The SDSU Graduate School requests a minimum 149 quantitative and 151 verbal GRE score if taken.
South Dakota State University allows rolling undergrad admission anytime, except for international learners who apply by June 15th for Fall or November 15th for Spring. Master of Public Health cohorts are considered until March 15th, June 15th, and October 15th. New or returning users log into the SDSU portal via ApplyYourself for the online application. Extras are mailed to 1175 Medary Avenue in Brookings, SD 57006. If needed, assistance is garnered at (605) 688-4121 or SDSU.Admissions@sdstate.edu. Public health majors may inoculate against rejection by sending:
- $20 application fee ($35 for master’s)
- High school/college transcript requests
- Official college entrance exam reports
- Medically signed proof of immunity
- Successful criminal background check
- Two letters of recent recommendation
- Statement of purpose in public health
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, South Dakota State University will charge undergrad in-state tuition and fees of $292 per credit. Non-residents earning the Community & Public Health B.S. will pay $404 per credit. The Minnesota Reciprocity program discounts costs to $312 per credit. Living at the Brookings campus’ dorms like Thorne Hall adds $2,702 for room and $2,048 for board per semester. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals $22,804 in-state and $26,052 out. The Public Health M.P.H. bills $444 with a $138 delivery fee for $582 per credit, or $24,444 total.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 54 percent of full-time SDSU Jackrabbits bounce on median financial aid offers of $4,674 apiece for $27.65 million combined. University funds include the Hagen Kelsey Scholarship, Heaton Gore Family Scholarship, Keith & Frances Weagel Scholarship, Single Mother Scholarship, Umback Memorial Scholarship, Vietnam War Memorial Scholarship, Transfer Scholarship, and Native American Scholarship. The Jackrabbit Guarantee gifts at least $1,000 yearly for freshmen with ACT scores over 23. Around 50 nine-month graduate assistantships are awarded with stipends up to $19,900. Federal Pell and FSEOG Grants could be accessed with FAFSA applications coded 003471. Mount Rushmore State natives might grasp the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship, Ardell Bjugstad Award, Haines Memorial Grant, Marlin R. Scarborough Scholarship, and more. Money also reported average debt of $15,000 from Stafford, Plus, Nursing, and alternative loans.
Learn more about South Dakota State University at the Health & Nutritional Sciences Department website.
