Leadership and Management (B.S.)

NA On Campus Bachelors Program

University of South Dakota

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Management at the University of South Dakota is an interdisciplinary degree designed for students who have completed an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) or another career-focused qualification and want to advance into supervisory and leadership roles. Building on their existing technical expertise, students develop practical skills in communication, management, organizational leadership and professional decision-making, with the flexibility to select a certificate emphasis, internship or capstone experience that aligns with their career goals.

Curriculum Structure

Note: This is a degree-completion programme with flexible certificate and elective choices, rather than a fixed four-year sequence.

Initial Stage – General Education and Transfer Credits

Students enter the programme with their previous technical or career-focused education, with up to 60 credit hours potentially awarded through block transfer. They complete general education courses in Written Communication, Oral Communication, Social Science, Fine Arts and Humanities, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences, strengthening the communication, reasoning and broader academic skills needed for leadership responsibilities.

Specialisation Stage – Certificate Emphasis

Students select an approved undergraduate certificate requiring approximately 9–14 credit hours, allowing them to tailor their studies to their professional interests. Options include Communication and Leadership, Healthcare Leadership, Management, Personnel Supervision, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Data Science, helping students connect leadership development with a particular industry or professional area.

Final Stage – Internship or Capstone

Students complete either ASC 494 – Internship or ASC 491 – Independent Study in Leadership and Management Capstone, applying their learning to professional practice or an independent academic project. Additional electives help students meet the requirement for at least 30 upper-division credits at the 300/400 level, strengthening their preparation for supervisory and management responsibilities.

Focus Areas

Leadership development, management, supervisory skills, interpersonal communication, organizational leadership, professional decision-making, workforce development, entrepreneurship, healthcare leadership, personnel supervision and interdisciplinary career advancement.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply leadership principles, communicate effectively, supervise teams, understand organizational challenges, make informed decisions, integrate technical expertise with management knowledge and apply academic learning to professional situations through internships or capstone work.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The programme is designed to complement an existing technical or career-focused qualification and prepare students for leadership and supervisory responsibilities. USD specifies that this degree is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional licence or certification required for employment. No separate programme-specific professional accreditation is identified in the supplied curriculum.

Reputation (Employability and Academic Recognition)

USD's Leadership and Management degree offers an interdisciplinary pathway for students seeking to build on previous technical education and professional experience. Its certificate options, internship pathway and capstone experience provide opportunities to connect academic learning with workplace responsibilities; however, a specific employment rate or salary figure for this individual programme is not stated in the supplied official information.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Leadership and Management programme at USD connects students' previous technical education with practical management and supervisory skills. Rather than starting from the beginning, students build on their A.A.S. or career-focused qualification and can apply their learning through an internship or independent capstone project. The flexible certificate structure also allows students to develop expertise in areas such as management, healthcare leadership, personnel supervision and entrepreneurship. Students can strengthen their professional capabilities through the following opportunities:

Professional Internship (ASC 494): Students can complete an internship as part of the degree requirements, providing an opportunity to apply leadership and management knowledge in a professional setting.
Leadership and Management Capstone (ASC 491): Students may select an independent study capstone focused on Leadership and Management, allowing them to explore a relevant academic or professional topic.
Communication and Leadership Certificate: Provides an opportunity to complement the degree with additional study in communication and leadership.
Healthcare Leadership Certificate: Allows students interested in healthcare-related supervisory responsibilities to develop a specialised academic focus.
Management Certificate: Supports students seeking additional knowledge in management principles and organizational responsibilities.
Personnel Supervision Certificate: Provides a pathway for students interested in employee supervision and workforce management.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate: Offers an opportunity to explore entrepreneurship and innovation alongside leadership studies.
Data Science Undergraduate Certificate: Allows students to complement management preparation with additional knowledge in data-related fields.
Advanced Electives: Students select upper-level coursework according to their academic and professional interests, completing at least 30 credits at the 300/400 level.
Transfer Credit Recognition: Students may receive up to 60 credit hours through block transfer of a completed A.A.S. or qualifying career degree, allowing them to build on their previous education.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of USD's B.S. in Leadership and Management can pursue professional opportunities that combine their previous technical knowledge with newly developed management, communication and supervisory skills. The programme is particularly relevant to individuals seeking career advancement into team leadership, workforce supervision, business operations and organizational coordination, with certificate options allowing students to develop additional expertise in a chosen field.

Potential Career Roles:

Operations Supervisor, Team Leader, Project Coordinator, Department Manager

Career Development and Graduate Opportunities

Professional Experience: The required programme pathway allows students to select an internship or independent capstone, helping them connect academic learning with professional responsibilities.
Career Specialisation: Certificate options in Management, Personnel Supervision, Healthcare Leadership and Innovation and Entrepreneurship allow students to develop additional knowledge relevant to their intended career area.
Transferable Skills: The interdisciplinary structure combines previous technical education with communication, leadership, management and decision-making skills.
Career Advancement: The degree is designed for students who have already completed technical or career-focused education or gained professional experience and want to move towards supervisory and leadership responsibilities.
Employment Statistics: A programme-specific employment rate, graduate placement percentage or salary figure is not stated in the supplied official programme information. Mark as NA unless verified through an official USD graduate outcomes report.
University–Industry Partnerships: No specific corporate partnership connected exclusively to this programme is identified in the supplied information.
Professional Accreditation: USD states that the programme is not designed to lead to a professional licence or certification required for employment. Its value is centred on academic progression and leadership development rather than a separate occupational licence.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may explore postgraduate study in business administration, management, organizational leadership, healthcare administration or related fields, subject to the admission requirements of the selected programme. Students interested in continuing at USD may also investigate graduate-level business or leadership qualifications, while those pursuing an academic specialisation can build on their undergraduate certificate and previous technical education.