NSU Catalog 2024-2025 
    
    Dec 09, 2024  
NSU Catalog 2024-2025

Welcome to NSU



Welcome to Wolves Country!

Wolves Country is a campus that delivers transformational educational opportunities and professional and personal development in an engaging and supportive environment.

Faculty scholars who are passionate about teaching and mentoring, experiential learning, undergraduate research, fine and performing arts, and study abroad.

Staff who provide personalized academic and student support services and nationally recognized athletic programs.

A community and alumni network that supports internship and career opportunities in a thriving city with outstanding restaurants, shopping, recreation, and health and wellness resources.

Engage deeply with your fellow students in Wolves Country and you will experience transformational opportunities and relationships that will last a lifetime.

Wolves Country looks forward to your many contributions and achievements!

President Neal Schnoor
 

Mission Statement

A.  PURPOSE

To comply with provision of Board Policy 1.2.3 regarding the Northern State University mission statement to include the legislatively established purpose of the institution and the programs authorized by the Board to implement that purpose.

B.  DEFINITIONS

  1. Statutory Mission:  The institutional mission defined under South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL).

C.  POLICY

  1. Statutory Mission

The legislature established the statutory mission of Northern State University under 13-59-1 as:

The primary purpose of Northern State University, at Aberdeen in Brown County … is the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers and a secondary purpose is to offer preprofessional, one-year and two-year terminal and junior college programs.  Four-year degrees other than in education and graduate work may be authorized by the Board of Regents.

  1. Board of Regents Implementation of Statutory Mission

The Board recognizes Northern State University’s mission as:

NSU will be a nationally-recognized student-centered institution committed to academic and extracurricular excellence, and global learning opportunities in a beautiful Midwestern setting.

The institution is also charged with promoting excellence in teaching and learning, supporting research, scholarly and creative activities, and providing service to the State of South Dakota, the region, and beyond.

The Board approved a special emphasis on E-learning in the university curriculum and service.  Northern State University is a member of the South Dakota System of Higher Education.

Northern State University is approved to offer programs and courses online through the Internet.

3.  Curriculum

The following curriculum is approved for the university:

3.1   Undergraduate Major Level Curriculum

Business, Education, Entrepreneurship, Exercise Science, Fine and Performing Arts, General Studies, Humanities, Information Systems (in accords with SDCL 13-59-2.2), Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Physical/Biological/Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Sport Media and Administration.

3.2  Master’s Level Curriculum

Banking and Financial Services, Counseling, E-learning, and Education.

  1. Authorized Degrees

4.1  Undergraduate Degrees

Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Science (A.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.). Certificates in related fields.

4.2  Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts (M.A.), Master Music Education (M.M.E.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.).  Certificates in related fields.

Academic Freedom and Responsibility -See Board of Regents Policy 1.6.1

Freedom in Learning and Academic Freedom Statements

Freedom in Learning. Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Student should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudice or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the academic dean administratively in charge of the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Academic Freedom. The freedom of faculty to teach the knowledge encompassed by their academic disciplines is vital to successful education and thus must be defended. Under Board of Regents Policy 1.6.1, “Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of students to freedom in learning. It includes the freedom to perform one’s professional duties and to present differing and sometimes controversial points of view, free from reprisal.”

 

Disclosure Statements are located on our website.