Degree Programs Available at Dickinson State
Dickinson State University appears in our ranking of the 30 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s In Finance.
Dickinson State University is a public university in North Dakota that offers a number or degree programs for both traditional and distance education students at the undergrad and graduate levels. Its Department of Nursing actually offers three programs for students. The Associate in Applied Science in Practical Nursing Program allows students to gain the skills needed to work as nurses today. Students can also earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which features 126 credits of courses. Dickinson State offers a program that helps students make the transition from the associate program to the bachelor’s program too.
The Department of Social Sciences at the university offers several programs too such as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Students enrolled in this program can pick a concentration in international relations or pre-law. The pre-law program prepares students for enrolling in law school later. Though the university does not offer a full social work program, it does allow students to study social sciences and then transfer to Minot State University to complete a social work degree.
Dickinson State University has its own Department of Business and Entrepreneurship that offers various degree programs as well. Its Bachelor of Science in Education – Business Education is a program designed to help students work in high school settings. Not only will they learn more about business operations, but they will also learn how to pass their knowledge onto others. The university also offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with five concentrations available, including those in marketing and human resource management.
Unlike most four-year schools that only offer bachelor’s programs, Dickinson State offers a few associate programs too. The Associate in Applied Science in Office Administration is one example. This program allows students to focus their studies on an area such as management or legal. They can also study medical business in this program.
Though the university does not offer many graduate programs, it does have a Master of Arts in Teaching program that is popular among students. This is the oldest of all the programs available today and dates back to the early days of the university. Dickinson State offers this as an online program to meet the needs of working teachers and other professionals. Students typically take two classes over the course of five semesters and then do a student teaching internship in the final semester. The courses that they take include Cultural Diversity in a Complex World, Integrating Technology into the Learning Environment and Theory and Practice of Classroom Management.
About Dickinson State University
Dickinson State University is one of several schools located in North Dakota that started life as a normal school. Founded in 1918 as the Dickinson State Normal School, it served to educate teachers who would work in the state or move west where there was a high need for teachers at the time. Many of its early graduates remained in the western region of the state. The school was so small during those days that it held campuses in a local high school and did not charge students. It wasn’t until 1924 that construction started on its campus and its first building opened.
Though the school also served as the Dickinson State Teachers College, it later became Dickinson State University. Now called DSU, it is still home to one of the state’s best teaching programs but now offers degrees in many other fields too. Students can major in one of more than 70 fields and take classes from different departments. DSU has a low ratio of students to teachers and an enrollment of around 2,800 students.
Dickinson State University Accreditation Details
DSU is one of the only colleges in the nation with accreditation from the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council. This is a type of specialized accreditation. Other accreditation that this university has comes from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, National Association of Schools of Music and International Accreditation Council for Business Education. DSU also has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS).
Dickinson State University Application Requirements
The university asks all prospective undergrads to complete a VIP profile that shows their interest in attending DSU and provides the school with their contact information. Only after creating a profile can students apply to the university. They will fill out each section in the application and then pay a $35 fee. The university asks for an ACT or SAT score and a high school transcript too. Students will then fill out and a form that shows they took college prep courses and submit their immunization records. DSU does not require immunization records for students taking online classes.
Graduate students must complete some of the same steps. They will submit the online application and pay the attached fee before supplying the university with other records. Graduate students must have a bachelor’s degree. The university asks for proof of their degree such as an official transcript. Some students may need to submit letters of recommendation and/or a resume that lists all their professional experiences. Students can enter the DSU teaching programs with or without a valid teaching license.
Tuition and Financial Aid
North Dakota residents attending DSU pay $282 per credit hour or $3,384 per semester. The university offers different rates for other undergrads based on where they live. Students who are Minnesota residents pay $310 per credit hour or $3,718 per semester, while residents of other neighboring states pay $340 per credit hour or $4,079 per semester. Those who live in any other state will pay $398 per credit hour or $4,773 per semester. Undergrads taking online classes pay $331 per credit hour, while graduate students enrolled in an online program pay $323 per credit hour.
DSU students who need financial aid can apply for both government and institutional aid. Government aid includes loans and grants as well as the federal work-study program. The institutional aid available from the university comes in the form of scholarships. Students can receive scholarships based on their athletic skills or musical talents. The university offers a few merit scholarships for students who have higher test scores and grades too. Dickinson State University offers applications for all its scholarships online.