Explore Majors and Careers

The natural resource law enforcement program was developed in coordination with state and federal agencies and is only one of five similar programs in the U.S. The curriculum builds a strong integrated academic foundation in natural resource management, conservation biology, environmental policy and criminal justice. Experiential learning will prepare students for the daily duties of the career and connect students with prospective future employers. Skills in communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, leadership, ethics, laws and human dimensions, statistics, technology, global competence, critical thinking and problem solving will be developed during pursuit of this degree. Students enrolled in the natural resource law enforcement degree have the option to double major in wildlife and fisheries sciences.

The nutrition and dietetics B.S. provides the knowledge and practical training required for a variety of career opportunities, including careers in medicine, healthcare, health promotion and wellness, sports and athletics, education and research, foodservice management, food production, community programs and government agencies. Faculty within our program emphasize an evidence-based, hands-on approach. Our curriculum provides students with an understanding of the basic and behavioral sciences and the knowledge and skills required to help others make informed decisions about food, nutrition and health. Upon completion of our accredited program, graduates are eligible to apply to dietetic internships and supervised practice experiences. These are required to sit for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam. Some of our past graduates have decided to pursue advanced medical degrees outside of nutrition and dietetics and currently work as medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, physician assistants, chiropractors and registered nurses.

The operations management program prepares you for a career in the manufacturing and service operations field. You will be prepared to manage operations (what a company does), and its resources including people, equipment, facilities, finances and processes. We hone your critical thinking, communication and analysis skills to be an effective manager in your future career.

Pharmacists play a key role in balancing complex combinations of medications with a patient’s allergies and tolerance.  A pharmacist ensures that medications provide healing instead of harm from being administered incorrectly.

One of the top programs in the nation, pharmacy at SDSU offers a six-year course of study, leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. As one of the health professions, pharmacy is concerned with public health and safety, and all activities related to the preparation, distribution and rational use of medicines. Majoring in pharmacy is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to make a significant contribution to the health care needs of our society. 

A child’s health sets a course for their entire life. The prevalence of childhood obesity is currently predicted to double by 2030 and schools are in desperate need of physical education specialists who can engage children and adolescents in healthy patterns. This program prepares you to become a certified PK-12 physical education teacher. You will learn to improve the fitness and health of students, as well as faculty and staff, through games, sports and other physical activities. Courses explore the teaching and evaluation of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

The curriculum in Physics at SDSU has the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of student interests and careers.  These include physics research, engineering, science journalism, nuclear science, medical physics, business and finance, law, medicine, biophysics, military, oceanography, geophysics and many other alternative choices.

The physics major with a science teaching specialization provides rigorous training in physics and in education. The curriculum prepares students for a career in education teaching science at the middle and high school levels. The program is designed to produce highly qualified physics teachers to address local and national shortages of physical science teachers. This degree is NCATE accredited and along with satisfactory performance on required praxis examinations satisfies State of South Dakota requirements for science teaching endorsement.

Local, state and federal governments are built on a complex structure of systems, issues, ideas, processes and policies. In this program, you will examine the science behind politics and the factors that help make governments work. As a political science major, you will explore modern-day political issues – like health care and education – and study the history of governments around the world. You will learn about topics related to globalization, American presidencies, political revolutions, civil rights and more. A major in political science prepare graduates for work in government agencies, party headquarters, political consulting firms, advocacy organizations, business or nonprofit agencies. The flexibility of the major also positions students for law school and other professional or graduate degree programs.

The precision agriculture major prepares students for careers that bridge the gaps between agronomy, agriculture machinery management and data sciences caused by the rapid evolution of high-speed sensor technology. South Dakota State University offers the first-in-the-nation Bachelor of Science degree in precision agriculture. SDSU is leading the nation as the first land grant university to offer both a major and minor in precision agriculture. Precision technology and training are key to increasing farm profitability and will play a major role in ecosystem sustainability. Agriculture is experiencing a fast-paced evolution as technology continues to develop. Precision agriculture has emerged with an array of new and exciting – and increasingly high-tech – tools. The integration of computer technology with farm equipment, farm sensors, GPS navigation, satellite imagery and drone imagery are quickly revolutionizing agricultural production.

Why does chocolate make you happy? Why do we succumb to peer pressure? Why do some people develop addictions more easily than others? Why do you want to understand everyone around you more deeply?

Psychology is the scientific study of "why," or specifically, the examination of behavior and mental processes and their application to human welfare. It is a tremendously broad field spanning subject matter from the biological to social sciences. The study of psychology prepares students for work in fields like counseling, education, health care, human resources, politics, probation and corrections, public relations, social work, statistics and more. Psychologists are commonly found working in conjunction with other professionals to contribute to every area of society.  The psychology major offers flexibility and can easily be added to another major.

Psychology is the scientific study of "why," or specifically, the examination of behavior and mental processes and their application to human welfare. It is a tremendously broad field spanning subject matter from the biological to social sciences. The teaching specialization prepares students to qualify for certification to teach psychology in one of thousands of schools nationwide. Students pursuing this specialization should contact the College of Education and Human Sciences before their junior year.

Public relations involves managing relationships between organizations and their stakeholders. The public relations major will prepare students for careers in public relations and marketing communications. This major prepares students with essential written and visual communication, critical thinking, strategy, design and research skills for careers in public relations and marketing communications. The public relations major addresses both economic and societal issues, emphasizes the importance of market research and includes experiential learning opportunities.

If you’ve ever found yourself trying to catch your breath, you’ve experienced what individuals with asthma, emphysema and other heart or lung-related issues go through daily. With a degree in respiratory care, you can help these individuals breathe easy.

Elevate your career and set yourself up for upward mobility with our B.S. completion program, designed for working professionals with online and face to face course options. Our B.S. degree is a continuation of the A.S. degree in respiratory care. The B.S. degree will further develop your respiratory therapy skills and knowledge base in: medical ethics, pharmacology, advanced sciences, respiratory care management and current issues in respiratory care.

Sociologists ask lots of these “why” questions and “how” questions and “what” questions. Sociologists study the big picture, focusing on the study of social life, social change and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. They study trends and seek to improve people’s lives based upon those trends. The society in which you live plays a significant role in your education, your relationships, your career, your economic status and much more. The world awaits all who have a major in sociology.

Sociology encompasses a wide range of topics including family dynamics, social deviance and crime, government policies, social and demographic trends and the impact of contemporary issues on businesses, corporations, schools and other public and private institutions. Students receive a broad education that will qualify them for many different kinds of occupations, working in business, government and the nonprofit sectors. Sociology majors manage programs and people, provide services in a variety of settings, analyze and collect data, and pursue careers in law enforcement and victim services. The major offers flexibility and can easily be added to another major.

The society in which you live plays a significant role in your education, your relationships, your career, your economic status and much more. Sociology majors often make strong teachers because of their understanding of how people behave and interact. Students in this specialization gain mastery of sociology by studying and applying contemporary sociological theory and research to social issues such as globalization, social inequality, diversity, family, religion or population. Additionally, students complete pedagogy courses to prepare for employment in middle school or senior high level teaching.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? In the special education major you will develop the skills and competencies required of effective K-12 special education teachers. Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional and mental abilities and neurodivergent students.

Sport and recreation management professionals are needed to meet recreation demands resulting from expanding populations, increased leisure time, greater mobility and changing social attitudes. The curriculum in sport and recreation management is designed to prepare students for professional positions in sport, recreation, parks and outdoor recreation programming and administration. Students interested in sport and recreation management can find a variety of career opportunities including community recreation, federal, state and municipal governmental agencies, private outdoor and tourism enterprises as well as intercollegiate athletic departments and minor and major league sport teams. Students interested in municipal and county recreation agencies, YMCA/YWCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, college/professional sports, fitness/facility management organizations and therapeutic recreation in clinical as well as community settings, can focus their interests using additional recreation, marketing, accounting, economics, social media, management, entrepreneur and leadership elective courses. This major is based on interdisciplinary approach providing a broad, comprehensive background for leadership and administrative roles in sport and recreation industries. It also provides students a foundation for advanced academic pursuits of a graduate degree in sport or recreation administration or related degree programs. 

Whether you aspire for a career on the stage or behind the curtain, this program will help you develop the creative talent, technical skills and performance experiences for a future in professional theater. Students in this major are exposed and participate in all aspects of theatre, through a broad-based education. Students will gain practical experience with the newest techniques and technology of theatre. In this major, the hands-on education involves participation in State University Theatre and Prairie Repertory Theatre. The major offers flexibility and can easily be added to another major.

The wildlife and fisheries sciences curriculum prepares undergraduate students for exciting careers in wildlife and fisheries conservation and management. Courses focus on organisms, natural populations and communities, their habitats and human users. What makes our graduates stand out from their peers is the experience they gain during the degree program that provides additional skills, including teamwork, leadership, ethics, technology, global competence, critical thinking and problem solving - skills highly desired by employers. Many undergraduates continue their education by seeking advanced degrees. Students enrolled in the wildlife and fisheries sciences degree have the option to be certified by The Wildlife Society or the American Fisheries Society.