Start carving your human services career in the “Mount Rushmore State” with the 15 accredited bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota. From the Black Hills to the Missouri River, South Dakota stretches as America’s 17th largest state. Despite having only around 865,450 residents, South Dakota has a productive $39.8 billion economy with a great service sector. Psychology graduates are found in several of South Dakota’s top 10 employers, such as Sanford USD Medical Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base, Avera McKennan Hospital, and the Department of Social Services. According to the BLS, South Dakota employs 6,320 professionals in community service occupations. The roughly 270 clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earn an annual mean wage of $86,100 here. If mental health is your passion, journey across the Upper Midwest with the following list of psychology schools in South Dakota.
Augustana University
Social Sciences Department
Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Augustana University is South Dakota’s largest private, Christian liberal arts institution endowed for $56.3 million to service nearly 1,900 scholars from 100 urban acres in Sioux Falls. Given a Forbes financial grade of “B” as America’s 257th best value, Augustana is crowned the third best university and second most veteran-friendly school in the Midwest by the USNWR. According to Washington Monthly, Augustana is the 13th top baccalaureate school for civic engagement nationally. The Social Sciences Department confers degrees from sociology to international affairs with 82 percent freshman retention.
Psychology Major
Housed in the Madsen Social Science Center, the Psychology Major at Augustana actively prepares students to examine questions about how people behave and feel. The 43-credit major allows undergrad Vikings to select from five emphases: Counseling/Clinical, Neuroscience, Social Services, Research, or Business/Human Resources. Additional minors are provided in Gerontology or Children and Youth Services too. Hands-on learning is required with 120 clock hours of field practicum at agencies like Avera Behavioral Health or Sioux Falls School System. Cross-cultural psychology is also studied abroad from Brazil to Norway.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
2001 S. Summit Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57197
(605) 274-5440
olivia.lima@augie.edu
Black Hills State University
College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, Black Hills State University is the third largest public, co-educational institution serving over 4,700 Yellow Jackets upon a 123-acre rural campus in Spearfish “Where Anything is Possible.” BHSU was ranked among the top colleges for Native Americans in Winds of Change magazine. Given the “Military Friendly” label by Victory Media, BHSU was also named America’s 76th safest college on Niche. The College of Education & Behavioral Sciences houses 12 baccalaureate majors with a net price of $13,029 yearly.
Psychology Major
BHSU’s Psychology Major introduces undergrads to the mental, social, and biological processes underlying behavior from various theoretical perspectives. The 36-credit major incorporates courses from five branches: Experimental, Biological/Health, Social/Personality, Developmental, and Clinical. For graduate school admission, students may consider adding the Research Minor or Honors thesis. Students gain hands-on experience in the Health Psychology Lab and Cognition Lab with APA award-winning faculty. Majors could also get involved in Psych Club, volunteer at Hickory House, intern with Sundance Research Institute, or study abroad in Botswana.
Human Services Major
An interdisciplinary alternative to bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota is the 36-credit Human Services Major at Black Hills State. This practitioner-oriented option applies psychological knowledge for bettering our communities in helping professions. Core courses delve into abnormal behavior, social policy, program planning, and trauma before students specialize in three tracks: Community Service, Aging & The Elderly, or Justice Studies. Majors often gain experience by interning at Timberline Treatment Center, joining the Human Services/Sociology Club, and serving as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1200 University Street Unit 9004
Spearfish, SD 57799
(605) 642-6850
jimhess@bhsu.edu
Dakota Wesleyan University
College of Leadership and Public Service
Established by Methodist settlers to the Dakota Territory in 1883, Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private, faith-based institution teaching around 900 students from a 50-acre rural campus in Mitchell near the Corn Palace just 67 miles west of Sioux Falls. Named America’s 170th “Best Christian College” on Niche, DWU is ranked the 33rd best university in the West by the U.S. News. Washington Monthly also distinguished Dakota Wesleyan as the 131st top baccalaureate school nationally. The College of Leadership and Public Service admits 73 percent of applicants interested in 14 majors from nonprofit administration to economics.
Psychology Major
Adhering to APA goals, the Psychology Major at Dakota Wesleyan introduces Tigers to basic theories concerning the human mind and its effects on behavioral patterns. Starting in the freshman year, the 36-credit major will review the biological, cognitive, sociocultural, and even philosophical concepts vital to psychologists’ work. With a Four-Year Guarantee, the program ensures great experiences like joining Psi Chi, interning at Abbott House, and conducting research in the Glenda K. Corrigan Health Sciences Center. Students may also add a Christian Leadership or Family Studies Minor.
Behavioral Sciences Major
Looking for bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota that also blend in sociology? DWU’s Behavioral Sciences Major is ideal then because it delves into the underlying cases of behavior in individual and group species. The 33-credit, interdisciplinary major gives a strong foundation in human development, social research methods, child welfare, gender studies, criminal justice, racial relations, and more. Thanks to the 11:1 student-faculty ratio, majors receive mentoring to determine their career path in the social sciences. The Hughes Grant-in-Aid can help undertake innovative research too.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1200 W. University Avenue
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-2650
admissions@dwu.edu
Mount Marty College
Social Sciences Department
Attracting approximately 1,100 Lancers, Mount Marty College is a private, Catholic liberal arts institution established in 1936 that’s based on 80 rural acres in Yankton near the Missouri River with extensions conveniently in Watertown and Sioux Falls. Ranked 176th nationally on the Educate to Career Index, MTMC is deemed the Midwest’s 103rd best regional college by the U.S. News. Mount Marty College was also graded B- as America’s 138th “Best Catholic College” on Niche. Boasting a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, the Social Sciences Department offers engaging majors from forensics to recreation management.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Staying true to Benedictine values, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at MTMC explores the human condition to equip students for helping God’s creations confront their struggles. Future servant leaders finish a 120-credit curriculum with a Biblical core to master cognitive science, social psychology, personality theory, and more. Service learning is integrated at placements like Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and Prairie Homes Assisted Living. As seniors, majors design and conduct their own research study utilizing learned statistical methods. Graduates could pursue Level I Addiction Counselor certification in South Dakota.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1105 W. 8th Street
Yankton, SD 57078
(605) 668-1545
mmcadmit@mtmc.edu
Northern State University
School of Education
Endowed for $29 million, Northern State University is a mid-sized public, co-educational institution run by the South Dakota Board of Regents to educate over 3,600 Wolves from a 72-acre urban campus in Aberdeen within the James River Valley. Ranked #7 nationally on AffordableSchools.net, NSU is considered the Midwest’s 103rd top school and 29th best public university by the U.S. News. Niche graded Northern State B+ as America’s 29th “Best Online College.” The NCATE-accredited School of Education expands beyond teacher preparation for diverse majors from sport marketing to mental health counseling.
Psychology (B.S.)
With a selection admission rate of 76 percent, the Psychology (B.S.) at Northern State nurtures undergraduates’ understanding of scientific theory to evaluate their own and others’ behaviors. From a strength-based approach, the 36-credit major celebrates diversity and dignity to unlock entry-level human services jobs. Coursework will span experimental, social, and developmental psychology before the senior capstone project. Other valuable opportunities include entering the Honors Program, studying at the Confucius Institute, traveling abroad to 18 countries, or interning at Safe Harbor. Graduates may continue into NSU’s Counseling M.S.Ed. program.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1200 S. Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
(605) 626-2417
jackie.blide@northern.edu
Presentation College
Social & Behavioral Sciences Department
Opened by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1922, Presentation College is a small private, nonprofit Catholic institution within the ACCU that’s enrolling 800 students from its 100-acre headquarters in South Dakota’s third-largest city. Aberdeen was deemed the #2 best small college town in USA Today. Given the ABBY Award for Community Involvement, Presentation is ranked America’s 82nd “Best Catholic College” with the 94th “Best College Dorms” on Niche. The Social & Behavioral Sciences Department boasts a 92 percent placement rate for criminal justice, psychology, and social work majors.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Available face-to-face in Aberdeen or Fairmont, Minnesota, for $676 per credit, the Bachelor of Science in Psychology gives Presentation students the opportunity to improve people’s mental and emotional well-being because “The World Needs More Saints.” The 10:1 student-faculty ratio places learners close to professors with 60+ years of combined experience. Within the 120-credit curriculum, students freely choose courses in abnormal psychology, aging, sports psychology, forensic psychology, positive psychology, pediatric development, and more. Field practicum is included in settings like the Mayo Clinic and Safe Harbor.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1500 N. Main Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
(605) 229-6060
drthom.flamboe@presentation.edu
Sinte Gleska University
Human Services Department
Sitting upon the Rosebud Indian Reservation of the Brulé Lakota people in Mission, Sinte Gleska University is a private, land-grant tribal institution established in 1970 that’s currently educating over 1,000 full- and part-time scholars. Affiliated with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, SGU offers 25 associate and 23 bachelor’s programs. Placed in the top 5 percent for Ethnic Studies on College Factual, Sinte Gleska is graded B+ for professors on Niche. The Human Services Department produces skilled, compassionate change agents who strengthen community dynamics, especially in Native lands.
B.A. in Human Services – Chemical Dependency Counseling
Rooted in the Lakota culture, SGU’s B.A. in Human Services stands out among bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota for focusing on serving the needs of mainstream and Native American clients. Students are trained to provide safe, culturally appropriate care that improves social welfare and exemplifies “Wacantognaka.” Within the 120-credit, portfolio-based curriculum, courses can be specialized in Chemical Dependency Counseling to fulfill Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) requirements. Courses span from group dynamics and case management to abnormal psychology and drug rehabilitation. There’s also an A.A. in Human Services available.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
101 Antelope Lake Circle
P.O. Box 105
Mission, SD 57555
(605) 856-8100
burdette.clifford@sintegleska.edu
South Dakota State University
College of Education & Human Sciences
Classified as a public, land-grant and sun-grant RU/H research institution, South Dakota State University is endowed for $104.9 million to educate over 10,800 undergraduates within the Big 12 Conference from a 261-acre rural campus in Brookings County. Named America’s 73rd “Most Conservative College” on Niche, SDSU is ranked the 202nd best national university and 110th top public school by the U.S. News. Best Value Schools placed SDSU #2 statewide for an affordable net price of $15,380. The College of Education & Human Sciences has achieved 88 percent job placement in fields from aviation to athletic training.
B.S. in Psychology
Retaining three-fourths of freshmen, SDSU’s B.S. in Psychology program excels at offering tremendously broad education that suits students’ individual behavioral science interests. The 39-credit major is personalized with the Graduate School Preparation Emphasis or Psychological Services Emphasis. Juniors could also add a Teaching Specialization for certified careers in K-12 schools. Beyond coursework, students must add three to 12 credits of field internship at locations like Brookings County Court, East Central Behavioral Health, or Keystone Treatment Center. High-achievers also meet twice monthly with the active Psi Chi Chapter.
B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies
Another excellent alternative to the bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota is the B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies for SDSU Jackrabbits. Offered in Brookings or Sioux Falls, the 36-credit major draws upon multidisciplinary fields to study the science of human growth, interaction, and relationships. Students can specialize by adding the Gerontology Minor or Rehabilitation Services Minor online. Practicing learned theories or skills is required in the CHRD Internship Program. Students acquire 240 direct service hours with agencies, such as Brookings Hospital Hospice and Children’s Home Society.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Hall Box 2201
Brookings, SD 57007
(605) 588-4121
bradley.woldt@sdstate.edu
University of Sioux Falls
Social Sciences Division
Located on a 58-acre urban campus in the United States’ 47th fastest-growing city, the University of Sioux Falls is a private, nonprofit liberal arts school affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA since 1883 that’s educating over 1,400 faithful scholars. Crowned America’s 144th “Best College with No Application Fee” on Niche, USF is ranked the 79th best Midwestern university by the U.S. News. Forbes also named Sioux Falls the country’s 41st best metropolitan for education. Within the Social Sciences Division, students learn from full-time, doctoral-level faculty trained at South Dakota, George Washington, Florida, and more.
Major in Psychology (B.A.)
USF Cougars declaring the Major in Psychology (B.A.) will enter a research-oriented curriculum where great attention is given to studying the mental processes that behavior usually reflects. From a Christian worldview, the 37-hour major nurtures students’ personal and spiritual growth while professionally learning to address social problems. Majors select from two concentrations: Applied Science or Mental Health. Coursework on cognition, child psychology, biopsychology, motivation, and counseling is practiced with a senior internship in settings like Sanford Health. Many alumni are excelling at noteworthy schools, including UCLA and Arizona State.
Major in Social Science (B.A.)
Forgoing other bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota for USF’s Major in Social Science (B.A.) will provide a strong, broad-based liberal arts background for pursuing careers that advance societal betterment. This 45-credit major covers all social science disciplines but requires choosing from eight concentrations: Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology. Each area is explored from a Christian framework for service to God. Students may also intern with Lutheran Social Services, present at the Annual URC, study in South Africa, and declare Honors.
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1101 W. 22nd Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(800) 888-1047
mike.grevlos@usiouxfalls.edu
University of South Dakota
College of Arts & Sciences
Conferring 260+ academic programs, the University of South Dakota is a flagship public, co-educational RU/H institution occupying 216 urban acres overlooking the Missouri River and carrying a $213.56 million endowment to serve over 9,900 Coyotes. Noted for America’s 71st “Best Greek Life” on Niche, USD is distinguished as the 202nd best national university and 110th top public college by the U.S. News. The Princeton Review also included USD within the country’s “Best 381 Colleges” again. In particular, the College of Arts & Sciences is applauded for the 191st best psychology department nationally.
B.A./B.S. in Psychology
Consisting of 120 hours, the B.A./B.S. in Psychology at USD opens students’ eyes to all aspects of the scientific study of human behavioral and mental processes. The four-year, full-time program offers diverse electives from industrial psychology to psychotherapy. Undergrads could add the Disaster Response and Mental Health track for treating trauma. Experiential learning opportunities include joining the Advocacy Coordinating Team (ACT), attending the Building Bridges Conference, conducting research in the Heimstra Human Factors Lab, studying abroad in Wales, and interning with the Red Cross. Extra funds are available with the Royal D. and Helen B. Doner Scholarship too.
B.S. in Addiction Studies
USD’s B.S. in Addiction Studies is the only NASAC-accredited bachelor’s in psychology degree program in South Dakota focused solely on resolving a pervasive health problem – drug and alcohol abuse. This 120-credit program develops students’ knowledge of the psychological roots of addiction to foster apt treatment and prevention. Courses are delivered partially online with interactive laboratories in Vermillion. Topics addressed will include group counseling, substance abuse law, psychopharmacology, adolescent development, and neuroscience. To fully satisfy CAC certification, six credits of field experience are mandated. Majors also connect via the Coalition of Addiction Students and Professionals Pursuing Advocacy (CASPPA).
Accreditation
National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
South Dakota Union 207
414 E. Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 677-5351
psychology@usd.edu
Heading to the Great Plains to study psychology is exciting because of the diverse blend of cultures from the Norwegian Dakotans to the Sioux Indians. Psychology majors learn firsthand what biologically causes individual differences in cognition and behavior. Picking this popular major segues into the social services where the BLS projects 10 percent job growth through 2024 for 257,700 openings nationwide. Doctorates are required in many psychology disciplines, but entry-level jobs like probation officers and addiction counselors are in-demand too. Jumpstart your career helping others succeed with these bachelor’s in psychology degree programs in South Dakota.
Another helpful resource:
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