BA/BS Sustainability at University of South Dakota

Programme overview

The BA/BS in Sustainability is an experiential major with a required internship or undergraduate research, community-based learning and study-abroad options, with specializations in Landscape Conservation, Communication and Engagement, and Policy and Governance.

Faculty: College of Arts & Sciences | Department: Department of Sustainability & Environment | Study mode: full-time | Location: Vermillion, SD, United States

What you will study

Courses named: Sustainable Society and Environmental Science; faculty-led study abroad in Malta and Sicily.

Career pathways

Natural resource conservation, public relations, sustainable food, education and outreach, sustainability consulting and policymaking.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-wide undergraduate admission (applies to all USD undergraduate programmes): freshman applicants meet one of: high school GPA of 2.6 or higher (4.0 scale), top 50% of graduating class, ACT composite 21+ (SAT 1070), or Smarter Balanced ELA and Mathematics score of 3+; test scores are not required for review. High school coursework with a C average or better: 4 years English, 3 years advanced mathematics, 3 years laboratory science, 3 years social science, and 1 year fine arts for South Dakota graduates (ACT/AP score alternatives apply). International applicants: English proficiency of TOEFL iBT 71+, IELTS Academic 6.0+, Duolingo 105+ (or TOEFL Essentials 8+); equivalent US GPA of 2.6+ generally qualifies. International deadlines: Spring 2027 December 15; Fall 2027 August 1.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for international applicants: Spring 2027 classes start January 11, 2027 (new student arrival deadline January 10); Fall 2027 classes start August 23 (new student arrival deadline August 20).

International undergraduate applicants: application deadline December 15 for Spring 2027 and August 1 for Fall 2027. Apply through the USD Undergraduate Application or the Common App; the application fee is non-refundable and paid online by credit card.

Graduate applications go through the USD Graduate Application or GradCAS; Audiology, Speech Language Pathology, Law, Medical, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Social Work use specialty CAS applications. Application deadlines are set per programme in the Graduate Catalog and are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The graduate application fee cannot be waived or deferred and is non-refundable.

Law (JD): applications open September 1 for the next year's admission; applicants apply through LSAC CAS and must submit the LSAT, GRE or JD Next. June LSAT scores are accepted for the same year if the application is submitted by July 1. Out-of-state applicants scoring 150+ on the LSAT receive in-state tuition.

Apply through the official page: https://www.usd.edu/Admissions-and-Aid/Apply

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