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What is General Education at SDState?

General Education provides students with a broad foundation for building knowledge and understanding throughout their academic, professional and civic lives. Introducing students to new ideas in a wide variety of disciplines demonstrates the complexity of the world around us and facilitates an interdisciplinary understanding. For example, a physician might develop a greater attention to minute detail by taking an art course, or a social worker might gain a perspective on how malnutrition might affect behavioral development in children. General Education also allows students to explore disciplines they may not be familiar with, potentially stimulating new areas of inquiry. This breadth of training is what differentiates a university from a professional or technical school.

The General Education curriculum includes courses in arts and humanities, communication, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences. The curriculum is designed around the following objectives:  

• Understanding of broad core competencies
• Encouragement of lifelong learning
• Understanding of scientific concepts and scientific method
• Appreciation of interdisciplinary connections
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Cultural awareness
• Informed citizenship
• Identification of new areas of interest

How do you utilize your general education in your career?

"General education imparts the skills and curriculum that every single community member should have access to.

I find myself referring back to my general education courses to better interpret my positionality in the community. I can grow and adapt in a more wholesome manner to be more inclusive and cross apply my skills. We need general education to appreciate what we, our colleagues, our competitors are up against."

Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott | ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ alum; owner of DX Beef, LLC and partner at the DX Ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Serving as the Natural Resources Director for the Intertribal Agriculture Council.