DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY
Dickinson, North Dakota
The University
Student success, both inside and outside the classroom, has been the focus of Dickinson State University since 1918 when the University was established as Dickinson Normal School and Model High. The tradition continues today, allowing easy access and meaningful relationships with qualified professors, supportive and comfortable living arrangements on campus, and with student activities, providing something for everyone.
Dickinson State, with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students, is the only comprehensive, four-year public university in West River North Dakota. The University is proud of its safe campus. Its location offers students a secure environment in which to pursue their educational and social interests.
The University's mission, as dictated by the North Dakota University System, is to provide high-quality, accessible programs; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; to support scholarly and creative activities; and to provide service relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life of the citizens of North Dakota. With a wide range of academic programs, Dickinson State University prepares students to live, learn, and lead in the twenty-first century.
Dickinson State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), the North Central Association for Teacher Education (NCATE), and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).
At Dickinson State, there are approximately forty-five different organizations to help every student find a niche. Students choose from intramural sports, band, chorus, drama, art, forensics, student government, honorary societies, academic clubs, and cheerleading, to name just a few.
Living in a residence hall at Dickinson State offers many conveniences and countless opportunities to build friendships in an exciting environment close to classes and University activities. Meal plans are available on campus for five or seven days per week. For added ease, students can also opt to purchase meals at the snack bar. Rooms have free access to the campus computer network and cable television. Features in each hall include a game room, exercise equipment, computer stations, free laundry facilities, and a kitchenette. Students can select to live in women's, men's, or coed halls or student apartments. Family student housing complexes provide apartments at reasonable housing rates to nontraditional students.
Location
Dickinson State is located in Dickinson, North Dakota, near the rugged and beautiful Badlands. With a population of more than 17,000, Dickinson is the hub of West River North Dakota. The community lies only 30 miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and it is just 1 hour's drive south of Lake Sakakawea. Dickinson is served by commercial air transportation.
Dickinson's location provides abundant opportunities for people to enjoy outdoor recreational activities year-round. The area's picturesque rivers, lakes, and Badlands are ideal for hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, cross-country skiing, and much more.
As the state's fifth-largest community, Dickinson offers a wide array of restaurants, shopping malls, specialty stores, historic landmarks, museums, movie theaters, and other entertainment outlets. The region offers abundant dinosaur fossils and geological phenomena for explorers of all ages. Many of these treasures are displayed in Dickinson's impressive Dakota Dinosaur Museum.
Health-care services are provided by a 109-bed acute-care hospital, two major clinics, and numerous specialty clinics. The University's Student Health Service provides prompt care on campus for routine health concerns.
Majors and Degrees
Programs offered at Dickinson State University include liberal arts along with specialized programs in education, business, health services, agriculture, and computer science. There are opportunities for preprofessional study and vocational training in selected areas as well.
Dickinson State offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in ten departments, including majors and/or minors (indicated with a *) in accounting, agriculture (with options in natural resource management, integrated ranch management, and business/marketing), art, biology, business administration (with concentrations in accounting, agribusiness, banking and finance, business management, management information systems, manufacturing technology, marketing, office administration, and organizational psychology), business education, chemistry, coaching*, computer science, dance*, earth science*, elementary education, English, environmental health, geography*, graphic design*, history, journalism*, mathematics, music, music education, nursing, physical education, political science, psychology, science composite, secondary education, social science composite, social science (elementary education)*, sociology*, social work (linked with University of North Dakota), Spanish, technology education, theater and communication, university studies, and writing.
Associate degree and certificate programs include agriculture with specialty areas in agriculture sales and service (with options in agriculture business management and equine management) or farm and ranch management, nursing, office administration (with concentrations in accounting, agribusiness, computer science, legal, management, and medical studies), and university studies.
Preprofessional programs include athletic training, chiropractic, criminal justice, dentistry, dental hygiene, dietetics, engineering, law, medicine, medical/lab technology, mortuary science, optometry, physics, seminary, social work, veterinary, and wildlife management.
Academic Programs
While many of the majors that Dickinson State University offers have unique academic requirements, the basic baccalaureate degree academic curriculum consists of approximately 39 semester hours of general education courses from the areas of communications, scientific inquiry, expression of human civilization, understanding human civilization, multicultural studies, and physical education; a specific major core curriculum of 32 to 60 or more semester hours; approximately 24 semester hours of credit in a minor field of study (when a minor is required); and professional education course work for those students entering the teaching profession. Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree must also complete a minimum of 16 semester hours of a foreign language. A minimum of 128 semester hours is required for graduation in a baccalaureate degree program. Associate degree programs require 64 credit hours for graduation.
Academic Facilities
The commitment to technology at Dickinson State is evident in the number of cutting-edge computers provided for student use. There is an outstanding student-to-personal computer ratio, resulting in easy access to the type of technology students need to excel. Computer labs are located in academic areas, the library, and all residence halls. Students also have free access to e-mail and the Internet, including the World Wide Web.
Stoxen Library is proud of its highly sophisticated automated library. The On-line Dakota Information Network allows students to access resources from across the United States.
Costs
In 200405, tuition and fees were $1899 per semester for North Dakota residents; $2082 per semester for Minnesota residents; $2279 per semester for residents of Montana, South Dakota, Manitoba (Canada), and Saskatchewan (Canada); and $2659 per semester for residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. For residents of other states, tuition and fees were $4438 per semester. Room and board costs averaged $1759 per semester. Books were approximately $375 per semester. These figures reflect current costs, which are subject to change.
Financial Aid
College is a valuable investment in the future, and Dickinson State realizes financing it can be challenging. One of the best college buys in the region, Dickinson State's tuition and housing rates are among the lowest in the upper Midwest. In addition, attractive tuition rates are offered for students living in states and provinces bordering on North Dakota. Special rates also exist for students who live in those states participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP). These include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
The Office of Financial Aid is ready to help ease the cost of a college education through a number of financial aid programs, including scholarships, grants, loans, student employment opportunities, cultural diversity awards, and international awards. More than 80 percent of Dickinson State's students received financial assistance last year.
Faculty
Dickinson State University has 75 full-time and 70 part-time faculty members. Students develop close relationships with their teachers since three fourths of classes have fewer than 30 students.
Student Government
The Student Senate is the governing body and official voice of Dickinson State University students. The Senate is composed of a cross-section of students elected by the campus community. The Campus Activity Board (CAB) offers a broad range of social and recreational activities, including dances, films, comedians, and o
ther special events. The Campus Programming Committee (CPC) provides a variety of educational, instructional, and cultural programs. Residence Hall Councils are made up of elected student residents and deal with matters relating to campus housing. The Student Policies Council is composed of students and faculty and staff members. The Council recommends policies and programs related to student affairs.
Admission Requirements
Dickinson State's admission policy allows students to enroll if they are high school graduates or have successfully completed the GED examination along with completion of the ACT or SAT. The completion of a high school college-preparatory course core curriculum is also required for admission into a baccalaureate program.
The nursing program has special enrollment and admissions requirements. Students should apply early for this program.
All students under the age of 21 who have not completed 60 credit hours are required to live on campus. Exceptions to this policy include married students; students living locally with parents, grandparents, or a legal guardian; students who live with a brother or sister who is a head of a household; and single parents with one or more dependents.
Application and Information
The admissions staff is anxious to discuss the variety of programs the University has to offer and give a tour of the beautiful campus, its classrooms, facilities, and residence halls. When students are on campus, they should meet with the financial aid staff to discuss concerns about financing an education. Admissions representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mountain Time. Students should contact:
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