You need more tools to advance your career, but also flexibility to integrate school into your already busy life. That's why we're committed to bringing our knowledge to you. USD online education offers accredited, high-quality academic programs and courses with the flexibility, convenience and affordability you desire.

With more than 50 accredited online degree programs offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, there is a program designed to meet your individual needs.

For educators, career development and continuing education is important to stay up-to-date with your teaching skills and innovations. Instead of spending your summer break on-campus or at a workshop, enroll in an online class from USD.  We offers quality courses at affordable rates that make it possible to advance your career.

Some programs are funded externally by non-university partnerships as projects or classes. You may earn college credits for the courses, however, the funding to offer the course is provided by the external source or organization.

If you are interested in offering a course for educators through partnership with USD, please contact us.

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Instructor: Aimee Deliramich
Dates: January 23, 2025 - April 22, 2025
Credits: 3
Tuition: $120

* Please Note: This is a synchronous course, and your LIVE attendance at each session is mandatory.  Please note that you must register through Eventbright first before you can enroll for USD graduate credits.

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide training and assistance to South Dakota educators, administrators, other related professionals, and graduate students who are interested in learning more about childhood mental health and psychopathology. The focus of this course will be to promote a better understanding of childhood mental health, diagnostic criteria, as well as commonly occurring social, emotional, and behavioral problems which may present in children and adolescents. Course participants will engage in lectures, case studies, active participant responding, small group discussions, video presentations and hands-on learning opportunities which will be directly applicable to their work settings. These trainings aim to positively influence how participants instruct, interact with, and support children and adolescents in their respective settings. Every effort will be made to encourage application to their work environment. This is an introductory course and is intended for those wanting to gain broad knowledge related to mental health diagnoses which can impact children and adolescents.

SPED 592: From Law to Learner: Developing Compliant & Student-Centered IEPs

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Instructor: Heidi Aderhold
Dates: January 22, 2025 - April 16, 2025
Location: Online
Credits: 1
Fees: $40/ Credit

Course Description: This course aims to provide training and assistance to South Dakota educators, administrators, other related professionals, and graduate students interested in learning more about the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP provides the foundation for promoting progress for students with disabilities and must contain the essential components outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that must be implemented to ensure Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for each child. The focus of this course will be to help participants better understand the essential components of an IEP and develop a legally sound IEP that meets the individual needs of each student. Dr. Mitchell Yell will be a guest lecturer at each class session. Dr. Mitchell L. Yell, PhD, is the Fred and Francis Lester Palmetto Chair of teacher education and a professor in Programs in Special Education at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Yell is a nationally recognized expert in special education law and IEP development. His textbook entitled The Law and Special Education, published by Pearson, is now in its fifth edition. He is the editor and writer of a special issue of Teaching Exceptional Children titled IEPs: Policy and Practice, and co-author of a forthcoming book on developing IEPs. Dr. Yell has published 130 articles and 36 book chapters.

Our department offers several in-person and at-home courses throughout the year for dental professionals.

View our current continuing education courses, which includes registration instructions and more information. 

Continuing Education Courses

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a non-credit course designed to offer career growth opportunities through continuing education. The primary purpose of the CEU is to measure  participation in providing a permanent record of noncredit educational accomplishments. 

One CEU is defined as ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, qualified direction and instruction. One contact hour equals sixty minutes of instructional contact, excluding meals and breaks. The instructor must monitor the learner’s progress and provide some form of feedback to the learner. This applies to both face-to-face interaction and distance programs.

If you are interested in offering a course through partnership with USD, please contact us.

Inquire About Offering Course(s)

The delivery of non-credit training and customized education is determined in collaboration with partnering organizations. These programs can be delivered in a variety of methods and workshops, training and customized programs can vary from daylong events to courses spanning multiple semesters. We work with our partner organizations to determine the ideal length and location to meet the needs of each of our unique offerings.

Need a course tailored to your organization's specific needs? Partner with the the University of South Dakota expertise to design or customize a program specific to your organization’s needs and goals. Schedule your program at a time and location that works best for you and your employees.