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.
Inquire About Offering Course(s)
ELED 492/592: Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow
Register Here
Instructor: Janessa Bixel
Location: Oacoma, SD
Dates: April 11-13, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: Participants at the 2024 SD Early Childhood Education Conference will attend 15 hours of professional development related to the theme of Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow. Participants will keep a participation log (conference attendance sheet) and write a one-paragraph summary of each session attended, as noted in the Evaluation section. The hours may include opening/closing sessions, general sessions, and keynote/plenary sessions.
BIOC 592: Modern Microscopy
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Instructor: Ben Benson
Location: Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
Dates: July 17 & 18, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: Secondary education teachers will learn about microscopes’ use at Sanford Research through discussions with researchers and hands on activities. Attendees will perform microscope maintenance, colorimetric measurement and make slides using a microtome and a vibratome in addition to talking to researchers about their current research using live cell imaging techniques along with super resolution microscopy. Attendees will learn about Sanford PROMISE’s lesson plans and lending library resources while developing a STEM lesson plan introducing current research to their classrooms.
EDFN 592: Fundamentals of Using Data for Educators - Aberdeen
Register Here (Instructor will have credit registration link at the start of the course)
Instructor: Jake Cummings & Jay Lamb
Location: Hybrid: Online with face-to-face meeting on June 14th
Dates: May 31 - June 28, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: Understanding and using data will assist educators in making decisions to foster powerful improvements in student outcomes. Effective use of data can support student learning and success. This course will provide educators with the skills they need to analyze and use data to answer important questions to drive positive change in their district, school, or classroom.
EDFN 592: Fundamentals of Using Data for Educators - Rapid City
Register Here (Instructor will have credit registration link at the start of the course)
Instructor: Jake Cummings & Jay Lamb
Location: Hybrid: Online with face-to-face meeting on June 10th
Dates: May 31 - June 28, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: Understanding and using data will assist educators in making decisions to foster powerful improvements in student outcomes. Effective use of data can support student learning and success. This course will provide educators with the skills they need to analyze and use data to answer important questions to drive positive change in their district, school, or classroom.
EDFN 592: Fundamentals of Using Data for Educators - Vermillion
Register Here (Instructor will have credit registration link at the start of the course)
Instructor: Jake Cummings & Jay Lamb
Location: Hybrid: Online with face-to-face meeting on June 12th
Dates: May 31 - June 28, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: Understanding and using data will assist educators in making decisions to foster powerful improvements in student outcomes. Effective use of data can support student learning and success. This course will provide educators with the skills they need to analyze and use data to answer important questions to drive positive change in their district, school, or classroom.
ELED/ SEED 592: PBL Summer Institute - Intro & Application
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Instructor: Melissa Hittner
Location: Hybrid (Online & Sioux Falls, SD)
Dates: July 29- August 1, 2024
Fee: $80
Credits: 2
Course Description: Participants will plan a project-based learning (PBL) unit utilizing a project snapshot based on the model of PBL used in the Jefferson HS Project Based Learning Academy. The Project Based Learning Academy has worked in conjunction with the New Tech Network and the Buck Institute for Education. Participants will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles and classroom management strategies of a PBL classroom and will work with experienced instructors and students immersed daily in the project-based learning model.
SEED 592: Finding Your Roots: Genetic Literacy for Educators
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Instructor: Louisa Otto
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Dates: August 6-December 20, 2024
Fee: $80
Credits: 2
Course Description: Secondary education (Middle School) teachers will learn the ins and outs of genetics, genetic technology, epigenetics, and ethics all while learning about their own DNA through a partnership with Living DNA. Teachers will be expected to create an educational tool that aims to increase genetic literacy for students across South Dakota at the end of the course. Teachers will participate in three days of instruction in the PROMISE lab. To finish the remainder of the credit hours, teachers will review lesson plans that are currently on Sanford PROMISE website and implement one of them in their classroom. Data will be collected as to the effectiveness and usability of the lesson plans.
SPED 593: Functional Sign Language I
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Instructor: Amy Scepaniak
Location: Online
Dates: April 16 - May 16, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: This course is designed to provide sign language vocabulary skills to families, professionals, and community members. Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary that will promote clearer communication within the home, classroom, work, or community environment. The sessions will focus on introduction and practice of prepared vocabulary and will also focus on specific communication needs identified by the course participants. The content will cover ten learning sessions with ongoing technical assistance.
SPED 593: Functional Sign Language I
Register Here
Instructor: Amy Scepaniak
Location: Online
Dates: June 4 - June 27, 2024, Tuesday & Wednesday - 12 - 1:30 p.m.; Thursday - 12 - 2 p.m.
*Instructor will have credit registration link after the start of the course.
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: This course is designed to provide sign language vocabulary skills to families, professionals, and community members. Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary that will promote clearer communication within the home, classroom, work, or community environment. The sessions will focus on introduction and practice of prepared vocabulary and will also focus on specific communication needs identified by the course participants. The content will cover ten learning sessions with ongoing technical assistance.
SPED 593: Functional Sign Language I
Register Here
Instructor: Amy Scepaniak
Location: Online
Dates: June 4 - June 27, 2024, Tuesday & Wednesday - 3:30 - 5 p.m.; Thursday - 3 - 5 p.m.
*Instructor will have credit registration link after the start of the course.
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: This course is designed to provide sign language vocabulary skills to families, professionals, and community members. Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary that will promote clearer communication within the home, classroom, work, or community environment. The sessions will focus on introduction and practice of prepared vocabulary and will also focus on specific communication needs identified by the course participants. The content will cover ten learning sessions with ongoing technical assistance.
EDFN 592: Teaching Profession Field Experience Q4
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Instructor: Teresa Boysen
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Dates: March 21- May 22, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: Applied, monitored, and supervised field-based learning experience. Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and/or directed plan of study established by the student, instructor, and field-based supervisor. Due to the presence of a field experience supervisor, a lower level of supervision is provided by the instructor in these courses.
ELED 492/ 592: Kindergarten Academy: Making Moments Count
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Instructor: Tricia West
Location: Canton Performing Arts Center, Canton, SD
Dates: June 17 & 18, 2024
Fee: $40
Credits: 1
Course Description: A two-day workshop geared at providing teachers innovative ways to incorporate evidence based practices into their daily routines and interactions with students. Topics will focus on teacher attitudes and actions that facilitate exploration, language development, fine and gross motor development, risk taking, social interaction, planning and execution of a theory (scientific method), numerology and math, literacy, and most of all the joy of learning! Teachers will gain skills and strategies for addressing learner needs through a variety of routines and activities. Teachers will be equipped to implement these strategies in their own classrooms or areas of instruction.
MUS 793: Band Directors' Institute 2024
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Instructor: Paul Schilf
Location: University of South Dakota- Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts
Dates: June 26 - 28 (Final project is due July 1, 2024)
Registration fee: $195 - participants may pre-register by June 1, 2024, for a reduced fee of $175
Tuition: $40/credit (In addition to the registration fee)
Credits: 0-3 (1 credit per class)
Course Description: The University of South Dakota’s Band Directors Institute is an intensive program designed to expose music educators to the best in current and standard literature in addition to teaching methods and materials. The three-day institute will include large ensemble reading sessions, master classes and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for band directors. Participants are highly encouraged to pre-register for purposes of instrumentation for the reading bands. Registration for the institute is $195. Pre-registration by June 1 will lower the fee to $175.
Schedule: Sessions will be held daily June 26-28, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on June 26. The seminars conclude on Friday afternoon by 4 p.m., June 28. Graduate credit is available for some sessions.
Housing: Participants have the option of staying on campus or planning their own accommodations during the institute. Participants wishing to stay on campus may stay in airconditioned, single occupancy rooms at a rate of $47.70 per night plus applicable tax, pending Board of Regents approval. These rates do not include bed linens or towels.
Optional Graduate Credit: Participants have the option to earn graduate credit for participation in certain sessions. Payment of tuition ($40 per credit hour) for graduate credit is due on the day of registration. Tuition rates are set by the South Dakota Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice. Selected clinicians and/or USD faculty instruct all sessions.
MUS 793 Classroom Instruction Techniques for the Instrumental Music Teacher - Master classes, clinics, and discussion that focus on teaching materials, rehearsal techniques, and instrumental pedagogy for instrumental music educators. Methods and materials will be available to take back to the classroom.
MUS 793 New and Traditional Music for Bands - Reading sessions will focus on a wide variety of instrumental music for public school bands including concert, marching, and jazz music. The selections will include previous and newly published works at a variety of grade levels appropriate for all levels of bands.
MUS 793 Trends and Developments in Instrumental Music Education - This course provides seminars and panel discussions with veteran master teachers and band music composers. Topics include current topics and issues facing instrumental music educators.
MUS 790: Choral Directors' Institute 2024
Register Here
Instructor: Don Langlie
Location: University of South Dakota- Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts
Dates: June 26 - 28 (Final project is due July 1, 2024)
Registration fee: $195 - participants may pre-register by June 1, 2024, for a reduced fee of $175
Tuition: $40/credit (In addition to the registration fee)
Credits: 0-3 (1 credit per class)
Course Description: The University of South Dakota’s Choral Directors Institute is an intensive program designed to expose music educators to the best in current and standard literature in addition to teaching methods and materials. The three-day institute will include large ensemble reading sessions, master classes and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for choral directors. Participants are highly encouraged to pre-register to ensure an appropriate number of reading packets are available. Registration for the institute is $195. Pre-registration by June 1 will lower the fee to $175.
Schedule: Sessions will be held daily June 26-28, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on June 26. The seminars conclude on Friday afternoon by 4 p.m., June 28. Graduate credit is available for some sessions.
Housing: Participants have the option of staying on campus or planning their own accommodations during the institute. Participants wishing to stay on campus may stay in airconditioned, single occupancy resident hall rooms at a rate of $47.70 per night plus applicable tax, pending Board of Regents approval. These rates do not include bed linens or towels.
Optional Graduate Credit: Participants have the option to earn graduate credit for participation in certain sessions. Payment of tuition ($40 per credit hour) for graduate credit is due on the day of registration. Tuition rates are set by the South Dakota Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice. Selected clinicians and/or USD faculty instruct all sessions.
MUS 790 Classroom Instruction Techniques for the Choral Music Teacher - Master classes and clinics focusing on teaching materials, techniques and pedagogy for music educators, grades K-12.
MUS 790 Traditional and New Music for Choir - Reading sessions focusing on a wide variety of choral music for public school choirs, grades K-12. Materials will include both standard works and new releases from major publishers.
MUS 790 Trends and Developments in Choral Music Education - Seminars and roundtable discussions to allow the choral director to focus on current trends in the area of choral music education. A written final project is required.
