South Dakota Board of Regents

 

Intent to Plan for a

B.S. in Computer Technology and Entrepreneurism

 

Use this form to request authorization to plan a new baccalaureate major, a new associate degree program, or a new graduate program. The Executive Director or the Board may request additional information.

 

UNIVERSITY:

Dakota State University

DEGREE(S) AND TITLE OF PROGRAM:

B.S. in Computer Technology and

Entrepreneurism

INTENDED DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION:

Fall 2008

 

University Approval

To the Board and the Executive Director: I certify that I have read this intent to plan, that I believe it to be accurate, and that it has been evaluated and approved as provided by university policy.

 

 

 

President of the University

 

Date

 

After approval by the President, a signed copy of the proposal should be transmitted to the Executive Director.  Only after Executive Director review should the proposal be posted on the university web site and the Board staff and the other universities notified of the URL.

 

1.  What is the general nature of the proposed program? What is the expected demand for graduates in South Dakota? What is the need for the proposed program?

 

Research suggests that more than 2/3 of all new jobs in the United States are created by entrepreneurial firms. According to Maxwell and Westerfield, innovative technology is critical to growth and in creating and maintaining a competitive advantage.  To this end, breadth in technical education and training is necessary. This proposed major capitalizes on the Entrepreneurial Studies minor that was adopted statewide several years ago and links entrepreneurism specifically to computer technology.

 

The proposed program prepares students with a strong technology background (four semesters of programming, a full year of networking, and a solid core of computer security courses) in addition to a business background provided via the Entrepreneurial Studies minor and additional coursework in project management and systems analysis and design.

 

One of the goals of this degree program is to provide graduates with the technology skill-set and with the entrepreneurial spirit needed to provide a cost-effective solution to international out-sourcing. Graduates of this program can utilize their skills in and near South Dakota, thereby adding to the economic development of the state. 

 

 

 

2.  What is the relationship of the proposed program to the University’s mission as provided in South Dakota statute and Board of Regents Policy?

 

This program falls within DSU’s mission because it is a technology-based program.  Currently, we have strong undergraduate programs in technology (information systems, computer science, computer networking and security and digital arts and design) and ACBSP-accredited programs in business administration.  This undergraduate degree program will add to the synergy created by these undergraduate programs and encourage interested students to think beyond corporate employment opportunities.

 

 

3.  Are there any related programs in the regental system? If there are related programs, why should the proposed program be added? If there are no related programs within the system, enter “None.”

 

The Entrepreneurial Studies minor is offered at all regental universities, but no major is currently being offered that blends this minor with a strong technology background.  SDSU has filed an intent to plan a major in Entrepreneurial Studies.  The two programs appear to be relatively dissimilar in their discipline focus.

 

4.  Are there related programs at public colleges and universities in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming?[1] If there are related programs in these states list below under each state and explain why the proposed program is needed in South Dakota. If there are no related programs in a state, enter “None” for that state.

 

Minnesota  None

 

 

North Dakota  None

 

 

Montana None

 

 

Wyoming None

 

 

5.  Are students expected to be new to the university or redirected from other programs? How many majors are expected in the first years of the program? How many graduates are expected?

 

The students are expected to be new the university.  We anticipate 10 majors in the first year and program graduates within four years.

 

6.  Does the university intend to seek authorization to deliver this entire program at any off-campus locations? If yes, enter location(s) and intended start date(s). Does the university intend to seek authorization to deliver this entire program by distance technology? If yes, identify delivery method(s) and intended start date(s).

 

Off-campus

Yes – University Center

Distance delivery

Yes

 

7.  What are the University’s plans for obtaining the resources needed to implement the program? Indicate “yes” or “no” in the columns below.

 

 

Development/Start-up

Long-term Operation

Reallocate existing resources

yes

yes

Apply for external resources

yes

yes

Ask Board to seek new State resources

no

no

 

The university is seeking grant funds for additional course development in technology entrepreneurism.

 

8.  Curriculum Example: Provide (as Appendix A) the curriculum of a similar program at another college or university. The Appendix should provide the required and elective courses in the program. Catalog pages or web materials may be used. Identify the college or university and explain why the program may be used as one model when the proposed program is developed.

 

Entrepreneurism continues to expand rapidly through higher education. The University of California in San Diego created the Center for Entrepreneurism and Technology Advancement in the past five years.  Western Illinois University has an Information Technology major but does not include entrepreneurism in its curriculum.  Closer to South Dakota, UND in Grand Forks has a successful Entrepreneurship track for non-business majors; it is this academic program that SDSU is closely modeling with their intent.  The University of Nebraska at Lincoln has a Center for Entrepreneurship which offers classes in traditional and non-traditional programs.  DSU’s program will be most similar to the program at UND, because of the cross-disciplinary nature of the program.  Additional information on the UND program is available from:

http://www2.und.edu/our/uletter/print_article.php?uletterID=843

http://business.und.edu/entr/admission.cfm

http://business.und.edu/entr/tracks.cfm


[1] This question addresses opportunities available through Minnesota Reciprocity and the Western Undergraduate Exchange in adjacent states. List only programs at the same degree level as the proposed program. For example, if the proposed program is a baccalaureate major, then list only related baccalaureate majors in the other states and do not include associate or graduate programs.