Dakota State to offer three new minors

Certificate program in health care coding also will be offered

Dakota State University will offer three new minors and a new certificate program for the 2002 Fall Semester. The South Dakota Board of Regents approved a minor in Computer Science, a minor in Computer and Network Security and a minor in Networking, along with a new certificate program in health care coding for Dakota State’s two campuses.

“The issues / content covered by these new minors (particularly network security and networking) has received a great deal of media interest and corporate interest in recent years,” Dr. Cecelia Wittmayer, DSU Academic Vice President said. “These new technology-based minors will give students an opportunity to demonstrate to potential employers that they are interested in and have specific skills in these topics.”

The programs will be made available on campus and in Sioux Falls at USDSU.

“These programs seem to be very well targeted to many organizations in Sioux Falls,” Mark Lee, USDSU Executive Dean said. “With our local health care infrastructure, health professions programs are welcome. In addition, programs in technology related areas feed that quickly growing sector of the Sioux Falls economy.”

The health care coding certificate program is an outgrowth of certification changes at AHIMA, the national organization that provides certification for health information management professionals.

“The AHIMA has endorsed a specialized curriculum in order to sit for their new health care coding certification exam and this is our response,” Wittmayer said.

All courses are currently being offered that will comprise the new minors and no new courses will have to be created.

The minor in Computer and Networking Security program consists of 18 required credits in Computer Information Systems courses. It will allow students to develop an advanced knowledge of computer and network security issues and should dramatically enhance subsequent professional opportunities.

The minor in Networking consisting of 18 required credits in Computer Information Systems courses, will allow students to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of computer networking and help students document the fact that they have taken core courses that form an emphasis in networking. Students completing this program will be academically prepared to work as network analysts and managers of network technicians.

“We look forward to DSU bringing these new minors here and look forward to great success,” added Lee.