1200 University St, Spearfish, SD 57799
Website: Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University will be recognized as an innovative, high-quality university in the Black Hills region, the state, the nation, and the world.
Founded in 1883, Black Hills State University is a four-year, public liberal arts institution. We take great pride in providing students, faculty and alumni with a world-class university experience. It’s a feeling you’ll notice as soon as you set foot on campus – and one you’re sure to carry with you to all the accomplishments and achievements waiting for you after graduation.
We offer more than 80 majors and minors for bachelor’s degrees, 4 associate degree programs, 22 pre-professional programs and 3 master’s degrees.
Black Hills State University (BHSU) is a multipurpose university providing programs in business, Black Hills State University Logo education, liberal arts and technology with special emphasis on the preparation of elementary, middle level, and secondary teachers; human services; wellness; tourism and hospitality management. The Black Hills State learning environment focuses on individual attention and personal involvement with each student.
For the third consecutive year, BHSU was named to the national President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. This designation, by the Corporation for National and Community Service, recognizes BHSU for its exemplary community service efforts. Throughout the year, students participate in variety of community service projects. BHSU contributes over 9,000 hours per year to community service in the area.
It’s the day-to-day life at BHSU that makes your collegiate experience more meaningful. Faculty and staff strive to provide services that our students need. At BHSU, we know that college life is a combination of academic, social and recreational activities. You’ll soon find that you belong at BHSU. With the assistance of the staff members of dining services, residence life, student health services and others, you’ll feel right at home.
Black Hills State University is located in beautiful Spearfish, SD, the hub of the Northern Black Hills with a population of more than 10,000. Located on I-90, 10 minutes from the Wyoming border, Spearfish is only 46 miles from Rapid City, 65 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and is an hour drive from Devils Tower and the Badlands of South Dakota. Spearfish Canyon, one of the oldest and most scenic canyons in the west, is a local favorite for hiking, biking and sightseeing.
As the second largest city in Western South Dakota, Spearfish offers a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, specialty stores, historic landmarks, movie theatres and other entertainment outlets. Students can enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills while skiing, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing and hiking.
Black Hills State University, South Dakota's third largest comprehensive public university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Over 4,000 students attend classes at the Spearfish campus, at sites in Rapid City and through distance offerings. BHSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents.
Black Hills State University was established by the Dakota Territorial Legislature in 1883 as Dakota Territory Spearfish Normal School. By 1924 the school was authorized to adopt a four-year curriculum leading to a B.S. in education degree. Known informally as a teacher’s college during the 20s and 30s, the name was officially changed to Black Hills Teachers College in 1941. On July 1, 1964, in recognition of the broadening educational opportunities offered by the college, the Legislature officially changed the name to Black Hills State College. The college's role in the state's higher education system has continued to grow and evolve over recent decades. Recognizing the need to be competitive in today's educational market place and at the same time enhance the state's economic development potential, the state Legislature changed the college's name to Black Hills State University, effective July 1, 1989.
Black Hills State University is organized into three colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and College of Education. The University offers a number of degrees to students including over 80 majors, 3 master degree programs, 4 associate degree programs, and 23 pre-professional programs.
The bachelor degree programs include: American Indian Studies, Applied Technical Science, Art, Biology, Business Administration, Business Education, Chemistry, Communication Arts, Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education, English, Environmental Physical Science, Exercise Science, History, Human Services, Industrial Technology, Industrial Technology Education, Instrumental Music, K-12 Special Education, Mass Communications, Mathematics, Mathematics and Science Education, Music, Outdoor Education, Physical Education, Physical Science, Political Science, Professional Accountancy, Psychology, Science Education, Social Science, Sociology, Spanish, Speech Communication, Theatre, and Vocal Music. The University also offers students numerous education degrees in many fields.
Learn more about Associate Degree Programs
An undifferentiated program that includes instruction in the general arts, general science, or unstructured studies. See more General Studies Schools or Online General Studies School Degree Programs
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science programs are two year programs for individuals seeking a career as administrative assistants and/or secretaries and stenographers. These programs include instruction in business communications, principles of business law, word processing and data entry, office machines operation and maintenance, office procedures, public relations, secretarial accounting, filing systems and records management, and report preparation. See more Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science Schools or Online Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to manage travel-related enterprises and related convention and/or tour services. Includes instruction in travel agency management, tour arranging and planning, convention and event planning, travel industry operations and procedures, tourism marketing and promotion strategies, travel counseling, travel industry law, international and domestic operations, and travel and tourism policy. See more Tourism & Travel Management Schools or Online Tourism & Travel Management School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to assist a teacher in regular classroom settings or in providing instruction and supervision to special student populations, such as bilingual/bicultural students, special education students, adult learners, and students learning English. Includes instruction in techniques of general classroom supervision, maintaining order, assisting with lessons and carrying out related assignments. See more Teacher Assistant/Aide Schools or Online Teacher Assistant/Aide School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to generally apply technical skills to create working drawings and computer simulations for a variety of applications. Includes instruction in specification interpretation, dimensioning techniques, drafting calculations, material estimation, technical communications, computer applications, and interpersonal communications. See more Drafting and Design Technology/Technician Schools or Online Drafting and Design Technology/Technician School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on computing, computer science, and information science and systems as part of a broad and/or interdisciplinary program. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services. See more Computer and Information Sciences Schools or Online Computer and Information Sciences School Degree Programs
Learn more about Bachelor’s Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples. See more English Language and Literature Schools or Online English Language and Literature School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on human interpersonal communication from the scientific/behavioral and humanistic perspectives. Includes instruction in the theory and physiology of speech, the history of discourse, the structure and analysis of argument and types of public speech, the social role of speech, oral interpretation of literature, interpersonal interactions, and the relation of speech to nonverbal and other forms of message exchanges. See more Speech and Rhetorical Studies Schools
A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings. See more Spanish Language and Literature Schools
A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration. See more History Schools or Online History School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media. See more General Music Schools or Online General Music School Degree Programs
Art and Art Studies is a general, introductory program that focuses on the study and appreciation of the visual arts. Students of these two or four year programs receive instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media. See more Art/Art Studies Schools or Online Art/Art Studies School Degree Programs
An accounting program provides the tools to practice accounting and to perform related business functions. This program includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations. See more Accounting Schools or Online Accounting School Degree Programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to perform development, marketing and management functions associated with owning and operating a business. See more Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies Schools or Online Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies School Degree Programs
Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See more Business Administration and Management Schools or Online Business Administration and Management School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to manage travel-related enterprises and related convention and/or tour services. Includes instruction in travel agency management, tour arranging and planning, convention and event planning, travel industry operations and procedures, tourism marketing and promotion strategies, travel counseling, travel industry law, international and domestic operations, and travel and tourism policy. See more Tourism & Travel Management Schools or Online Tourism & Travel Management School Degree Programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to manage the development of human capital in organizations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. Includes instruction in personnel and organization policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labor relations, sex roles, civil rights, human resources law and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programs, and the management of human resources programs and operations. See more Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration Schools or Online Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the general process and techniques of direct wholesale and retail buying and selling operations and introduces individuals to related careers. Includes instruction in the principles of entrepreneurial economics, basic sales skills, the distribution channels for goods and services, and supervised practical application experiences. See more Sales, Distribution and Marketing Operations Schools or Online Sales, Distribution and Marketing Operations School Degree Programs
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics. See more Commercial & Advertising Art Schools or Online Commercial & Advertising Art School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the analysis and criticism of media institutions and media texts, how people experience and understand media content, and the roles of media in producing and transforming culture. Includes instruction in communications regulation, law, and policy; media history; media aesthetics, interpretation, and criticism; the social and cultural effects of mass media; cultural studies; the economics of media industries; visual and media literacy; and the psychology and behavioral aspects of media messages, interpretation, and utilization. See more Mass Communication/ Media Studies Schools
A general program that focuses on the design and provision of teaching and other educational services to children or adults with special learning needs or disabilities, and that may prepare individuals to function as special education teachers. Includes instruction in diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individual education plans, teaching and supervising special education students, special education counseling, and applicable laws and policies. See more Special Education and Teaching Schools or Online Special Education and Teaching School Degree Programs
Learn how to teach to teach vocational business programs at various educational levels. See more Business Teacher Education Schools or Online Business Teacher Education School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the elementary grades, which may include kindergarten through grade eight, depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all elementary education subject matter. See more Elementary Education and Teaching Schools or Online Elementary Education and Teaching School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the middle, intermediate or junior high grades, which may include grades four through nine by regulation. See more Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching Schools or Online Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach students in formal settings prior to beginning regular elementary school, usually ranging in age from three to six years (or grade one), depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all relevant subject matter. See more Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching. Schools or Online Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching. School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the principles underlying recreational and leisure activities, and the practices involved in providing indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and services for the general public. See more Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies Schools or Online Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on activities and principles that promote physical fitness, achieve and maintain athletic prowess, and accomplish related research and service goals. Includes instruction in human movement studies, motivation studies, rules and practice of specific sports, exercise and fitness principles and techniques, basic athletic injury prevention and treatment, and organizing and leading fitness and sports programs. See more Health and Physical Education Schools or Online Health and Physical Education School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply business, coaching and physical education principles to the organization, administration and management of athletic programs and teams, fitness/rehabilitation facilities and health clubs, sport recreation services, and related services. Includes instruction in program planning and development; business and financial management principles; sales, marketing and recruitment; event promotion, scheduling and management; facilities management; public relations; legal aspects of sports; and applicable health and safety standards. See more Sport and Fitness Administration/Management Schools or Online Sport and Fitness Administration/Management School Degree Programs
Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations. See more Biology/Biological Sciences Schools or Online Biology/Biological Sciences School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations. See more General Mathematics Schools or Online General Mathematics School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena. See more General Chemistry Schools or Online General Chemistry School Degree Programs
See more Other Physical Sciences Schools
A program that focuses on the general study of human social behavior and social institutions using any of the methodologies common to the social sciences and/or history, or an undifferentiated program of study in the social sciences. See more General Social Sciences Schools or Online General Social Sciences School Degree Programs
This program studies the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of at least one of the American Indian, Aleut, Inuit, Hawaiian and other native peoples of the Americas from earliest times until the present. The program places emphasis on U.S. and Canadian populations and their problems, but it includes reference to Caribbean and Latin American native peoples. See more American Indian/Native American Studies Schools
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes. See more General Political Science and Government Schools or Online General Political Science and Government School Degree Programs
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods. See more General Psychology Schools or Online General Psychology School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems. See more Sociology Schools or Online Sociology School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the theories, principles, and practice of providing services to communities, organizing communities and neighborhoods for social action, serving as community liaisons to public agencies, and using community resources to furnish information, instruction, and assistance to all members of a community. May prepare individuals to apply such knowledge and skills in community service positions. See more Community Organization and Advocacy Schools or Online Community Organization and Advocacy School Degree Programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of industrial engineers and managers. Includes instruction in optimization theory, human factors, organizational behavior, industrial processes, industrial planning procedures, computer applications, and report and presentation preparation. See more Industrial Technology/Technician. Schools
Learn more about Master’s Degree Programs
Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making. See more Business Administration and Management Schools or Online Business Administration and Management School Degree Programs
A program that focuses on the curriculum and related instructional processes and tools, and that may prepare individuals to serve as professional curriculum specialists. Includes instruction in curriculum theory, curriculum design and planning, instructional material design and evaluation, curriculum evaluation, and applications to specific subject matter, programs or educational levels. See more Curriculum and Instruction Schools or Online Curriculum and Instruction School Degree Programs
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| Percent of Students International: | 0% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 25% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NAIA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Dakota Athletic Conference) Basketball (Dakota Athletic Conference) Track (Dakota Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 5,803 | $ 7,123 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 2,643 | $ 3,963 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 3,160 | $ 3,160 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,090 | 26% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,879 | 28% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 937 | 28% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 4,139 | 54% | |
Any Aid: |
77% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 91% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 92% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 19, Verbal: 17, Math: 17 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 24, Verbal: 24, Math: 23 |
| Application Fee: | $ 20.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Not Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |