School Description
Provided by Dakota Wesleyan UniversityDakota Wesleyan University aspires to excellence in the liberal arts and professional programs, preparing students for meaningful careers and lifelong intellectual adventure. The University affirms its relationship with the United Methodist Church and fosters diversity in an inclusive atmosphere. DWU encourages the dialogue between mind and soul, simultaneously building relationships, developing whole persons, and promoting service to God and humanity.
Dakota Wesleyan University
From Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaDakota Wesleyan University (DWU) is a four-year university located in Mitchell, South Dakota, and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The student body averages slightly less than 800 students. It was founded in 1885. The campus of the university is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
In 1883, a small band of Methodist settlers meeting in Dakota Territory secured a charter to found the college that has become Dakota Wesleyan University (known as Dakota University until October 14, 1904). These pioneers were driven to "build a college of stone while living in houses of sod." These pioneers had deep religious convictions about the education and future of their children.
The founders of Dakota Wesleyan University envisioned an institution that epitomized the highest in Christian thought and deed, and so adopted the motto, “Sacrifice or Service.” This is depicted in the collegiate seal of the altar, the ox and the plow – symbols for these concepts.
By 1920, Dakota Wesleyan University was the largest independent college in the state, with an enrollment of more than 300. The Great Depression, which hit the prairie earlier, harder and longer than any region in the nation, evoked another regionally sensitive response from Dakota Wesleyan. The university accepted many students with few or no resources. Lacking adequate tuition revenues, the university and its personnel sacrificed their development and economic well-being in order to provide educational opportunities for students who had no other options. Farm produce was accepted for tuition. As part of their pay, teachers received housing in Graham Hall and coupons to purchase merchandise in town. As in earlier days, the faculty, townspeople and parishioners of the Methodist church sustained the university.
Since the 1930s the university has remained responsive to the special needs of its region. Strong programs in teacher education have provided new teachers for school districts. Nursing and allied health programs address the continuing need for health care professionals in rural South Dakota. In recognition of diverse cultures and traditions in a changing prairie environment, Wesleyan has undertaken a unique and substantial commitment to special programs focusing on Native American culture. Additionally, the university has developed programs to assist students whose previous educational experiences have inadequately prepared them for the demands of a rapidly changing region and future.
Quick Facts
- Location:
- Midwest
- Setting:
- Small Town Setting
- Type:
- Private
- Affiliation:
- United Methodist
- Size:
- Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Students & Campus Life
- Undergraduate Enrollment:
- 751
- On Campus Housing:
- Available
- Full Time Students:
- 100%
- Athletic Programs:
- Available
Degree Programs at Dakota Wesleyan University
Associate's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
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General Studies
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General Studies
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General Studies
An undifferentiated program that includes instruction in the general arts, general science, or unstructured studies.See more schools with programs in General Studies
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General Studies
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General Studies
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General Studies
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Health & Medical Services
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Nursing
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Nursing
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Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
A program that generally prepares individuals in the knowledge, techniques and procedures for promoting health, providing care for sick, disabled, informed, or other individuals or groups. Includes instruction in the administration of medication and treatments, assisting a physician during treatments and examinations, Referring patients to physicians and other health care specialists, and planning education for health maintenance.See more schools with programs in Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
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Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
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Nursing
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Nursing
Bachelor's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
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English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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 schools with programs in English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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History
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History
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History
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 schools with programs in History
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History
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Music
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Music
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General Music
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 schools with programs in General Music
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General Music
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Religion/Religious Studies
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Religion/Religious Studies
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General Religion/Religious Studies
A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion; mythology; scriptural and textual studies; religious history and politics; and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behavior.See more schools with programs in General Religion/Religious Studies
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General Religion/Religious Studies
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Visual Arts
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Visual Arts
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Art/Art Studies
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 schools with programs in Art/Art Studies
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Art/Art Studies
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English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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Business
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Management
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Management
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Business/Commerce
This program provides a general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and nonprofit public and private institutions and agencies. The programs may prepare individuals to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.See more schools with programs in Business/Commerce
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Business/Commerce
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Management
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Management
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Communication & Media
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Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
A program that focuses on the scientific, humanistic, and critical study of human communication in a variety of formats, media, and contexts. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of interpersonal, group, organizational, professional, and intercultural communication; speaking and listening; verbal and nonverbal interaction; rhetorical theory and criticism; performance studies; argumentation and persuasion; technologically mediated communication; popular culture; and various contextual applications.See more schools with programs in Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
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Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
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Education
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Special Needs Education
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Special Needs Education
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Special Education and Teaching
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 schools with programs in Special Education and Teaching
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Special Education and Teaching
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Teacher Training
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Teacher Training
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Elementary Education and Teaching
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 schools with programs in Elementary Education and Teaching
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English/Language Arts Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach English grammar, composition and literature programs at various educational levels.See more schools with programs in English/Language Arts Teacher Education
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History Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach history programs at various educational levels.See more schools with programs in History Teacher Education
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Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
A program that prepares individuals to teach physical education programs and/or to coach sports at various educational levels.See more schools with programs in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
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Elementary Education and Teaching
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Special Needs Education
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Special Needs Education
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Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies
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Physical Fitness
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Physical Fitness
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Kinesiology and Exercise Science
A scientific program that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of human movement, and applications to exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation. Includes instruction in biomechanics, motor behavior, motor development and coordination, motor neurophysiology, performance research, rehabilitative therapies, the development of diagnostic and rehabilitative methods and equipment, and related analytical methods and procedures in applied exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation .See more schools with programs in Kinesiology and Exercise Science
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Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
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 schools with programs in Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
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Kinesiology and Exercise Science
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Physical Fitness
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Physical Fitness
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Health & Medical Services
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Athletic Training/Trainer
Athletic Training program can be two or four years in length. Individuals in these programs work under the supervision of physicians to prevent and treat sports injuries. This major program includes topics in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of athletic injuries and illnesses; first aid and emergency care; therapeutic exercise; anatomy and physiology; exercise physiology; kinesiology and biomechanics; nutrition; sports psychology; personal and community health; knowledge of various sports and their biomechanical and physiological demands; and applicable professional standards and regulations.See more schools with programs in Athletic Training/Trainer
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Athletic Training/Trainer
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Interdisciplinary Studies
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Behavioral Sciences
Behavioral Sciences programs combine the studies of the social sciences, psychology, and biomedical sciences to study the fascinating complexities of human individual and social growth and behavior.See more schools with programs in Behavioral Sciences
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Behavioral Sciences
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Life Science
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Biology
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Biology
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Biology/Biological Sciences
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 schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
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Biology/Biological Sciences
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Biology
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Biology
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Mathematics and Statistics
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General Mathematics
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 schools with programs in General Mathematics
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General Mathematics
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Security and Protective Service Careers
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Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
A program that focuses on the criminal justice system, its organizational components and processes, and its legal and public policy contexts. Includes instruction in criminal law and policy, police and correctional systems organization, the administration of justice and the judiciary, and public attitudes regarding criminal justice issues.See more schools with programs in Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
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Human Services
A program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations. Includes instruction in the social sciences, psychology, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration, and applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.See more schools with programs in Human Services
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Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
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Social Sciences
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Psychology
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Psychology
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General Psychology
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 schools with programs in General Psychology
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General Psychology
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Sociology
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Sociology
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Sociology
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 schools with programs in Sociology
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Sociology
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Psychology
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Psychology
Students
General
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Full-Time vs. Part-Time
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Men vs. Women
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Race/Ethnicity
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Geography
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In State vs. Out-of-State
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Top States for Incoming Freshman
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
Housing
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 45% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
Athletics
| Member of: | NAA, NAIA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Great Plains Athletic Conference) Basketball (Great Plains Athletic Conference) Baseball (Great Plains Athletic Conference) Track (Great Plains Athletic Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 15,700 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,839 | 46% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,000 | 6% | |
Any Aid: |
89% |
Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)
| Acceptance Rate: | 74% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 1% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 440, Math: 480 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 560, Math: 540 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 95% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 17, Verbal: 17, Math: 18 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 23, Verbal: 23, Math: 23 |
Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Not Required |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
