The South Dakota Board of Regents approved two new degree programs– on at Dakota State University and the other at South Dakota State University.
Regents Executive Director Nathan Lukkes said the new program are designed to broaden educational pathways and build expertise in high-demand professional fields. He said DSU will offer a Master of Science in Data Privacy degree and SDSU will offer a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Finance.
Lukkes said Dakota State University’s Master of Science in Data Privacy prepares graduates to lead in an era where data use and protection are increasingly critical. The program will examine the role of data across government, corporate, and global contexts, emphasizing secure and ethical management.
He also said students will gain expertise in privacy regulation, data governance, and privacy-enhancing technologies, equipping them to design policies, implement technical safeguards, assess risk and ensure regulatory compliance. The degree strengthens DSU’s long-standing leadership in cybersecurity and information assurance.
The newly approved Bachelor’s degree in Finance at SDSU, according to Lukkes, provides comprehensive training in financial theory, analytics, investment strategy and corporate financial management. Designed to blend classroom rigor with applied learning, the program prepares graduates for careers across banking, investment management, corporate finance, insurance and governmental agencies.
He said the program aims to enhance students’ opportunities to earn a bachelor’s degree and gain expertise in a field with increasing market demand. The newly approved degree will build on SDSU’s existing management and economics core by incorporating required finance courses. This structure will enable students to earn a finance major, providing them with a solid foundation for a variety of positions in both private and public sectors.
Both degrees are slated to begin implementation in the coming academic year.
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