How does The University of South Dakota support liberal arts education?
The U is the designated by mission as the public liberal arts institution of the state. The U signed the Campaign for the Advancement of Liberal Learning (CALL) in 2002, a pledge of more than 500 college and university presidents nationwide to promote liberal arts education in the 21st century. The University of South Dakota is currently the only public higher education institution in South Dakota signing the CALL, reflecting a deep and abiding commitment to the liberal arts. The U is also the home of the state’s only Phi Beta Kappa Society chapter (Alpha Chapter of South Dakota, chartered in 1926) — the oldest and most prestigious honor society for undergraduates who have demonstrated excellence in the traditional liberal arts. The U offers students many opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary and service learning through its IdEA (Interdisciplinary Education and Action) program.
