MSW Programs in South Dakota

South Dakota, named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, is located in the Midwestern region of the United States. This state is the 17th most extensive in the nation but is the fifth least populous and least densely populated state in the union (1). The state capital, Pierre, is a relatively small city with a population of only 14,000 people, but Sioux Falls, the state’s largest city, has a population of approximately 164,600 people (2).

The Missouri River divides South Dakota in two halves that are known as the “East River” and the “West River.” Because of this beautiful river, South Dakota has more miles of coastline than the state of Florida. Agriculture is the largest industry in the state with its hay, sunflowers, rye, honey, soybeans, corn, and wheat production. After agriculture, tourism is the second largest industry in South Dakota (3).

Social Issues

According the US Census Bureau, 8.9 percent of the state’s population is Native American, which is a much higher percentage than the national average of 1.2 percent Native American (4). The suicide rate of Native Americans in South Dakota is twice the rate of Caucasians living in South Dakota (5).

South Dakota also has a slightly higher than average percentage of the population that is over age 65 (14.7 percent compared to the national average of 13.7 percent) (6). If you are interested in working to support Native American populations or rural seniors in underserved communities, South Dakota offers many such opportunities.

Alcohol overuse is a problem in South Dakota. The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services reports that while South Dakota has a low illicit drug use rate, it consistently rates as one of the states with the highest levels of alcohol abuse and addiction for all age groups surveyed. The state also ranks as one of the states with the highest levels of unmet needs for treatment for alcohol dependency (with a high number of citizens who need treatment and are not receiving it) (7).

Seventy percent of the arrests in South Dakota are alcohol-related (compared to 25 percent of the arrests for the nation on average) (8). The number of people admitted to a substance abuse treatment facility in the state has risen from 6,730 in 2001 to 14,193 in 2011 (9). If you want to work as a substance abuse social worker, you will find there is a need in South Dakota.

Studying to Become a Social Worker

There is only one graduate program that offers a master’s degree in social work in South Dakota: the University of South Dakota’s School of Health Sciences, located in Vermillion, SD (10). The program offers concentrations on rural and indigenous populations, preparing its graduates for the needs of the state’s population (11).

After you have graduated with your master’s degree in social work, you will want to investigate the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). You will need to work in a designated “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA) in order to qualify for loan forgiveness, but you may be eligible for up to $20,000 of loan repayment per year, for up to two years. South Dakota does not have a state-specific loan repayment program as of 2014.

Social Work Employment Opportunities

Of the more than 2,500 social workers employed in the state, the majority of them are child, family or school social workers. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that there are 1,600 child, family and school social workers, 330 mental health and substance abuse social workers, and 590 healthcare social workers currently employed in the state (12).

Healthcare social workers make the most, bringing in a median salary of $37,100 per year. Job growth predictions for healthcare social workers project an increase in jobs at a rate of 13 percent. Child, family and school social workers make slightly less, bringing in a median salary of $36,100, but job growth is predicted to be slower in this sector, increasing at only seven percent a year (13) (14).

Mental health and substance abuse social workers make a median salary of $35,500 per year, and job opportunities are predicted to increase at a rate of 14 percent per year (15).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• National Association of Social Workers, South Dakota Chapter
• South Dakota State Board of Social Work Examiners

South Dakota Universities Offering Master’s Degrees in Social Work

• University of South Dakota (BSW, MSW Programs)

Sources Cited

1. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46000.html
2. USA: South Dakota, 2014. City Population.com. http://www.citypopulation.de/USA-SouthDakota.html
3. South Dakota Facts, 2014. Travel South Dakota. http://www.travelsd.com/About-SD/South-Dakota-Facts
4. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46000.html
5. South Dakota Substance Abuse Epidemiological Profile, 2010. Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse South Dakota Department of Human Services. http://dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealthservices/community/docs_ada/SEOW/2010EpiProfile.pdf
6. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46000.html
7. South Dakota: States in Brief, 2008. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/StatesInBrief/2k9/SOUTH_DAKOTA_508.pdf
8. http://dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealthservices/community/docs_ada/SEOW/2010EpiProfile.pdf
9. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2001 – 2011. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/DASIS/TEDS2011St_Web
10. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2014. US News and World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=north+dakota&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
11. School of Health Sciences: Social Work, 2014. University of South Dakota. http://www.usd.edu/health-sciences/social-work/
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=46&search=Go
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=46&search=Go
14. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=46&search=Go
15. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=46&search=Go