1. High School Diploma
The high school diploma requirements are those that every student must earn. Think of these as the base graduation requirements.
School districts have local control to require courses above the State’s minimum in the High School Diploma Requirements.

2. High School Diploma ENGLISH MATH SCIENCE FINE ARTS PHYSICAL EDUCATION4
ENGLISH
1 unit Writing
.5 unit Speech
1 unit Literature (must include .5 unit American Literature)
MATH 3
SCIENCE 3
FINE ARTS
1 unit Algebra I
1 unit Biology
1 unit
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
SOCIAL STUDIES 3
CTE OR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE OR WORLD LANGUAGE
.5 unit
In other words, here are the South Dakota Diploma Requirements.
1 unit U.S. History
.5 unit U.S. Government
HEALTH/
HEALTH INTEGRATION
1 unit in any combo
PERSONAL FINANCE OR ECONOMICS
ELECTIVES
.5 unit
.5 unit
5.5 units

3. Advanced Career Endorsement
High School Diploma
Advanced Endorsement
Advanced Career Endorsement
Advanced Honors Endorsement
Now that we have covered the High School Diploma requirements, or the base requirements, let’s take a look at the advanced endorsements.
Within the coursework outlined under South Dakota High School Diploma Requirements, a student may earn one (or more) of three advanced endorsements:
Advanced Endorsement
Advanced Career Endorsement
Advanced Honors Endorsement
Let’s take a look at each advanced endorsement.

4. Advanced Endorsement
The Advanced Endorsement indicates a student has pursued coursework consistent with entrance requirements for postsecondary education at a university.
NOTE: This advanced endorsement does is not exclusively for students only interested in attending a university. For example, a student interested in attending a technical institute may benefit from earning this advanced endorsement. In regards to the technical institutes, there is not one specific advanced endorsement that is aligned to admission, as best practice is to check with the technical institute on general admission and program-specific requirements.

5. Advanced Endorsement ENGLISH MATH SCIENCE FINE ARTS PHYSICAL EDUCATION4
1 unit Writing
.5 unit Speech
1 unit Literature (must include .5 unit American Literature) 3
MATH 3
SCIENCE
FINE ARTS
1 unit Algebra I
1 unit Biology
1 unit
1 unit Geometry
1 unit Algebra II
2 units other lab sciences
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
SOCIAL STUDIES 3
CTE OR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE OR WORLD LANGUAGE
.5 unit
Items with an arrow by them show the specific requirements to the Advanced Endorsement in addition to the High School Diploma Requirements.
Everything remains the same as the High School Diploma Requirements except Math requires both Geometry and Algebra II, and Science requires the 2 other courses to be lab science.
1 unit U.S. History
.5 unit U.S. Government
HEALTH/
HEALTH INTEGRATION
1 unit
PERSONAL FINANCE OR ECONOMICS
ELECTIVES
.5 unit
.5 unit
5.5 units

6. Advanced Career Endorsement
The Advanced Career Endorsement indicates a student has career experience in a concentrated area, based on academic and/or workplace experience and a related credential.
NOTE: The Advanced Career Endorsement is for students from all walks of life. It should not be seen as one only for students who plan to enter the workforce directly out of high school, although, it would be a beneficial advanced endorsement. Rather, this advanced endorsement helps students gain a step closer in career preparation and workplace experience. For example, a student interested in a medical career would benefit from this advanced endorsement as he or she would gain career preparation in that field.

7. PERSONAL FINANCE OR ECONOMICS
Advanced Career Endorsement 4
ENGLISH
1 unit Writing
.5 unit Speech
1 unit Literature (must include .5 unit American Literature)
MATH 3 2+
CTE OR
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
FINE ARTS
1 unit Algebra I
1 unit
2 units of either of the following or a combo of the two:
SCIENCE 3
PHYSICAL
EDUCATION
1 unit Biology
Approved CTE units from the same career cluster OR
Capstone Experience units
.5 unit
The area marked by a star signifies that a state-approved, advanced computer science course may be used to count as a Science elective.
The arrow shows an area required beyond the base high school diploma requirements.
Examples of how to meet the 2-unit CTE or Capstone Experience requirement:
A student takes two CTE courses within the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster that are part of an approved CTE program.
A student takes two units of Capstone Experiences.
A student takes one CTE course (1 unit) and one Capstone Experience (1 unit).
The next slide shows example industry-recognized credentials. 3
SOCIAL STUDIES
HEALTH/
HEALTH INTEGRATION
1 unit U.S. History
.5 unit U.S. Government
AND
Attainment of an industry-recognized credential OR
NCRC of Silver+
PERSONAL FINANCE OR ECONOMICS
.5 unit
ELECTIVES
.5 unit
4.5 units

8. Advanced Honors Endorsement
The Advanced Honors Endorsement indicates a student has pursued advanced rigorous, academic coursework consistent with the course requirements for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship (SDOS).
NOTE: Earning this advanced endorsement does not guarantee a student has earned the SDOS, as there are additional eligibility criteria. For more information, visit:

9. PERSONAL FINANCE OR ECONOMICS
Advanced Honors Endorsement 4
ENGLISH
1.5 unit Writing
.5 unit Speech
.5 unit ELA elective
1.5 unit Literature (must include .5 unit American Literature
MATH 4 4
SCIENCE
FINE ARTS
1 unit Algebra I
1 unit Biology
1 unit
1 unit Geometry
1 unit Algebra II
1 unit Advanced Math
1 unit Any Physical Science
1 unit Chem. or Physics
1 unit Science elective
P.E.
.5 unit
SOCIAL STUDIES 3
CTE OR WORLD LANGUAGE
The items with arrows show where there are additional requirements beyond the based high school diploma requirements.
HEALTH/
HEALTH INTEGRATION
1 unit U.S. History
.5 unit U.S. Government
2 units in any combo
.5 unit Geography
.5 unit World History
.5 unit SS elective
.5 unit
PERSONAL FINANCE OR ECONOMICS
ELECTIVES
2.5 units
.5 unit