Because physics is the basis of most Physics B.S & Minor engineering disciplines, understanding basic principles of physics can help one become a better engineer. Many students choose a double major, consisting of physics plus some field of engineering. Students going this route often end up in industrial research and development. In a rapidly changing economy where one field of engineering may be in a slump while others are not, understanding physics can assist students in moving across disciplines. For these reasons, students interested in engineering are encouraged to Contact Information consider double majors. Dr. Richard Schnee Physics majors interested in pursuing a career Department of Physics in high school teaching should take standard Dakota Building 101 courses for a physics degree and apply to Black (605) 394-5206 Hills State University's Master in Secondary E-mail: [email protected] Education - Project SECOND. This program
prepares students to earn initial certification in the Physics fields of physics, math, chemistry, and sometimes The goal of a program of study in physics is biology. Another option for physics students to provide students with an understanding of the interested in teaching would be to double major in basic laws of physics and to develop skills that physics at Mines and Education at Black Hills will enable students to further explore physical State. phenomena and to solve related problems.
Students should have a sense of curiosity Minor in Physics about their surroundings and a strong desire, not A minor in physics requires a minimum of 18 only to find solutions to problems that are hours of courses in physics, which must include encountered, but also to develop a deeper PHYS 213, and at least 15 hours of physics courses understanding of the basic principles involved. numbered higher than PHYS 213. All minors in Students will be expected to develop a high level physics must be approved by the department and of mathematical skills and to become proficient must conform to the institutional policies and in oral and written communications. Laboratory guidelines for minors. skills are also emphasized.
For the bachelor of science, students are not Physics Laboratories expected to specialize in a branch of physics. The department facilities are ample for all However, the curriculum has room for electives. aspects of the department’s experimental work Recommended electives are listed for students from the introductory laboratories through graduate seeking employment or further studies in research. They are equipped to enable students to engineering, computational, medical, or observe physical phenomena, demonstrate physical atmospheric physics, The curriculum provides a principles, and learn techniques for making background in applications of physics for quantitative measurements in the fields of students seeking employment in industry and also mechanics, heat, optics, electricity and magnetism, provides a solid foundation for graduate study in atomic, particle, and solid state physics. The physics or in other fields such as geophysics, equipment is the type that students are likely to meteorology, metallurgy, computer science, encounter after graduation, with emphasis on mathematics, materials science, medical physics, computer-based data acquisition and control of and many branches of engineering. experiments.
Physics Curriculum Checklist Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.
Freshman Year Junior Year First Semester First Semester MATH 123 Calculus I 4 PHYS 341 Thermodynamics 2 CHEM 112 General Chemistry I 3 PHYS 343 Statistical Physics 2 CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab 1 PHYS 331 Intro to Modern Physics 3 ENGL 101 Composition I 3 PHYS 312 Exper. Physics Design I 2 General Education Elective 3 PHYS 451 Classical Mechanics 4 TOTAL 14 Program Elective 3 TOTAL 16 Second Semester MATH 125 Calculus II 4 Second Semester PHYS 211 University Physics I 3 MATH 315 Linear Algebra 3 CSC 150/L Computer Science I & Lab 3 PHYS 471 Quantum Mechanics 4 Program Elective 3 PHYS 314 Exper. Physics Design II 2 General Education Elective 3 PHYS 350 Advanced Physics Lab 3 TOTAL 16 Program Elective 4 TOTAL 16 Sophomore Year First Semester Senior Year MATH 225 Calculus III 4 First Semester PHYS 213 University Physics II 3 PHYS 421 Electromagnetism 4 PHYS 213L University Physics II Lab 1 PHYS 361 Optics* 3 ENGL 279 Communications in STEM 3 PHYS 412 Advanced Design Projects I 3 General Education Elective 3 PHYS 481 Mathematical Physics* 4 TOTAL 14 TOTAL 14
Second Semester Second Semester MATH 321 Differential Equations 3 PHYS 433 Nuclear and Particle Physics* 3 PHYS 225 Vibrations, Waves & Optics 3 PHYS 439 Condensed Matter Physics* 4 ENGL 289 Explorations in STEM Comm. 3 PHYS 414 Advanced Design Projects II 4 Program Elective 4 Program Elective 3 General Education Elective 3 TOTAL 14 TOTAL 16
120 credits required for graduation
Curriculum Notes
* Courses offered alternate years. General Education Elective refers to the following: For more detailed course descriptions please At the end of the sophomore year 12 hours of electives must visit our website: include 6 hours in humanities (in two disciplines or in a http://sdmines.sdsmt.edu/sdsmt/directory/courses/phys sequence of foreign language courses) and 6 hours in social sciences (in two disciplines). For Application information go to: See General Education Goals 3 & 4 of the course catalog.
http://www.gotomines.com/admissions/apply/ Program Elective refers to those courses approved by the or Department of Physics as meeting the requirements of Physics related elective coursework. Please refer to the Physics course Call our office at (605) 394-2361 catalog for a full list of these program electives.
BS Physics Curriculum Flowchart (2020-2021) – 120 credits
Freshman Year Freshman Year Sophomore Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Junior Year Senior Year Senior Year First Semester Second Semester First Semester Second Semester First Semester Second Semester First Semester Second Semester
14cr 16cr 14cr 16cr 16cr 16cr 14cr 14cr
200+ 200+ PHYS 421 200+ Program Elective Program Elective Electromagnetism Program Elective
CHEM 112/L *6 *6 PHYS 213/L *6 PHYS 211 PHYS 225 (3cr) (F/S) (4cr) (F/S) (4cr) (F) (3cr) (F/S) Gen Chem I/Lab Physics I Physics II/Lab Vibrations, Waves
& Optics (3/1cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3/1cr) (F/S) (3cr) (S) PHYS 341 PHYS 471 PHYS 433 Thermodynamics Quantum Mech. Nuclear & (2cr) (F) (4cr) (S) Particle CSC 150/L Comp Sci I/Lab (3cr) (S) 200+ (3/0cr) (F/S) Program Elective PHYS 343 PHYS 350 PHYS 481 Statistical Phys. Adv. Physics Lab (3cr) (F/S) Math Physics
(2cr) (F) (3cr) (S) (4cr) (F)
MATH 123 *5 MATH 125 *5 MATH 225 MATH 321 PHYS 451 Calculus I Calculus II *5 Diff Eq Classical Mech. Calculus III (4cr) (F/S) (4cr) (F/S) (4cr) (F/S) (4cr) (F) (4cr) (F/S)
ENGL 101 *1 200+ ENGL 279 *1/2 ENGL 289 *1/2 PHYS 331 MATH 315 PHYS 361 PHYS 439 Composition I Program Elective Communications Explorations in Intro to Modern Linear Algebra Optics Condensed in STEM STEM comm. Physics Matter Physics (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F) (4cr) (S)
100/200 *3/4 100/200 *3/4 100/200 *3/4 100/200 *3/4 PHYS 312 PHYS 314 PHYS 412 PHYS 414 General Education General Education General Education General Education Exp. Physics Exp. Physics Adv. Design I Adv. Design II Elective Elective Elective Elective Design I Design II (3cr) (F/S) (4cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (3cr) (F/S) (2cr) (F/S) (2cr) (F/S)
14cr 14cr 14cr 14cr
Courses that are offered in Fall ONLY or Spring ONLY are indicated by F or S semesters, respectively. Courses indicated F/S are offered Fall and Spring semesters. *1-6 Indicates courses that may be used to satisfy goals 1-6 of the system general requirements. Refer to the 2020-2021 academic catalog for additional information regarding system general education requirements, elective courses, pre-/co-requisites and grade requirements. A list of approved or recommended electives and other supplemental information may be obtained from your academic department Revised: Summer 2020 Recommended Program Electives
Atmospheric Physics Engineering Physics
Recommended electives for atmospheric physics Recommended electives for engineering physics include: include:
• AES 201 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences Credits: (3-0) 3 • ME 216 Introduction to Solid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3 • AES 404/504 Atmospheric Thermodynamics Credits: 2 or 3 • ME 221 Dynamics of Mechanisms Credits: (3-0) 3 • AES 460/560 Atmospheric Dynamics Credits: (3-0) 3 • MET 231 Structures & Properties of Materials Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 • AES 401/501 Atmospheric Physics Credits: (3-0) 3 • MET 232 Properties of Materials Credits: (3-0) 3 • ME 316 Solid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3 • ME 331 Thermo Fluid Dynamics Credits: (3-0) 3 • ME 477 Mechanical Engineering Design I Credits: (0-2) 2 • ME 481L Advanced Production Development Lab I Credits: (0-1) 1 Computational Physics • ME 479 Mechanical Systems Design II Credits: (0-2) 2 • MET 330 Physics of Metals Credits: (3-0) 3 • MET 330L Physics of Metals Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 Recommended electives for computational physics • EE 220/220L Circuits I/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4 include: • EE 301/301L Introduction to Circuits, Machines, and • CSC 215 Programming Techniques Credits: (4-0) 4 Systems/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4 • CSC 340 Software Engineering and Design Credits: (3-0) 3 • EE 320/320L Electronics I/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4 • MATH 373 Introduction to Numerical Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3 • EE 322/322L Electronics II/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4 • MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
• MATH 443/543 Data Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 447/547 Design of Experiments Credits: (3-0) 3 General Physics • MATH 451/551 Math Modeling Credits: (3-0) 3
Recommended electives for general physics include: • PHYS 275 Relativity Credits: (3-0) 3 Medical Physics • PHYS 321 The Physics & Implications of Space Travel Credits: (3-0) 3 • PHYS 386/386L Observational Astronomy/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 Recommended electives for medical physics include: • MATH 373 Introduction to Numerical Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and • BIOL 221 Human Anatomy Credits: (3-0) 3 Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3 • BIOL 221L Human Anatomy Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 • MATH 382 Probability Theory and Statistics II Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 421 Complex Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3 • BIOL 326 Biomedical Physiology Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 432/532 Partial Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3 • BIOL 326L Biomedical Physiology Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 • MATH 443/543 Data Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 447/547 Design of Experiments Credits: (3-0) 3 • MATH 451/551 Math Modeling Credits: (3-0) 3 • CSC 250 Computer Science II Credits: (4-0) 4 • CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3 • CHEM 342 Physical Chemistry I Credits: 2 to 3 • CHEM 344 Physical Chemistry II Credits: 2 to 3 • CHEM 352 Systematic Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
Faculty & Research Areas
Research is an integral aspect of the departmental activities with faculty members involved in projects across the globe. Undergraduate & Graduate students are encouraged to participate in one of the ongoing research projects at the department. The following research areas are available to students, along with many others:
Xinhua Bai: Richard Schnee:
Astroparticle Physics, with Focus on Searching for WIMP dark matter High-Energy Cosmic Ray Physics; with the SuperCDMS and LZ Muon and Neutrino Measurement and experiments; Reducing radon- Dark Matter Search induced backgrounds for rare-event [email protected] searches; Improving data-analysis techniques; Detector development for future dark matter searches. Robert Corey: [email protected]
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Microscopic Structure; Electronic Vladimir Sobolev: Properties; Atomic Motions in Solids [email protected] Ferroelectrics; Magnets; Magnetoelectrics; Magnetic Semiconductors; Magnetic Relaxation; Phase Transitions; Adam French: Crystal Growth [email protected] Dynamics of convective storms;
mesoscale weather systems;
numerical weather prediction;
convective storm modeling; weather forecasting applications Frank Strieder:
[email protected] Experimental Physics; Nuclear Physics; Nuclear Astrophysics; David Martinez Caicedo: Underground Science; Accelerator Physics; Ion Beam Analysis; Experimental High Energy Physics, Applied Nuclear Science with focus in accelerator and reactor [email protected] neutrino physics. Neutrino cross section measurements, research and development in particle detector Jingbo Wang: technologies and its applications [email protected] Experimental Neutrino Physics; Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE); Accelerator Neutrino Tula Paudel: Neutron Interaction Experiment (ANNIE); Theia: An Advanced Optical Computational Condensed Matter Neutrino Detector; Neutron Cross- Physics; Materials Science; section Measurements; Fast-timing Nanoscience; Energy Science; Material Photodetectors; Detector R&D for Design; Spintronics; Defectronics Nuclear and Particle Physics. [email protected] [email protected]
Jurgen Reichenbacher:
DUNE; Dark Matter Experiment at Sanford Underground Research Facility; Reactor Neutrino Experiment; MINOS Neutrino Oscillation Experiment; KARMEN Neutrino Experiment [email protected] EMERITUS Faculty Support Faculty & Staff
Andrew Detwiler: Michael Dowding
Airborne atmospheric Physics Education, Outreach & measurements, atmospheric Recruitment, Events Coordinator, physics. Advisor: Society of Physics Students and [email protected] Sigma Pi Sigma Honor Society [email protected]
Michael Foygel: Connie Krosschell Condensed matter Physics, Carbon Nanotubes, Electrical conductivity, Senior Secretary for Department of Semiconductors. Physics & Nano Sciences, Scheduling, [email protected] Contracts, Finance & Reimbursement [email protected]
John Helsdon:
Cloud electrification, lightning, numerical modeling, and cloud physics and dynamics. [email protected]
Andre Petukhov:
Theory of Electronic Materials and Devices, Electronic Structure and Transport Properties of Solids, Semiconductor Spintronics, Magnetic nanostructures and Heterostructures, Quantum Computing. [email protected]
Conducting research a mile underground
Students & Faculty present at national conferences
Physics - Graduate Education - M.S. & Ph.D.
Contact Information Overview
Dr. Xinhua Bai The program prepares students for a variety of Department of Physics career paths, including positions in academia, Electrical Engineering/Physics Building, Room 217 industry and at national labs. Although degree (605) 394-5198 [email protected] candidates may pursue specialized research foci based on the research expertise of any individual Dr. Maribeth Price faculty members, the most significant goal of the Dean of Graduate Education program is to focus on research areas germane to Chemistry Building, Room 2201 the needs and special resources of the Sanford (605) 394-1763 Underground Research Facility (SURF). Examples [email protected] of specialized research areas connected to SURF include nuclear/particle physics and astrophysics involving neutrino detection, dark matter search, and nuclear interactions, as well as condensed matter physics concentrating on novel low background radiation materials and devices.
Physics is the most fundamental science that explores the underlying principles of the natural
world. It is at the heart of everything, from the stars in the sky to the modern diagnostic methods in medicine, and electronics in an iPod. It is a highly rewarding discipline to study at school, university and beyond. If you are trying to ask yourself a question like "Why is the sky blue on a clear day?" "How do satellites stay in orbit?" "How does the sun generate heat?" then physics is for you. Physics Low student to Faculty Ratio is at the heart of many fundamental problems posed by science today from the search for the origin of the universe to the search for a clean renewable energy source for the future. Degree Curriculum
A dynamic physics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the field of physics. Students can choose to pursue either a thesis or non-thesis degree.
M.S. Physics Option A: Thesis
Requires 19 credit hours of required core courses, 6 credit hours of electives, and 7 credit hours for thesis which leads to total of 32 credit hours.
M.S. Physics Option B: Non-Thesis
Requires 19 credit hours of required core courses, 11 credit hours of electives, and 2 credit hours for research/design paper which leads to total of 32 credit hours.
Required Core Courses Research Areas
PHYS 721 Electrodynamics I 3 PHYS 723 Electrodynamics II 3 Research is an integral aspect of the PHYS 743 Statistical Mechanics 3 PHYS 751 Classical Mechanics 3 departmental activities with faculty members PHYS 771 Quantum Mechanics I 3 involved in projects across the globe. PHYS 773 Quantum Mechanics II 3 PHYS 590 Graduate Seminar 1 Undergraduate & Graduate students are Subtotal: 19 encouraged to participate in one of the ongoing
Electives research projects at the department. The
PHYS 533 Nuclear and Particle Physics 3 following research areas are available to PHYS 539 Solid State Physics I 4 students, along with many others: PHYS 581 Mathematical Physics I 4 MES 603 Condensed Matter Physics 4 PHYS 683 Mathematical Physics II 3 • Dark matter searches PHYS 691 Independent Study 1-3 PHYS 692 Special Topics 1-3 PHYS 739 Condensed Matter Physics I 3 • Long-baseline neutrino physics PHYS 749 Condensed Matter Physics II 3 PHYS 775 General Relativity 3 • Low-background counting PHYS 779 Group Theory 3 PHYS 781 Nuclear and Particle Physics 3 • Experimental astroparticle and PHYS 783 Quantum Field Theory 3 PHYS 785 Astrophysics and Cosmology 3 cosmic-ray physics
PHYS 787 Research 1-9 PHYS 788 Research or Design Paper 1-9 • Physics of solid-state radiation PHYS 791 Independent Studies 1-4 detectors PHYS 792 Topics 1-4 PHYS 798 Thesis 1-12 • Nuclear physics and nuclear forensics Required: 13 • Computational condensed matter Ph.D Physics physics
The Ph.D. program requires a total of 72 credit • Phase transitions in ferroelectric and hours. Students will take 24 credit hours of magnetic materials required core classes, 12 hours of electives, and 36 credit hours of dissertation work. • Material Science Ph.D. applicants already holding a M.S. degree may request up to 30 credits to apply to the • Atmospheric physics Ph.D. credit requirement.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available in the form of assistantships for campus students. Students with a qualifying full time research assistantship are entitled to a stipend and full standard tuition and fees benefit. The value of most full time 12-month research assistantships typically ranges from $30,000 to $40,000. Teaching assistantships may also be available.
Campus students will automatically be considered for assistantship support based on information provided in your completed application package. Graduate students wishing to be considered for financial assistance should submit their application by March 15 for fall admittance. Undergraduate & Graduate Research at the National Level!
Continuing the Legacy
The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF)
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science has the opportunity to enhance the prospects for major scientific discoveries in the US in the coming decade by supporting underground physics experiments that will profoundly advance our understanding of the physical universe.
A laboratory 4,850 feet underground in the Homestake gold mine in Lead, South Dakota, helped start a revolution in physics!
Dr. Ray Davis installed a neutrino detector in Homestake in 1965. Neutrinos are subatomic particles produced by fusion in stars, and over the course of three decades, the Davis experiment led to the discovery that the neutrinos produced in our sun change type, or "flavor," on their way to earth. The change in flavor meant neutrinos had to have at least a wisp of mass -- a wisp that required a significant change in the Standard Model of how the universe works.
Dr. Ray Davis inspects his neutrino detector under construction in the Homestake gold mine. (1965)
The Davis detector was a 110,000-gallon tank filled with perchloroethylene, a cleaning solvent. Davis theorized that when the occasional neutrino collided with a chlorine atom it would produce an argon atom. Using helium and charcoal, he devised a way to count the individual argon atoms -- a handful a year -- that were produced in the tank.
The Davis solar-neutrino detector at Homestake is famous among physicists, so in the fall of 2000, after Homestake announced it would close the mine, the proposal to convert it into an underground laboratory spread quickly. Today hundreds of scientists from dozens of universities and laboratories are participating in the Homestake Collaboration. It all started with Dr. Ray Davis, a nuclear chemist who got dramatic results from a modest experiment.
21st Century Physics at the Sanford Underground Research Facility
Researchers at the Sanford Lab explore some of the most challenging questions facing 21st century physics, such as the origin of matter, the nature of dark matter and the properties of neutrinos. The facility also hosts experiments in other disciplines—including geology, biology and engineering.
The Sanford Lab is located at the former Homestake gold mine, which was a physics landmark long before being converted into a dedicated science facility. Nuclear chemist Ray Davis earned a share of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2002 for a solar neutrino experiment he installed 4,850 feet underground in the mine.
Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford donated $70 million to the project. The South Dakota Legislature also created the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority to operate the lab. The state Legislature has committed more than $40 million in state funds to the project, and South Dakota also obtained a $10 million Community Development Block Grant to help rehabilitate the facility.
The first two major physics experiments at the Sanford Lab were 4,850 feet underground in an area called the Davis Campus, named for the late Ray Davis. The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment was housed in the same cavern excavated for Ray Davis's experiment in the 1960s. After an initial run of 80 days, LUX was determined to be the most sensitive detector yet to search for dark matter—a mysterious, yet-to-be-detected substance thought to be the most prevalent matter in the universe. LUX has recently been decommissioned and is being replaced with the larger; more sensitive LZ detector. The LUX dark matter detector, inside its water tank The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR experiment. adjacent to the original Davis cavern. The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR experiment, also on the 4850 Level, is searching for a rare phenomenon called “neutrinoless double-beta decay” that could reveal whether subatomic particles called neutrinos can be their own antiparticle. Detection of neutrinoless double- beta decay could help determine why matter prevailed over antimatter. The detector is made of the purest copper on Earth, produced onsite by means of electroforming in acid baths followed up by milling the necessary parts in the adjacent machine shop.
Another major experiment is the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) formerly known as the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) - a collaboration with Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) and Sanford Lab. Called the “next frontier of particle physics,” DUNE/LBNE will follow neutrinos as they travel 800 miles through the earth, from FermiLab in Batavia, Ill., to Sanford Lab in Lead SD.
Statistics for Physics Graduates
As our world continues to think smaller and more efficiently, an education in the basic functions of our universe becomes even more important. Organizations around the world see the advantage of hiring Physics majors because of their understanding of different materials and working systems. This makes a Physics graduate a literal jack-of-all-trades as they can easily apply themselves to many different areas of science and engineering. South Dakota Mines physics graduates average a starting salary > $65,000, above the national average for physics bachelors and slightly above the school average for all majors. For up-to-date values on this data, visit www.aip.org/statistics
Student Organizations
The Society of Physics Students (SPS) is a professional association explicitly designed for students and their advisers. Membership, through collegiate chapters, is open to anyone interested in physics. The only requirement for membership is that you be interested in physics. Besides physics majors, our members include majors in astronomy, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics, medicine, and other fields.
Within SPS is housed Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society, which elects members on the basis of outstanding academic achievement. This unique two-in-one society operates within the American Institute of Physics, an umbrella organization for ten other professional science societies.
Purpose and Mission
SPS is a chapter based society that exists to help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community. Traditional coursework develops only one range of skills. Other skills needed to flourish professionally include effective communication and personal interactions, leadership experience, establishing a personal network of contacts, presenting scholarly work in professional meetings and journals, research experiences, and outreach services to the campus and local communities. Through its members, advisers, chapters, and leadership, SPS enables national initiatives and local impacts within the community. SPS supports students, advisers, and departments to improve the overall community.
Locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, the SPS offers the opportunity for these important enrichments to the student’s experience.
History
The Society of Physics Students was formed in 1968 with a constitution that combined its two "parent" organizations, The AIP Student Sections and the Sigma Pi Sigma honor society. SPS now has over 800 chapters on campuses across the country. The associated honor society, Sigma Pi Sigma, now exists in about 575 of those chapters with over 90,000 inductees throughout its history.
Visit our campus page & facebook to learn more about our organization including events, socials, educational outreach, community service and photo gallery:
https://sdsmt.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/physics
https://www.facebook.com/SDSMTPhysicsDepartment
Who’s Hiring Physics Majors?
Although there are many jobs for physicists, remember that not many of them have the word “Physics” in the job description.
Physics majors can be found in every field and industry of the job market in the United States and throughout the world!
On the following pages you will find a comprehensive list of over 1000 companies in the U.S. that have hired physics majors within the last decade!
[bu:st], LLC Alaska Center for Energy and Power ASGN (formerly On Assignment) Benchmark Electronics
121nexus Alcoa Aspen Technology Benefits Compliance Link
2Is Inc. Alliance Bioenergy ASRC Federal Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
352 Inc. Allison Transmission Inc. Association of College and University Educators Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Association of Universities for Research in 360 Energy Group Alpha Teknova BigTime Software
Astronomy
3dSunshine ALS Global Assured Information Security Inc. BITSystems
3DX Alstom Assured Technology Solutions BKV Group
3M Altman Vilandrie & Company Astadia Black & Veatch
4stel Engineering AM/NS Calvert Asurion Blackbaud (formerly Microedge, LLC.)
5celsius AMA, inc. Asylum Research Blackthorne
A9.com Amazon ATC Scientific Blend Labs
AbbVie American Calibration, Inc. Atek Automation Bloomberg L.P.
Absolute Robot American Electronic Warfare Associates (AMEWAS) athenahealth Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc
Accelerated Building Solutions, Inc. American Gaming Systems Ativa Medical Boeing
Accenture American Society of Mechanical Engineers Atmospheric Plasma Solutions, Inc. BOK Solutions
Accenture Federal Services Ames National Lab Atmovita Bombsheller
Accruent Analytics Operations Engineering Audley Travel Boom Lab
ACI Worldwide ANDalyze Austin Master Services Booz Allen Hamilton
Adecco Andeavor Logistics (formerly Tesoro Logistics) Authorea Boston Children's Hospital
Adecco Engineering Angiodynamics Autoliv Boston University
Adecco US Annkissam Automated Dynamics Bourns Inc.
Advanced Architectural Products Aon Automotive Robotics Inc. Bourns Inc.
Advanced Circuits Apex Auto-Owners Insurance BRG Sports (formerly Easton-Bell Sports)
Advanced Control Systems Apex Engineering Axcelis Technologies Brigham and Women's Hospital
Advanced diamond technologies Apex Systems Axon AI, Inc. Bright Power
Advanced Optowave Appian Corporation Azimuth Corporation BrightSign
Advanced Terra Testing Apple B&T Engineering, Inc. Broad Institute
Advanced Testing Laboratory AppleOne BAE Systems Bruker Nano Surfaces Appliance Engineering Inc. AECC BAE Systems Inc. Brylen Technologies
(formerly Gas Consultants Inc.)
AECOM Applied Control Equipment Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. Buckle, Inc.
AEgis Applied Materials Bandwidth.com Bulldog Interiors Contracting
AeroTEC Applied Motion Systems Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bureau of Engraving and Printing Bureau Veritas (formerly Inspectorate America Aerotek Applied Research Associates Bard Access Systems
Corporation)
AES corporation Applied Research Laboratories Bard Peripheral Vascular Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services
AES Northeast, PLLC Arcadis Basler Inc. Butler America
AFEX Fire Suppression Systems Arcos LLC (formerly SAMsix LLC) Battelle Butterfly Network, Inc.
AffinityAmp Ardent Mills Baxter C2 Therapeutics
AFL Telecommunications ARES Technical Corporation Baylor University Medical Center CACI International
AGCO Arete Associates BBVA Compass Cakewalk
Agnesian Healthcare Areva Bechtel Calient Technologies
Ag-Sensus, LLC Arizona Radio Observatory Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation California Energy Commission
AIA Engineers, Ltd Armstrong World Industries Beckett Gas Inc. Calvert Systems
AIR Worldwide Arrowhead Brass & Plumbing Bell Helicopter Capstone
Alaris Technology ArtsDigital LLC Bellomy Research, Inc. CaptiveAire
Alarm.com ARUP Bellows manufacturing and research Cardinal Solutions Group Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology Computer Upgrade King, LLC Department of Justice EnerNOC
Carnegie Observatories Concord USA Department of the Navy Engineering and Inspection Services LLC
Casey Products Consumer Testing Laboratories Deposition Sciences Inc. Enova
Caterpillar Inc. Continental Resources, Inc. Deutsche Bank Entergy - Grand Gulf Nuclear Facility
Catholic University of America CoolComposites, Inc. DeviceLab, Inc. Entergy Nuclear Inc.
Cazena Cooling Applied Technology Devicix Enviro Systems, Inc.
CB&I Coral Life, Inc. Devnext, Inc Envisioneering Inc.
Center for Educational Software Development Core Tech Industrial Digilant Inc. Epic Systems Corporation Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable
Corhart Refractories/Saint Gobain Digital Air Strike Equitable Production Company Technologies
Central Hudson Gas and Electric Cornerstone Research Dixon Valve and Coupling Co. Eurasia Foundation
CERN Corvid Technologies Doosan Fuel Cell America Eurofins Lancaster Labs
Cessna Aircraft Co. Country Life LLC DuPont Evans Analytical Group
CFW Associated Engineers, Inc. Crank Logic Duraloy Technologies EverQuote Cree Inc. (formerly Arkansas Power Electronics DXC Technology (formerly Computer Sciences
Chabot Space and Science Center Evigia Systems, Inc. International) Corporation)
Chainbridge Technologies Crystal Solutions DXP Enterprises Evoke Technologies
Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. CSA Materials, Inc. Dynetics, Inc. Evolent Health (formerly Valence Health)
CHF Solutions (formerly Sunshine Heart) CTS Corporation e4sciences Ex3
Chipton Ross Cummins, Inc. EagleView Technologies Excella
ChoiceStream Curtiss Wright East Coast Optical Technologies, Inc. Exelon
Cisco Custom Microwave Inc. Eastridge Workforce Solutions Exelon Corporation
Cisco Systems CustomMade Ventures EasyESI Exotic Metals Forming Co. eBeam Technologies (formerly PCT Engineered
City Knowledge Cyclotron Institute Experis Systems)
City Machine & Welding D. E. Shaw Research Ebullient Cooling Inc. Express Employment Professionals
City of Wichita, Kansas D+R International EcoGreenHotel LLC Eze Software Group
Clarkston Consulting Daikin Applied Ecolab Facebook
Clearwater Analytics Daily Thermetrics Corp. Egnyte Fairfield Geotechnologies (formerly FairfieldNodal)
Cleveland Clinic Dana Farber Cancer Institute Eintern, LLC Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Clever Data Conversion Laboratory Electroimpact, Inc. Fermilab
CloudCheckr David Evans and Associates Inc. Electromagnetic Applications Fidelity Investments
Cobb-Vantress, Inc Davidson Technologies Element 1 Engineering, Inc Finance & Investment Society (FIS)
Codifyd DaVita Element Materials Technology First Energy/Monongahela Power Co.
Cogent Communications Dawson Geophysical Elert & Associates First Manhattan Consulting Group (FMCG Direct)
Cognius Dayton Die Cushions Eli Lilly & Company First Solar
Cohesive Information Solutions DBRS Eli Lilly and Company Flatiron West
Coilmaster Corporation DC Logistics Elion Labs LLC Flatirons Solutions (closed)
Collaborative Solutions DCX-Chol Ella Engineering Flexasoft
Colorado Energy Research Technologies Dealer.com Elmhurst College Flex-N-Gate
COLSA Corporation Deco Products Elmhurst Public Library Flex-N-Gate
Columbia Engineering & Services DEKA Research and Development Elzly Technology Corporation Flinn Scientific, Inc.
Columbia University Dell EMC Embraer Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Column Technologies Inc. Deloitte EMC Fluid Components Intl.
ComEd Electric Utility Deloitte Consulting Emerson Process Management Focus-N-Fly Inc
Comfort Institute Deloitte Consulting LLP EMMES Corporation Fog Creek Software
Communications and Power Industries Delphix Emory University Ford AV
Computer Presentation Systems Inc. Delta Air Lines Emtec (formerly Intelenex) Ford Motor Company
Computer Pundits Corporation Department of Defense EN Engineering Foresters Financial Services Infineon Technologies (formerly International
Four Seasons Harris Corporation Kareo Rectifier Co.)
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Harris, Mackessy & Brennan, Inc. Information Management Services, Inc. Karl Storz Imaging
Fresenius Medical Care Hartness International Infusion Kawasaki
GAINSystems Health Advances Inmarsat KAYAK
Garmin Hewlett-Packard Company Innovative Computer Software KBR Wyle
Gartner Hewlett-Packard Inc. Insight Enterprises KBRWyle
GE Aviation Hidaka USA Inc. Inspirata, Inc. KDDI Global
GE Healthcare High 5 Games Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Ke Labs
Geisinger Health System Higher Logic LLC Integris Group Kennedy Communications & Convergence
GEL Laboratories LLC Highland Industries Integrity Application Inc. Kent Displays Incorporated
Genentech Hollingsworth and Vose Intel Key Logic
General Atomics Holt Sheet Metal, Inc. Intel Corporation Keyot, LLC
General Dynamics - Mission Systems Honey Science Inc. Intelligent Epitaxy Technologies Keysight
General Dynamics Electric Boat Honeywell Aerospace Intelligent Software Solutions Kinestral Technologies General Dynamics Information Technology
HopeSource Intersystems Corporation Kionix, Inc. (formerly CSRA)
General Electric Horizon Media Intrepid Pursuits Kiosk Creative LLC
General Mills Inc. Horizon Solar Power (formerly BrightCurrent) Invenshure Kirkham Motorsports
General Motors HotChalk, Inc. inviCRO, LLC Kitt Peak National Observatory
Genesis Research Group HP Inc. Ion Beam Applications Kiwash Electric Cooperative
Gentex Corporation HRL Laboratories IPG Photonics KNS Communications
Georgia State University HSA Health Plan ISE Kohler Company
Georgia Tech Research Institute Hudson Heights Pediatrics ITS Technologies Kraus Hi-Tech
Gessner Engineering HUF Group ITS, Inc. Krypton
Glidewell Laboratories HUF Group IXL Learning Kyruus, Inc.
Glint Photonics Hunter Mechanical & Controls J.W. Speaker L&S Engineering Associates, Inc.
GlobalFoundries Hunter's Green Community Association Jacobs L-3 Communications - Crestview Aerospace
Golisano Institute for Sustainability - RIT Hutchinson Jacobs Engineering Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Gooch and Housego Hydraulic Rod Pumps Intnl. Jacobs Engineering Group Laptop Guy
Google Hysitron Jaros, Baum & Bolles Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Google Inc. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama Jefferson Lab Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Grace Manufacturing IBM JILA Leeds Forensic Systems
Gradient Corporation iCubate Joby Aviation Lehigh Heavy Forge
Grandville Printing Company Idaho National Lab John Carroll University Leidos
Grassland Dairy Products Ideal Innovations, Inc. John Deere Leidos (formerly SAIC)
Gravity Jack, Inc. IHS Markit Johns Hopkins University Leitner-Poma of America
Great Plains Analytical Services IJUS LLC Johnson Controls Lensar
Green Resources Illinois Tool Works Inc. Johnson Health Tech North America Lifting Gear Hire
Greensea Systems Illumina Joint Center For Artificial Photosynthesis Lighthouse Placement Services
Grifols IMCorp Jonas Software Lineage Logistics (formerly Millard Refrigerated Services)
GSAA, LLC Implantech Associates Inc JP Morgan Lintec of America
Gunderson Marine (A Greenbrier Company) Imra America JPMorgan Chase LMATA Government Services LLC
Haas Group Intl. Indiana Radiology Partners JW Nutritional Lockheed Martin
Haemoscope Indiana University - South Bend K Sciences Logic Technologies Inc.
Halliburton Energy Services Indigo Systems & Technology Consulting Kaiser Permanente Logistics Health Inc.
Hamamatsu Industrial Welding Supply, Inc. Kansa Technology, LLC Logos Bible Software
Hardwire LLC INEOS Kansas State University Long Island Technology Group Lou Raymond and Associates Microtrac Nerds On Call Ora Clinical Inc.
Louisiana State University Microvision Networks InMocean Oracle
Loyola University New Orleans Mikro Systems New England Controls Oracle (formerly BigMachines)
Luminit Minco Products New Flyer Oregon Physics LLC
Luxtech, LLC Mindtree New Source Technology Oregon State University New York University Langone Center for
LZ Technology Inc. Mississippi State University OSIsoft Biomedical Imaging
MagAssemble, LLC MIT Lincoln laboratory Newgrange Design Ozone International
Magenic Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. NextFAB P.W. Enterprises
Marathon Petroleum Corp. Mobis Hyundai NIC, Inc. Pace Analytical Services
Marshfield Clinic Modern Industries Nissin Brake Ohio Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Massachusetts General Hospital Modern Technology Solutions Inc. (MTSI) Noah Towe Consulting Padget Technologies Inc.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Moen Inc. Nol-Tec Systems, Inc. Pakedge Device & Software
MasTec Network Solutions Moog Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Palantir Technologies
MasterCard International Inc. Morgan Stanley North Pole Engineering Panasonic Avionics
Mayo Clinic Morrison & Foerster Northern Contours Pantex Plant McDermott International (formerly Chicago
Motive Media Northrop Grumman Paragon Robotics Bridge & Iron Company) )
McGinley & Associates Mount Sinai Medical Center Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK) Parasoft Corporation
McMaster-Carr Moxtek, Inc. Northrop Grumman Corporation Park Systems
MD Anderson Cancer Center Mteq Inc. Northwest Acute Care Specialist Parthenon Software Group
Meade Instruments Corp. Mu Sigma Northwest Medical Physics Center Particle Technology Labs
Measurement Technology Laboratories Murphy Bros. Northwestern Medicine Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc
MediaMath My True Inc. Northwestern University Pathfinder LLC
Medical Information Technology Mylan Pharmaceuticals Novantas Patton Computers
Medical University of South Carolina Myriad Genetics Nuance Systems Inc. Pearl Meyer & Partners
Medix Nacco Materials Handling Group Nufit Media Pegasystems
Medtronic Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research Oak Ridge Associated Universities Pegasystems Inc.
MEI Technologies National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Pellego
Merck National Air and Space Intelligence Center Oak Ridge National Laboratory Pennsylvania State University
MercuryGate International National Bureau of Economic Research OCD Tech Pentree Engineering
Metal-Weld Specialties Inc. National Center for Atmospheric Research Ohio State University Perficient Inc.
MetaMixis National College Advising Corps Ohio Supercomputer Center Personify Inc.
Methodist Hospital for Surgery National Defense Laboratories Oil-Dri Corporation of America Pervasive
Metrum Research Group LLC National Institute of Aerospace Olapic Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and
Mevion Medical Systems Omniclaim inc. Pharmaron (formerly Xceleron) Bioengineering National Institute of Standards and Technology
MGA Research Corporation Omnico Group Philadelphia School Partnership (NIST)
Michigan Instruments, Inc. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Omnigon Photonics Industries International
Michigan Instruments, Inc. National Instruments On-Board Phunware
Micro Systems Engineering Inc. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration OnDeck PhysAssist
Microfluidics International Corporation National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) OnShift PhysAssist Scribes Inc.
Micromeritics Instrument Corporation National Radio Astronomy Observatory OpenDNS Physical Sciences Inc.
Micron Technology National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) OpenROV Physio-Control Inc
MicroPower Global Corporation Naval Air Warfare Center (NAVAIR) Opower Pictometry
Microsemi (formerly PMC-Sierra, Inc.) Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Optical Engines Inc. Piedmont Drilling and Blasting
Microsoft Naval Surface Warfare Center Optikos Pinnacle Foods Group
Microsphere Computers Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division Optimax Systems Inc. PlasmaChip
MicroStrategy, Inc. Navigant Consulting Optum Plymouth Grating Laboratory Plymouth Tube Razorfish Serco Strymon Engineering
PNC Financial Services Group ReadyTalk Serenity Forge STS Technical Services
Polarity Inc. Red Hat, Inc. SETI Institute Sullivan UV
Polymer Technology Center Red Head Steering Gears SGS Surgical Center of Greensboro
Power Cellular Red Ventures SGS (formerly Accutest Laboratories) Symantec Corp.
Power Drives Inc. Renaissance Learning Inc SGS North America Symbio Robotics
PPG Industries ResourcePro Sheetz, Inc. Syncsort (formerly Vision Solutions, Inc.)
Pratt and Whitney Retronix Intl. Sheridan Production Syntec Optics
Precision Castparts Corporation Revenue Solutions, Inc. Sick Inc. Systems Engineering Group
Precision Gasket Company (PGC) Reynolds and Reynolds Siemens TakeLessons
Prestige Technical Services RGBSI Siemens PLM Tank Utility
PriceWaterhouseCoopers Rhode Island Hospital Sigma Space Corporation Target
Princeton Optronics Rice Lake Weighing Systems Silicon Mechanics Tata Consultancy Services
Process Dynamics RISI SimVentions, Inc. TecAce Software Ltd.
ProCure Proton Therapy Center Robert Half Single Digits, Inc. Technology Service Corporation
Procure Treatment Centers Rockwell Automation Skanska Techtop Industries
Productivity Quality Inc. Rockwell Collins Skyefish Tekla Research
Project Hosts RPS Iris Environmental SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Teksystems
Prometheus Group RSI Smartech Systems, Inc. Teleworld Solutions
Proto Labs Inc. RuleTek Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory TEN7 Interactive
Provenir Rush University Medical Center Snowy Range Instruments Tesla Inc.
PS Energy Group Rypyl Socratic Technologies The Boeing Company
Public Safety Systems Inc. S&ME, INC SoftTech, LLC The Cadmus Group, Inc.
PVP Advanced Electro-Optical Systems S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc. Solbright Energy Solutions The Dubin Group
Pyramid Environmental and Engineering, PC Sabre Systems Soliculture The Pike Company
Qualified Technical Services Sage Automation Solution Source Consulting The Research Board
Quality Managment Solutions Sagentia Inc Sonoscan The Rockport Group
Quality Managment Solutions SAIC SOTA Imaging The Vitality Group
Quantel USA Santa Barbara Design and Build Soundtraxx The Wyss Institute
Quantopian, Inc. Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics Southern Nuclear Operating Company Thermotron
QuEST Global SAP Software Southwest Regional Medical Center ThinAir Labs, LLC
QuEST Global SBB Research Group SoVa Motion Think Big Analytics (formerly Claraview) Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
Questcare Scaled Composites Third Dimension Technologies (SPAWAR)
Quinstar Technology SCE&G Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Thomson Reuters
Quintiq Schepens Eye Research Institute Space Science and Engineering Center ThorLabs, Inc.
Quorum Business Solutions Schneider Electric Space Telescope Science Institute ThoughtWorks
Radiance Technologies Schwartz & Associates Incorporated Spherion Staffing Agency TigerStop
Radiant Vision Systems Science and Technology Policy Institute SPX - TCI International TMC Technologies
RadiumOne Science Systems & Applications, Inc. SRA International Inc. T-Metrics, Inc.
Raisbeck Engineering Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) SSI Technologies Tokyo Electron America Scientific Applications & Research Associates, SSM Health - St. Anthony
RallyPoint Networks Tokyo Electron, FSI Inc. Inc. (SARA) (formerly Saint Anthony Hospital)
Rand Machine Scribe America Stanford University ToolWorks
Randstad Technologies Seagate STATS LLC Toshiba
Rani Engineering SEAKR Engineering STERIS Laboratories, Inc. (formerly Biotest Laboratories)Total Specialties USA
Rapid Response Monitoring Securian Financial Group Stonebrooke Engineering TransMarket Group StormGeo (formerly Applied Weather
Raytheon Sentera Transonic Combustion Technology) TransPerfect United States Marine Corps UT Southwestern Medical Center Welkin Sciences
TrellisWare Technologies United States Naval Air Systems Command Vanderbilt University Wendel Energy Services, LLC
Tribute, Inc. United States Navy Varian Medical Systems WesBanco Inc.
Trison Construction Inc. United States Patent and Trademark Office Velcro West Coast Magnetics TruHorizon Environmental Solutions
United States Steel Corporation Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Westar Energy (formerly Principle Energy Services)
TTI Floor Care North America Unites States Air Force Ventura Telephone Weston Solutions
TurboSquid Universal Photonics Inc. Veracode Wiblits INC
Turner Broadcasting Universal Software Solutions, Inc. Versant Medical Physics and Radiation Safety Wireless Information Networks
Turner Construction Company Universities Space Research Association Vesta Technology WiserTogether
TUV SUD America University of California, Berkeley Vestmark WorldLink
Twitter Inc. University of California, Irvine Vias System Wyatt Aerosol
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) University of California, San Francisco Vibration, Impact, and Pressure Sensors Wyle
Uber University of Central Florida Victorious Inc. X2 Biosystems
UCO Lick Observatory University of Chicago VideoAmp Xchanger Inc.
UCSB Experimental Cosmology Group University of Georgia Virgin Galactic Xi3 Corporation
UGN University of Iowa Visimax Technologies Xtreme Manufacturing
UGN University of Michigan Health Systems Vision Systems, Inc. Xylem Inc.
Uintah Engineering & Land Surveying, LLC (UELS) University of Nebraska Visiongate, Inc. Yale University
UL LLC University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Vital Intel Yardi Systems, Inc.
Ulma Form Works Inc. University of Pennsylvania Vocal Technologies Yelp
Underwriters Laboratories University of Texas at Austin Voith Hydro Inc. Zeiss Industrial Metrology
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) University of Utah VTS ZF Friedrichshafen AG (formerly TRW Automotive)
United Launch Alliance University of Virginia Waitr Inc. ZF Friedrichshafen AG (formerly TRW)
United State Air Force University of Washington Walk Vascular Ziff Brothers Investments
United States Army University of Wisconsin System Walt Disney World Resorts Zions Bancorporation
United States Army Corps of Engineers Urban Engineers, Inc. Wavefront Technology Zoot Enterprises Inc.
ZS Associates United States Bowling Congress US Medical IT Wayfair
United States Department of Defense USAA Weatherford International
United States Department of Defense (DoD) Ushio Webasto
United States Food and Drug Administration UST Global Webasto