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: