Help shape our understanding of the universe working side-by-side with the world's top scientists while preparing yourself for the jobs of the future.
LEARN SCIENCE in a student-centered learning environment with course instruction and labs taught by full-time faculty.
DO SCIENCE through the program's strong commitment to undergraduate research and internships that are an integral part of the curriculum.
DEVELOP NEW SCIENCE with cutting-edge instrumentation in one-of-a-kind laboratories on the Spearfish campus and 4,850 feet below the surface of the Earth in the BHSU Underground Campus.
JOIN EXCITING PAID SUMMER PROGRAMS including those offered by National Labs, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN), and the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).
The BHUC is a unique, multidisciplinary research facility located at the Ross Campus of the 4850' level of SURF with ~4300 meter water equivalent shielding from cosmic rays.
The Physics department at BHSU has created a state-of-the-art spectroscopy laboratory for ongoing research in association with the Sanford Underground Lab.
There is 1100 sq. ft. of dedicated lab space available for SURF projects in the newly-renovated Jonas Science Building at BHSU. This space houses a 12'x12' cleanroom (class 1,000) room as well as a sample prep area for ICP-MS.
The BHSU ICP-MS lab is located in the Jonas Science Building on the BHSU campus. The lab houses a class 10,000 cleanrooms and an Agilent 7900 ICP-MS with SPS 4 Autosampler.
Dark matter, 85% of the universe's mass, is thought to be WIMPs. The LZ experiment at SURF in South Dakota aims to detect these particles with a 7-tonne liquid xenon target.
Come join our Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter at BHSU and meet other students interested in physics! This club meets monthly for different activities including pizza paries, movie nights, and outreach events such as Surf's Neutrino Day.
Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WiSTEM) is an organization to help better an celebrate women in STEM-related careers or academia.
Interested in Physics Research?
There are many ways for you to be involved in BHSU physics research. We are always looking for enthusiastic new students! There are opportunities for involvement during the summer as well as the school year. The BHSU physics program is growing, and you can be a part of it! Come visit us in Jonas Science 165 for a tour of the lab or stop by next door to visit with Dr. Keeter about your future in physics at BHSU.
What We Do
BHSU is establishing a nuclear and particle astrophysics program that studies the very smallest particles in the universe in order to understand structures as large as stars, supernova, and even galaxies. Two elusive particles, neutrinos and dark matter, are the current subject of intense debate and interest. In fact, national advisory committees list investigating the nature of dark matter and neutrinos among the highest priority questions in particle physics today.
Although these particles arrive at the Earth from space, they are so hard to “see” that it is necessary to place the detectors deep underground, to shield from background “noise” found on surface. Sanford Underground Research Facility will be among the world’s premier locations for such research, and work has already begun at the interim Sanford Lab. BHSU scientists are involved in collaborations with physicists from prestigious institutions throughout the United States and the world to study neutrinos and dark matter. Find out more about the centers hosting Physics research...
These internationally recognized experiments have the potential to change the basic Standard Model of Particle Physics and to forever enhance our understanding of the universe. QuarkNet at Black Hills State University offers teachers a unique opportunity to participate in this ground‑breaking research.
Work With Faculty During The Semester
Students are always encouraged to contact faculty members if they are interested in research at BHSU! Funded opportunities as well as opportunities to conduct research for course are available.
Summer Opportunities
REU
Want to participate in research a mile underground?!
Black Hills State University will host a 10-week REU program centered on underground science at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) each summer. A cohort of students will participate in exciting underground research projects as well as professional development, social, and outreach activities.
Black Hills State University will host a 5-week research and travel program centered on underground science at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). A cohort of students will participate in exciting underground research projects as well as professional development, social and outreach activities.
BHSU is collaborating with the University of Michigan to support BHSU students at Ann Arbor for a ten week program each summer for students to become involved in LZ data analysis.
Excellent preparation for graduate school, medical school, and other pre-professional programs.
Careers of the Future in which the boundaries between traditional boundaries become blurred.
Madison Jilek
The 200 sq. ft. class 10,000 cleanroom houses lab benches and the 60 sq. ft. class 1,000 cleanroom space is partially occupied with low background counters.
Ayla Rodriguez
The BHUC has available standard power outlets within the cleanroom and the work area, access to a 'star' ground within the cleanroom, standard internet connections (ethernet and wifi), N, gas distribution and an automated liquid nitrogen (LN) system. Figure 2 shows a proposed configuration of the counting cleanroom. Currently, only about half of this cleanroom is utilized.
Physics Major Course Requirements
* Courses offered by different SDBOR schools (Collaboration with SDSU, SDSM, USD)
Gen Ed Requirements
3 ENGL 101 Composition I
3 ENGL 201 Composition II
3 CMST 101, 215, or 222 Credits
3 MATH Credits (See Major)
3-5 Natural Science & Lab Credits (See Major)
3-5 Natural Science & Lab (See Major)
Social Science: Take 2 courses from two different subject areas.
Arts & Humanities: Take 2 courses from two different subject areas (ART/H are the same subject), or a Foreign Language Sequence.
Major Requirements: Required Core (58 Semester Hours)
4 CHEM 112/L General Chemistry I & Lab
4 CHEM 114/L General Chemistry II & Lab
3 CSC 150 Computer Science
4 MATH 123 Calculus I
4 MATH 125 Calculus II
4 MATH 225 Calculus III
3 MATH 321 Differential Equations
5 PHYS 211/L University Physics I & Lab
5 PHYS 213/L University Physics II & Lab
2 PHYS 312 Experimental Physics Design I*
3 PHYS 331 Introduction to Modern Physics
3 PHYS 341 Thermodynamics
2 PHYS 343 Statistical Physics*
4 PHYS 421 Electromagnetism*
4 PHYS 451 Classical Mechanics
3 PHYS 471 Quantum Mechanics
1 PHYS 490 Seminar*
Choose 4 courses from the following (8-22 Hours)
PHYS 321 Implications of Space Travel*
PHYS 361 Optics*
PHYS 424 Digital Electronics*
PHYS 433 Nuclear & Elementary Particle Physics*
PHYS 439 Condensed Matter Physics*
PHYS 454 Semiconductor Materials*
PHYS 481 Mathematical Physics*
PHYS 492 Topics*
PHYS 498 Research*
*Current students, please refer to the DegreeWorks Dashboard in MyBHSU to confirm your major requirements.*
*Current students, please refer to the DegreeWorks Dashboard in MyBHSU to confirm your minor requirements.*
Physics Teaching Minor Course Requirements
Minor in Physics - Teaching (24 Hours)
3 SEED 413 7-12 Science Methods
5 PHYS 211/L University Physics I & Lab
5 PHYS 213/L University Physics II & Lab
3 PHYS 331 Introduction to Modern Physics
4 PHYS 451 Classical Mechanics
3 PHYS 471 Quantum Mechanics
1-4 PHYS 491 Independent Study OR 3 PHYS 185/L Solar System Astronomy & Lab
*Current students, please refer to the DegreeWorks Dashboard in MyBHSU to confirm your minor requirements.*
Physics Research Minor Course Requirements
Students who have completed University Physics 211, 211L, 213, 213L, and Calculus 123, 123L, 125 125L with an average grade point of 3.0 in these classes and who have permission from their faculty mentor will be admitted into the research minor.
The student will pick a faculty mentor based on research interests, and the mentor and student together will choose two other faculty to serve on the student’s committee. An oral presentation of the research results is required. The faculty mentor will determine the appropriate seminar, colloquium, symposium, or conference for the student’s oral presentation.
Minor in Physics Research (15 Hours)
3 MCOM 488 Research Communication
Restricted Electives (12 Hours)
Twelve semester hours of electives not from the major, but supportive courses selected by the committee.
Brianna Mount Director of the BHSU Underground Campus (BHUC); Associate Professor, Physics Brianna.Mount@BHSU.edu
Jonas Science 140A Map
Phone: (605)642-6094
School of Natural Sciences
Black Hills State University
1200 University St. Unit 9008
Spearfish, SD, USA 57799-9008
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Develop valuable personal relationships in a small community with amazing faculty and staff while thriving in the outdoors of the Black Hills.
