SDSU Physics Department
Catalog Information
Select the desired schedule or course at the left.
Department of Physics
Crothers Engineering Hall 314
(605) 688-5428
Faculty
Professor O. Quist, Head; Professors L. Browning, J. Rauber; Professors Emeriti Duffey, Graetzer, Leisure; Assistant Professors J. Bonvallet, D. Aaron, Y. Huh, R. McTaggart, J. Vondruska.
Programs
The Physics Department has three main objectives in its program offerings: (1) to serve students interested in engineering as a profession; (2) to serve students from various colleges within the university who need a basic understanding of physics; and (3) to serve students with an interest in a professional future in physics. The department is set up and supported with professional staff, facilities and equipment to support these objectives.
The Engineering Physics Major
The curriculum in Engineering Physics is built around a strong core of physics courses
complemented by courses from engineering departments. Students can earn an engineering physics
degree with an emphasis in either mechanical or electrical engineering by appropriately choosing
courses from one of these two areas. This major is designed to give students the ability to apply new
research developments to pressing problems of society and is most attractive for those students
interested in industrial employment. Graduates with an Engineering Physics degree typically enter
employment as an engineer or continue graduate work in a field such as nuclear engineering,
electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or aerospace engineering.
The Physics Major
The curriculum in Physics is an option similar to the Engineering Physics curriculum that is not necessarily directed toward engineering. Not requiring the depth of engineering courses allows the Physics curriculum more flexibility to accommodate a wide range of student interests. Students interested in a professional physics career, graduate school, medical school, secondary physics education, meteorology, or a multitude of related areas can choose this option. This flexibility is achieved by building a curriculum around a core of 28 required credits in physics. Listings of elective courses for various technical careers are available in the Physic Department office.
Major Requirements
A student must have Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.0 or above for all physics courses to be eligible for graduation with a major in physics. A GPA of 2.0, or above, must also be obtained for the three courses Phys 211-213 (or Phys 111-113) and Phys 331. Any deviations from departmental requirements must be approved by the Head of the Physics Department.
P.O. Box 2219
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007 phone: (605) 688-5428
Last updated 8/15/2007