Physics Department
The Department of Physics at the South Dakota Mines is a leader in physics research. Proximity to the Sanford Underground Research Facility, the nation’s premier site for underground particle physics experiments, provides unique opportunities for work on experiments such as DUNE, LZ, and CASPAR, and complements the department's historic strengths in condensed matter and atmospheric science.
We pride ourselves on our excellent department culture and the individual attention that we pay to our students. Our high-quality undergraduate program maintains a low student-per-faculty ratio, enabling faculty to provide their students with comprehensive courses and a depth of knowledge beyond what many physics programs offer. There is a strong emphasis on developing research skills for use in industry and academia. Because physics is the basis of most engineering disciplines, understanding basic principles of physics can help one become a better engineer. Our national-award-winning Society of Physics Students provides excellent co-curricular support of the program.
Our graduate program takes advantage of the strong research opportunities and department culture. The program maintains a high retention rate and provides excellent placement at national labs, in industry, and in academia.
Because physics is the basis of most engineering disciplines, understanding basic principles of physics can help one become a better engineer.
Come explore the department of physics at South Dakota Mines and see what we have to offer!