Earth Sciences/Physics Department

Return to: College/School, Departments & Programs

EARTH SCIENCE

Timothy H. Heaton, Chairperson
201 Akeley-Lawrence Science Center
(605) 677-5649
esci@usd.edu

FACULTY:

Professor:

Timothy H. Heaton, Paleontology, Oceanography

Assistant Professors:

Kelly A. Dilliard, Outreach, Sedimentology
Brennan T. Jordan. Mineralogy, Petrology
Mark R. Sweeney, Sedimentology, Geomorphology

Laboratory Instructors:

Brian Fagnan
Kay Kassube
Dennis Tomhave

MAJOR: Earth Science, B.S.
MINOR: Earth Science

An understanding of the earth is crucial to nearly every aspect of our lives.  It is the source of all of our natural resources such as water, fuel, minerals, and metals.  It presents us with serious hazards such as earthquakes, tornadoes, landslides, and floods.  It is the source of our scenery and recreation opportunities.  We even gain an understanding of ourselves by studying its history and the history of life upon it.  Earth Science is a broad science, employing many skills learned in chemistry, physics, and biology.  The Earth Sciences Program prepares students for a wide variety of exciting careers in geology and other specialties, and it also assists students pursuing many aspects of business, politics, law, and education.  The program is closely associated with the South Dakota Geological Survey, which offers students many resources and internship opportunities.  Students in the program will learn about the geologic processes that affect the Earth’s surface, about the Earth’s resources and hazards, about the oceans and atmosphere, and about the methods that allow us to interpret the earth’s past.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Joseph F. and Martha P. Nelson Scholarship (available to Earth Science majors)
Bruno C. Petsch Honorarium (available to Earth Science majors, requires service to the department)
E. P. Rothrock Scholarship (available to upper-level Earth Science majors)

PHYSICS

Christina Keller, Director
201 Akeley-Lawrence Science Center
(605) 677-5649
phys@usd.edu

FACULTY:

Associate Professor:

Christina Keller, Condensed Matter Physics, Physics Education

Assistant Professors:

Yongchen Sun, Laser Spectroscopy, Condensed Matter Physics Dongming Mei, Neutrino Physics, Nuclear Physics, Astrophysics

Instructor:

K. Wayne James, Laboratory Specialist

MAJOR: PHYSICS, B.S.
MINOR: PHYSICS

Physicists are relationship experts. It is their job to explore one of the most fundamental relationships of all – the one between matter and energy. Physicists help us understand the world at its most fundamental level, from the smallest particles to the universe itself. These fundamental ideas underlie all of the basic sciences–astronomy, biology, chemistry, and geology. In addition, the applied sciences and engineering are all based on the theories developed by physicists.

Students majoring in physics at the U take a traditional undergraduate physics curriculum that includes courses in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, and electronics. As the only physics major in the state housed in a College of Arts and Sciences, the program includes the rich tradition of the liberal arts. Students graduating with a B.S. in physics are expected to speak and write well, possess critical thinking skills, and have an interdisciplinary perspective that will serve them well in all aspects of their lives.

Physics has broad applications in a number of fields and physics grads are in demand in a variety of occupations. Physics graduates of the U have continued on in graduate programs in physics, chemistry, and mathematics; have entered medical and law schools; and have found employment in industry.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Joseph F. and Martha P. Nelson Scholarship (available to Physics majors)
G. I. Moller Scholarship (available to senior Physics majors)
Harrington Book Award (available to upper-level Physics majors)

Return to: College/School, Departments & Programs