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Contact Information

Dr. Allison B. Gilmore
Departments of Humanities and Social Sciences Classroom Building 317
(605) 394-2481
Email: Allison.Gilmore@sdsmt.edu

Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty

Humanities Faculty

Professor Rice; Associate Professors Adkins, Hudgens, and Tidwell; Assistant Professors Armstrong, Bumbach, Haugtvedt, and Kremmel; Professor Emerita Antonen, Palmer, and Shirley; Associate Professor Emerita Mitchell

Social Sciences Faculty

Professors Gilmore and Van Nuys; Associate Professor Dreyer; Assistant Professors Gibson and Pritchard; Devereaux Library Director Andersen; Associate Librarian Collection Development Davies; Professor Emeritus Goss; and Associate Professor Emeritus McReynolds.

Overview

Although the School of Mines offers no degrees in specific humanities and social sciences disciplines, Humanities and Social Sciences are designed to complement the technical curriculum and enrich the academic and intellectual lives of Mines’ students.

Humanities

The Department of Humanities provides study in the fields of art, art history, communication, foreign languages, humanities, literature, music, philosophy, and western civilization. The curriculum uses a broad-based approach, often developing linkages between the humanities and the science, engineering, and technical fields that School of Mines students enter after graduation.

Social Sciences

The Department of Social Sciences provides courses in disciplines that focus on the institutions of human society and the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of human behavior. By utilizing empirical and quantitative methods in the study of human beings, the curriculum often demonstrates how profoundly scientific and technological developments affect and are affected by society and the environment.

Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences faculty administer and advise the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Sciences (IS) program, which is a science degree that offers students three unique choices in specialization: atmospheric sciences; pre- professional health sciences; and science, technology, and society. The IS degree provides students with the flexibility to enroll in a variety of math and science courses, as well as carefully chosen electives in the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Individually designed IS programs enable students to tailor the focus of their degrees, and encourages the integration and application of knowledge from diverse disciplines.

Areas of Specialization

Interdisciplinary sciences majors choose from three areas of specialization that will prepare them for a variety of graduate and professional programs or careers in meteorology, public policy, scientific writing, environmental sciences, education, law enforcement, the military, or business.  For additional information on these three degree specializations, see

• Interdisciplinary Sciences: Atmospheric Sciences Specialization, BS  
• Interdisciplinary Sciences: Pre-Professional Health Sciences Specialization, BS  
• Interdisciplinary Sciences: Science, Technology, and Society Specialization, BS  

Health Sciences, Public Policy, and Pre-Law at Mines

The Interdisciplinary Sciences specializations in Pre-Professional Health Sciences (HLTH) and Science, Technology, and Society (STS) are designed for students pursuing professional health sciences careers, or careers in public policy, environmental science, the law, or any number of fields that require a strong background in science combined with a firm grounding in the social sciences, humanities, and the liberal arts. The IS program provides flexibility in a wide range of fields and individualized design that allows students to shape the content of the degree to meet their own career goals.

Working closely with advisors, IS students design a program that promotes analytical, communication, and leadership skills; and emphasizes job shadowing, internships, and undergraduate research experiences. The IS degree in Pre-Professional Health Sciences prepares students to meet the entrance requirements for professional programs in medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical or occupational therapy, radiography, and public health. The Science, Technology, and Society degree prepares students for admission to law school or graduate school, and careers in public policy, scientific writing, environmental sciences, education, law enforcement, the military, or business.

Interdisciplinary Sciences Program Admission Policy

After successful completion of at least 60 credit hours and at least one year prior to the intended graduation date, the student must apply for admission to the degree program by filing a plan of study with the IS Curriculum Committee. The plan of study must be approved by the Curriculum Committee before a student will be formally admitted to the program. This plan of study consists of (1) a Letter of Intent stating the career goals to which the IS degree coursework is to be applied and (2) an IS worksheet showing the courses already taken and the courses to be completed prior to graduation. The Letter of Intent and worksheet must be reviewed and approved by the student’s IS advisor before submission to the Curriculum Committee. The Letter of Intent form and worksheet may be accessed on the IS website. Worksheets are available for each specialization.

Deadline for submitting the Letter of Intent and worksheet to the IS office: For May graduates - April 30 of the preceding year; for August graduates - July 30 of preceding year; for December graduates - November 30 of preceding year. Students must have an approved Letter of Intent and IS worksheet on file in the IS office before registering for IS 498 , the senior capstone project.

Science Minors available to IS Students

Students pursuing the IS specializations are strongly encouraged to complete a minor in another science field at School of Mines as part of their 120 total credits. Minors are available in applied biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geology, geospatial technology, mathematics, physics, or occupational safety. Students should consult the policy on minors and the specific courses required for each minor, provided elsewhere in the catalog. The IS degree is not available as a minor.

Teaching Opportunities

Students who are interested in teaching science or math at the secondary education level should contact education programs at the other state universities for information on the auxiliary courses required for certification. The Master of Science in secondary education degree, an accelerated certification program offered through Black Hills State University, may be of interest to students completing the IS and other science degrees at the School of Mines.

Interdisciplinary Sciences Core Courses

All IS students take a sequence of three core courses, distributed over three years. These courses are sequential and cannot be taken concurrently.  IS courses cannot be counted for humanities/social science credit.

• IS 201 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society (3-0) 3  should  be  taken  in  the  sophomore  year;
• IS 401 Writing and Research in the Interdisciplinary Sciences (3-0) 3  should be taken in the first semester of the senior year; and
• IS 498 Undergraduate Research/Scholarship (0-3) 3  should be taken in the second semester of the senior year.

General Requirements for Graduation

For all interdisciplinary sciences specializations, students are responsible to check with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

120 Credits required for graduation

¹All IS specializations require MATH 123 Calculus I  or a math course requiring MATH 123 as its prerequisite. Some specializations require additional math courses beyond Math 123.

²All IS specializations require a minimum of 30 credit hours in the natural sciences, including 6 hours in sequence (e.g., BIOL 151 /BIOL 153 ) and 12 hours at the upper division. Chemistry must be at the CHEM 112  level or higher. Biology must be at the BIOL 121  level or higher.

³Engineering courses may be counted toward graduation as electives only.

⁴Thirty-six of the required 120 credits must be at the junior or senior level (courses numbered 300 and above.)

Associate of Arts in General Studies

Faculty from humanities and social sciences also administer and advise the associate of arts in general studies, a two-year degree program that offers students a broad and varied background in general education. Completion of the AA will fulfill the general education requirements for associate degrees at the state universities of South Dakota. For additional information, see

General Studies, AA   

eSports Certificate

The eSports certificate is designed to deepen knowledge of on-line gaming, simulation, and the recent and highly competitive world of professional gaming.  The certificate program provides STEM students with competencies and skill-sets associated with eSports, including computer programming, art and graphics, and skills in leadership and teaming. The overarching goal of the certificate program is to encourage STEM graduates to develop the workplace skills generated from a deeper understanding of the elements of eSport activities, such as emotional intelligence, teambuilding, and communication skills.  This certificate is Intended to align with a student’s degree program and extra-curricular activities in order to cultivate professional attributes through the study and practice of eSports.  Leadership, teamwork, and an increasingly online work environment are elements students will necessarily address in completing their eSports coursework.  For additional information, see the Certificate requirements .

The Music Center and the Apex Gallery

The Music Center

The Music Center, an extension of the Department of Humanities, is located on the southeast corner of the main campus quadrangle.  Cultural and educational enrichment opportunities provided by the Music Center include:

• Academic courses listed under MUS in this catalog, on Web Advisor, or on the Music Center website www.sdsmt.edu/music
• Ensembles - Wind Ensemble, Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir, Jazz Ensemble, University Band, University Orchestra, University Choir, and other instrumental and vocal ensembles.
• Performance Opportunities through university concerts, participation in events such as the South Dakota Intercollegiate Band and the National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions, and campus events such as the Parents Day Talent Show.

Concerts and recitals are presented throughout the year both on campus in the Music Center and at venues around Rapid City and the Black Hills. Appearances are made throughout South Dakota and neighboring states at music association conventions, alumni gatherings, festivals, and competitions.

Music ensembles have traveled to major national and international music events resulting in critical acclaim and recognition through first-place awards such as the New Years Eve Mass in Vienna’s Karlskirche (1990), Lindenholzhausen Harmonie- Festival (1993), Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio (1996), Circolo Artistico in Venice (2001), the Association of Irish Musical Societies Choral Festival (2006), and the Konstanz (Germany) Münster (1993, 1996, 2003, 2010, 2016).

For current concert listings and more information, visit www.sdsmt.edu/music.

The Apex Gallery

The Apex Gallery was established in 1989 and is housed in the Classroom Building. Open during the academic year, it offers educational and science exhibitions for the enjoyment and enrichment of people of all ages. The gallery features contemporary works of artists and scientists, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized. These exhibits are designed to reflect a cross section of cultural expressions and perspectives.

In addition to providing on-campus students and staff with opportunities to view the exhibits, the Apex Gallery offers tours to local middle-schools, features lectures from visiting artists, provides campus and community workshops, and conducts collaborative programming and exhibitions with Rapid City’s Dahl Fine-Arts Center. For additional information, visit apexgallery.sdsmt.edu/

Humanities and Social Sciences Courses

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