2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Humanities and Social Sciences Departments
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 Return to: Undergraduate Studies
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
Associate Professors Hudgens and Tidwell; Assistant Professors Armstrong, Bumbach, Burgess, Haugtvedt, and Kremmel; Lecturers Westergaard, Thomas, Whitehead, and Tellmann; Professor Emerita Antonen, Palmer, Shirley, and Rice; Associate Professor Emerita Mitchell.
Social Sciences Faculty
Professors Gilmore and Van Nuys; Associate Professors Dreyer,Pritchard, and Gibson; Devereaux Library Director Andersen; Associate Librarian Collection Development Davies; Professor Emeritus Goss; and Associate Professor Emeritus McReynolds.
Overview
Humanities and Social Sciences disciplines complement the technical curriculum and enrich the academic and intellectual lives of all 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 curricula demonstrates how profoundly scientific and technological developments affect and are affected by society and the environment.
Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology, and Society
Humanities and Social Sciences faculty administer and advise the Bachelor of Science in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) program, which combines rigorous coursework in the sciences with a firm grounding in the Humanities and Social Sciences. It offers students an undergraduate degree that combines the strength of SD Mines science and engineering programs with an understanding of the human and societal dimensions of scientific progress and technological change. The STS degree provides students with the flexibility to enroll in a variety of science and engineering courses, as well as carefully chosen coursework in the Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences. Individually designed STS programs enable students to tailor the focus of their degrees on environment and sustainability or policy and law.
Working closely with advisors, STS students design a program that promotes analytical, communication, and leadership skills; and emphasizes job shadowing, internships, and undergraduate research experiences. 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.
Science, Technology, and Society Program Admission Policy
Students may declare an STS major at any point in their undergraduate course of study. At least one year prior to the intended graduation date, the student must file a plan of study with the STS Curriculum Committee. The plan of study must be approved by the Curriculum Committee before a student will be approved for graduation. This plan of study consists of (1) a Letter of Intent stating the career goals to which the STS degree coursework is to be applied and (2) an STS 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 advisor before submission to the Curriculum Committee. The Letter of Intent form and worksheet may be accessed on the STS website.
Deadline for submitting the Letter of Intent and worksheet to the STS 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 STS worksheet on file in the department office before registering for IS 498 , the senior capstone project.
Science Minors available to STS Students
Students pursuing the STS degree 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 STS degree is also 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 STS and other science degrees at the School of Mines.
Science, Technology, and Society Core Courses
All STS 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.
General Requirements for Graduation
STS students are responsible to check with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.
I. IS Core Courses (IS 201, HUM 200,IS 401, IS 498) 12 credits
II. English sequence (ENGL 101, ENGL 279, ENGL 289) 9 credits
III. Math and Computer Science min 9 credits
IV. Natural Sciences and Engineering 45 credits
18 credits minimum 100-200 level Natural Sciences
15 credits minimum 300-400 level Natural Sciences or Engineering
12 credits other Natural Sciences or Engineering
V. Humanities and Social Sciences 45 credits
6 credits Humanities general education
6 credits Social Sciences general education
9 credits minimum Humanities upper division
9 credits minimum Social Science upper division
15 credits other Humanities and Social Sciences
120 Credits required for graduation
Curriculum Notes
The STS degree requires 45 credit hours in the math, computer science, natural sciences and engineering. A minimum of 18 lower-division credits in science and engineering is required and must include a minimum of three science prefixes, including BIOL. A minimum of 15 upper-division credits in science and engineering is required. A minimum of 9 hours of math and computer science is required. Students are expected to identify a science concentration and are encouraged to pursue a science minor as appropriate to their specialization.
Students must meet the Institutional Credit Requirements, which include completion of a minimum of 30 credits from the School of Mines. In addition, 15 of the last 30 credits counted towards the degree must be taken from School of Mines.
Minor in Science, Technology, and Society
A minor in Science, Technology, and Society provides students majoring in any degree program on the SD Mines campus, whether it be in the sciences or engineering, to supplement their scientific and technical training with interdisciplinary coursework designed to teach students to think about scientific knowledge and its applications in a systematic, critical way. The minor in STS encourages students to examine the social, cultural, historical, and ethical implications of new technologies, cross disciplinary boundaries, engage with industry partners, and with public policymakers, and require students to think critically about how to manage and articulate the meaning of scientific and technological change in a democratic society. For additional information, see
STS Minor
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 online gaming, simulation, and the recent and highly competitive world of professional gaming. The certificate program provides STEM students with competencies and skillsets 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 professional communication. 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 are listed under MUS in this catalog, on Self-Service Banner , 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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