Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics, MS


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Contact Information

Dr. Xinhua Bai, Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Physics
Electrical Engineering/Physics 217
(605) 394-5198
E-mail: Xinhua.Bai@sdsmt.edu

MS in Physics

The MS in Physics is a collaborative program between the University of South Dakota and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. It includes a thesis and a non-thesis option. The thesis option requires a thesis based on research, while the non-thesis option substitutes additional coursework and a research paper/project for the thesis requirement.

The Accelerated MS option is not available for this degree.

Degree requirements for thesis option


Distribution of credits


Core requirements: 19 credits
Research or project requirements: 7 credits
Elective requirements: 6 credits
Total credits: 32

South Dakota Board of Regents policy states that a minimum of 16 credits of the 32 required must be taken at the 600 level or above. Students who complete the Physics core requirements described below will automatically fulfill this requirement.

Core requirements


Research or project requirements


The completion of a master’s thesis, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education, is required for this degree.

  • Credits: 1 to 9 **
  • ** At least 7 credits of PHYS 798 are required.  No more than 7 credits of PHYS 798 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements


All elective courses must be approved by the student’s graduate advisor. Electives may be chosen from the list below. At least 6 credits of approved electives must be earned.

Examinations


A thesis defense and an oral final examination are required for this degree.

Detailed policy is given in the physics graduate handbook available on request.

Additional requirements


In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the university requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees  by the Council of Graduate Education.

Degree requirements for non-thesis option


Distribution of credits


Core requirements: 19 credits
Research or project requirements: 2 credits
Elective requirements: 11 credits
Total credits: 32

South Dakota Board of Regents policy states that a minimum of 16 credits of the 32 required must be taken at the 600 level or above. Students who complete the Physics core requirements described below will automatically fulfill this requirement.

Core requirements


Research or project requirements


The completion of a master’s project, approved by the student’s graduate advisor, is required for this degree.

Elective requirements


All elective courses must be approved by the student’s graduate advisor. Electives may be chosen from the list below.

Examinations


No final degree examination is required for the non-thesis option. Individual courses may hold final examinations as part of the course.

Additional requirements


In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the university requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees  by the Council of Graduate Education.

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