Physics, PhD

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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

PhD in Physics

The PhD in Physics is a collaborative program between South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and the University of South Dakota.

Degree requirements

Distribution of credits

Core requirements: 24 credits
Research requirements: 36 credits
Elective requirements: 12 credits
Total credits: 72

South Dakota Board of Regents policy states that a minimum of 36 credits of the required 72 must be taken at the 600 level or above. Students who complete the Physics core and research requirements (described below) will automatically fulfill this requirement.

Core requirements

PHYS 721 Electrodynamics I Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 723 Electrodynamics II Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 743 Statistical Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 751 Classical Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 761 Nuclear and Particle Physics Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 771 Quantum Mechanics I Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 773 Quantum Mechanics II Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 790 Seminar Credits: 1 to 3 *
* Three (3) credits of PHYS 790 taken over three semesters are required. Permission of instructor is required to take more than one credit of PHYS 790 in one semester.

Research requirements

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

PHYS 898D Dissertation Credits: 1 to 9 **
** Thirty-six (36) credits of PHYS 898D are required for the degree. Additional credits of PHYS 898D may be needed to complete the dissertation but will not be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements

All elective courses must be approved by the student’s graduate advisor. A total of 12 credit hours of elective courses is required. Courses may be chosen from the following list.

PHYS 691 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
PHYS 692 Topics Credits: 1 to 3
PHYS 733 Experimental Particle Physics: Principles, Data Analysis, and Simulation Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 739 Condensed Matter Physics I Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 749 Condensed Matter Physics II Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 763 Advanced Particle Physics Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 764 Physics of Neutrinos Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 765 Advanced Nuclear Physics Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 775 General Relativity Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 777 Introduction to Quantum Information Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 779 Group Theory Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 783 Quantum Field Theory Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 784 Advanced Quantum Field Theory Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 785 Astrophysics and Cosmology Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 786 Nuclear Astrophysics and the Origin of the Elements Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 791 Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3
PHYS 792 Topics Credits: 1 to 3

Examinations

Qualifying examination

All students in the PhD program must pass the qualifying examination, typically after completing two years of graduate coursework. The examination problems are based on the material covered by the core courses, including Classical Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, and Quantum Mechanics (including Nuclear and Particle Physics).

The examination takes place typically in mid-August each year. Detailed policy and procedures can be found in the Physics Graduate Program Handbook available from the Physics Graduate Education webpage.

Comprehensive examination and admission to candidacy

All physics PhD students must pass a comprehensive examination before admission to PhD candidacy.

The comprehensive examination, and subsequent admission to candidacy, must be completed at least 12 months before the dissertation is defended. Detailed requirements and procedures are described in the Physics Graduate Program Handbook available from the Physics Graduate Education webpage.

Dissertation defense

A dissertation defense and a final oral examination are required for this degree.

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.