This program prepares you through a rigorous curriculum for advanced study in graduate or professional programs, or for a career in science or science education. The School of Natural Sciences at Black Hills State University is a small, personable department committed to quality undergraduate programs in science, with a special emphasis on involving students in research and internship experiences.
CHEMISTRY
Hold the keys to understanding the world at its most principal scale with a degree in Chemistry from Black Hills State University. Chemistry is often called the 'Central Science' because chemists study matter at the molecular level. At BHSU, we have small class sizes allowing strong student-faculty interaction and highly focused instruction. All of our Chemistry courses are directly taught by faculty, not by graduate students as you would see in many other universities. Students who graduate from our Chemistry program have a comprehensive understanding of General, Organic, Analytic, and Instrument Chemistry and Biochemistry. ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Environmental Physical Science deals with the identification, study, and treatment of a variety of environmental problems including ground and surface water quality and management, waste treatment, land-use planning, soil testing, contaminant chemistry and monitoring, hazardous waste disposal, land reclamation, and energy management and production. PHYSICAL SCIENCE
The composite major in physical science is a major designed to provide a person with broad, rigorous training in both physics and chemistry with introductory courses in the earth sciences, as well. This major is especially appropriate for persons planning to teach physics, chemistry or general science in a junior or senior high school setting. The broad knowledge base obtained from this major and the faculty involved prepares a student for graduate school in Meteorology or employment in a variety of other occupations where an understanding of chemistry, physics or mathematics is needed. PHYSICS
The Physics program at Black Hills State University is dedicated to its students and giving them enriching research opportunities. BHSU, led by Dr. Kara Keeter and Dr. Brianna Mount, is establishing a nuclear and particle astrophysics program that studies the very smallest particles in the universe in order to understand structures as large as stars, supernova and even galaxies. The Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, SD, serves as a perfect location to study these particles. There are many exciting experiments and centers to get involved in at BHSU such as QuarkNet. MASTERS OF SCIENCE in INTEGRATIVE GENOMICS
Integrative Genomics is an interdisciplinary graduate program that combines genomics, ecology, evolution, and physiology to better understand the evolutionary forces that have shaped the mechanisms that are important to species interactions in the wild. The program is designed to provide those seeking a Masters degree the necessary skills and concepts to work cooperatively with others in a research area that takes a systems-wide approach and incorporates an organism’s history and natural environment to understand the organization and expression of its many genes. Utilization of modern techniques and instrumentation in the laboratory and field prepares students for success in both academic and other biotechnology-related pursuits.
