Astronomy (B.A.)
This program is intended to provide students with foundational knowledge in astronomy and space science. Students will graduate with strong scientific preparation and communication skills and will have a wide range of career options including entry-level jobs as well as graduate education in law, business, education, social and physical sciences. In short, these students will have all the traditional options of liberal arts majors with the added advantage of a unique science background.
Admission requirements for this program are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University.
Candidates must complete 120 credits in course work including satisfaction of the University General Education Requirements and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements, as well as the Departmental major requirements cited below. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the University and the College governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees.
Students must receive a grade of C- or better in all physics and/or astronomy courses and prerequisite courses. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher for all course work is required for graduation.
Additionally, student must complete:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AST 1010 | Discovering the Universe | 1 |
| AST 2010 | Descriptive Astronomy | 4 |
| AST 2011 | Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory | 1 |
| AST 2030 | Life in the Universe | 3 |
| PHY 2170 | University Physics for Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2171 | University Physics Laboratory | 1 |
| PHY 2180 | University Physics for Scientists II 1 | 4 |
| PHY 2181 | University Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| PHY 3300 | Introductory Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHY 3310 | Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory | 2 |
| PHY 3750 | Introduction to Computational Methods | 1 |
| AST 4100 | Astronomical Techniques | 3 |
| AST 4200 | Astronomical Laboratory | 2 |
| AST 4300 | Planetary Astronomy and Space Science | 3 |
| AST 5010 | Astrophysics and Stellar Astronomy | 3 |
| AST 5100 | Galaxies and the Universe | 3 |
| MAT 2010 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MAT 2020 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHY 6750 | Applied Computational Methods | 2-3 |
| or PHY 6860 | Computational Physics | |
| Total Credits | 49-50 | |
Physics AGRADE Program
Seniors in Physics and Astronomy, with a minimum grade point average of 3.5, may enroll simultaneously in the undergraduate and graduate programs. These students can apply up to fifteen credits towards both the bachelors and masters degrees in physics. Contact Undergraduate Academic Advisor for further information.