Astronomy and Astrophysics Major, B.A., B.S.

B.A. degree or B.S. degree

This major is available for students with a particular interest in astronomy or astrophysics. This program provides the background desired by most astronomy graduate programs.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Several MTH courses are required as prerequisites for the physics courses listed below. Prospective majors are urged to begin their study of mathematics in the fall of the freshman year with MTH 132 (or MTH 130, if necessary), and to consult with a departmental advisor as soon as possible for help in scheduling additional MTH courses.

No more than 5 semester hours of credit taken on a credit/no credit basis may be counted toward the astronomy and astrophysics major. Since the department permits credit/no credit registration only for beginning physics courses, the restriction refers specifically to PHY 145QR and PHY 175.

Although not recommended, the following course substitutions can be allowed for a student who successfully completes PHY 247QR: PHY 130QR in place of PHY 145QR, PHY 131 for PHY 146, PHY 170 for PHY 175, PHY 171 for PHY 176.

Transfer students from two-year colleges can complete a major in Astronomy and Astrophysics in two additional years if they have satisfactorily completed a one-year course in calculus and a one-year course in general physics (preferably utilizing calculus). Transfer students should consult the chairperson of this department at their earliest opportunity, and in any case, prior to initial registration.

Program Requirements

Core Courses (38 hours)

PHY 145QR	University Physics I	4(4-0)
PHY 146	University Physics II	4(4-0)
PHY 175	University Physics Laboratory I	1(0-2)
PHY 176	University Physics Laboratory II	1(0-2)
PHY 247QR	Introduction to Modern Physics	4(4-0)
PHY 277	Modern Physics: Experimental Methods and Data Analysis	2(1-3)
PHY 312	Introduction to Mathematical Physics	3(3-0)
PHY 322	Intermediate Mechanics	3(3-0)
PHY 332	Electricity and Magnetism	3(3-0)
PHY 442	Introductory Quantum Theory	4(4-0)
PHY 450	Thermal Physics	3(3-0)
PHY 491WI	Senior Physics Project	3(Spec)
PHY 578WI	Experimental Physics	3(1-5)

Required Courses (13 hours)

AST 260	General Astronomy I	3(3-0)
AST 261	General Astronomy II	3(3-0)
AST 562	Observational Astronomy	4(3-3)
AST 563	Astrophysics	3(3-0)

Cognate Courses (18-21 hours)

Computer Science Prerequisite (3 hours)

CPS 190

Introduction to Programming in Python

3(3-0)

Mathematics Prerequisites I (12 hours)

MTH 132	Calculus I	4(4-0)
MTH 133	Calculus II	4(4-0)
MTH 233	Calculus III	4(4-0)

Mathematics Prerequisites II (3-6 hours)

Select one of the following options:

Option I (6 hours)

(Strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in AST/PHY)

MTH 223	Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory	3(3-0)
MTH 334	Differential Equations	3(3-0)

Option II (3 hours)

MTH 232

Linear Algebra and Differential Equations