Courses

Motions and physical nature of objects in the solar system; electromagnetic radiation, telescopes, and astronomical detectors. Prereq: Physics 1251 (133), or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 291. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course.

Observational and physical properties of the sun and stars; stellar structure and evolution; interstellar medium; galaxies and cosmology. Prereq: 2291 (291), or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 292. This course is available for EM credit. GE nat sci phys course.

Prospective astronomy majors will meet weekly with different astronomy faculty to learn about current research topics, facilities, and opportunities available in the undergraduate astronomy program. Prereq: Not open to students with credit for two sections of 295. This course is graded S/U.

Overview of observational methods and quantitative analysis in astronomy with applications to the large datasets produced by modern astronomy surveys. Students will apply commonly used methods to reproduce major astronomical results in a collaborative setting. The course prepares students for advanced undergraduate research in astronomy and introduces broadly-applicable data analysis tools. Previous coursework or experience with statistical analysis and linear algebra are useful but not required. Prereq: 2292; and Math 1152 or 1172 or above; and CSE 1222, 1223, 1224, Astron 1221, Engr 1221, or 1281.xxH; or permission of the instructor.

This course focuses on developing the skills needed to approach problems at an order-of-magnitude level. It provides students with mathematical techniques and critical thinking skills that can be used to create approximate solutions to problems that may at first seem impossible to solve. Prereq: Physics 1251, 1261 or 1271; or permission of instructor. This course is graded S/U.

Independent library or laboratory work on a special problem or topic in observational or theoretical astronomy. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 30 cr hrs or 3 completions. This course is graded S/U.

This course focuses on developing the skills needed to approach problems at an order-of-magnitude level. The methods learned in this course are often sufficient to draw conclusions about phenomena in our universe and also in our daily lives. This course expands on the skills developed in Astron3810 and builds intuition on when to apply various skills. Prereq: 3810, or permission of instructor. This course is graded S/U.

A multidisciplinary approach to planetary science, integrating modern methods with the Earth and Astrophysical Sciences. Team-taught with faculty in Earth Sciences. Prereq: Math 1152 and a GE Data Analysis course, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for EarthSc 5205. Cross-listed in EarthSc.

Overview of advanced astronomy data analysis methods with applications to the large datasets produced by modern surveys. Students will learn to apply these methods to reproduce several major astronomical results in collaborative research projects. The goal of the course is to better prepare students for graduate-level research in astronomy and other careers that use these methods. Prereq: 3350 or Physics 3700, and Math 2568; or permission of instructor.

Physics of stellar structure, evolution, and nucleosynthesis. Prereq: Math 2174, 2255 (255), or 2415 (415); and Physics 5500 (631); or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 681 or Physics 681.

Structure and evolution of the Universe. Prereq: Math 2174 or 2255 (255) or 2415 (415); and Physics 2301 (263); or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit for 682 or Physics 682.