A review-ready undergraduate astronomy curriculum that begins with mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing, and sky-observation fundamentals, then advances through astrophysics, instrumentation, planetary science, cosmology, electives, and original research.
Degree target: 120 credits over eight semesters. The curriculum below includes 86 credits of astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing, and research preparation; 22 credits of general education; and 12 credits of free or subject-area electives.
Program arc: Years 1 and 2 establish calculus, mechanics, electromagnetism, chemistry, computation, and observational practice. Years 3 and 4 move into astrophysics, stellar and galactic astronomy, planetary science, cosmology, instrumentation, data analysis, seminars, electives, and capstone research.
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ASTR 101 Introduction to Astronomy with Observing Lab | 4 |
| Fall | MATH 151 Calculus I | 4 |
| Fall | CHEM 101 General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Fall | COMP 110 Scientific Computing for Physical Sciences | 3 |
| Fall | WRIT 101 Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| Spring | ASTR 120 The Solar System | 3 |
| Spring | MATH 152 Calculus II | 4 |
| Spring | PHYS 171 University Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| Spring | CHEM 102 General Chemistry II | 4 |
| Spring | GE 101 Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 |
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ASTR 210 Observational Astronomy and Data Reduction | 4 |
| Fall | MATH 251 Calculus III | 4 |
| Fall | PHYS 172 University Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves | 4 |
| Fall | STAT 220 Statistics for Physical Scientists | 3 |
| Fall | GE 201 Arts, Culture, or Language Elective | 3 |
| Spring | ASTR 230 Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe | 3 |
| Spring | MATH 255 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Spring | PHYS 271 Modern Physics | 4 |
| Spring | PHYS 275 Experimental Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| Spring | GE 202 Ethics, Society, and Science Elective | 3 |
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ASTR 310 Astrophysics I: Radiation, Matter, and Orbits | 4 |
| Fall | ASTR 320 Planetary Science | 3 |
| Fall | PHYS 331 Classical Mechanics | 4 |
| Fall | COMP 260 Scientific Programming and Numerical Methods | 3 |
| Fall | GE 301 Global Perspectives Elective | 3 |
| Spring | ASTR 330 Astrophysics II: Stellar Structure and Evolution | 4 |
| Spring | ASTR 340 Astronomical Instrumentation | 3 |
| Spring | PHYS 341 Electromagnetic Theory | 4 |
| Spring | ASTR 3XX Subject Elective | 3 |
| Spring | GE 302 Communication Intensive Elective | 3 |
Recommended Year 3 subject electives: ASTR 350 Exoplanets and Astrobiology; ASTR 360 The Interstellar Medium; ASTR 370 Solar Physics and Space Weather; PHYS 361 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics; CHEM 230 Organic and Prebiotic Chemistry.
| Semester | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ASTR 410 Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
| Fall | ASTR 420 Cosmology | 3 |
| Fall | ASTR 430 Research Methods in Astronomy | 3 |
| Fall | ASTR 470 High-Energy Astrophysics | 3 |
| Fall | FREE 401 Free Elective | 3 |
| Spring | ASTR 450 Senior Capstone in Astronomy | 4 |
| Spring | ASTR 460 Seminar in Current Astrophysics | 2 |
| Spring | ASTR 4XX Advanced Astronomy Elective (option: ASTR 476 Observational Cosmology) | 3 |
| Spring | FREE 402 Free Elective | 3 |
| Spring | GE 401 Advanced Writing, Policy, or Society Elective | 3 |
Recommended Year 4 advanced electives: ASTR 470 High-Energy Astrophysics; ASTR 472 Radio Astronomy; ASTR 474 Computational Astrophysics; ASTR 476 Observational Cosmology; ASTR 478 Space Mission Design; ASTR 480 Independent Research in Astronomy.
Introduces the night sky, astronomical scales, gravity, light, telescopes, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Laboratory work develops naked-eye observing, telescope use, sky coordinates, simple image capture, and scientific notebook practice.
Surveys planetary formation, orbital dynamics, terrestrial planets, giant planets, small bodies, planetary atmospheres, surfaces, interiors, comparative planetology, spacecraft exploration, and habitability in the solar system.
Builds practical observing skills in photometry, spectroscopy, astrometry, image calibration, signal-to-noise estimation, and uncertainty reporting. Students reduce CCD data, analyze public survey archives, and prepare a technical observing report.
Introduces stellar properties, stellar evolution, the interstellar medium, the Milky Way, galaxy classification, galaxy evolution, large-scale structure, dark matter, dark energy, and the observational foundations of modern cosmology.
Covers radiative processes, blackbody radiation, spectra, hydrostatic equilibrium, gravitational potentials, two-body motion, tidal effects, virial arguments, and the physical interpretation of astronomical measurements.
Examines planetary system formation, geophysics, atmospheres, climate evolution, magnetic fields, impacts, rings, satellites, exoplanet comparisons, and the chemical and physical conditions that shape planetary environments.
Develops the physics of stellar interiors, opacity, energy transport, nuclear burning, stellar atmospheres, main sequence evolution, late-stage evolution, compact remnants, supernovae, and nucleosynthesis.
Studies telescope optics, detectors, filters, spectrographs, adaptive optics, calibration systems, observatory operations, space-based instruments, error budgets, and instrument proposal design.
Explores exoplanet detection, demographics, orbital architectures, atmospheres, biosignatures, habitable zone models, extremophiles, prebiotic chemistry, and the scientific limits of life detection.
Covers gas and dust in galaxies, atomic and molecular clouds, emission and absorption lines, H II regions, star formation, shocks, cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and multiwavelength ISM diagnostics.
Introduces solar structure, magnetic activity, sunspots, flares, coronal mass ejections, the solar wind, heliophysics missions, magnetospheric response, and space weather impacts on technology.
Studies the Milky Way as a galaxy, including stellar populations, kinematics, rotation curves, spiral structure, chemical evolution, dark matter, the Galactic center, and comparisons with nearby galaxies.
Introduces relativistic cosmology at an undergraduate level, including expansion, redshift, distance measures, the cosmic microwave background, nucleosynthesis, structure formation, dark matter, dark energy, and observational tests.
Prepares students for independent research through literature review, proposal writing, reproducible analysis, data archives, observational planning, ethical conduct, scientific visualization, and conference-style communication.
Students complete an original research, instrumentation, data analysis, education, or mission-design project under faculty supervision and present written, oral, and poster-format results.
A reading and discussion seminar on recent literature, major survey results, mission discoveries, open problems, and professional pathways in astronomy and astrophysics.
Examines compact objects, accretion disks, supernova remnants, pulsars, black holes, active galactic nuclei, cosmic rays, X-ray and gamma-ray instrumentation, and high-energy transient phenomena.
Covers radio emission mechanisms, antennas, receivers, interferometry, aperture synthesis, calibration, spectral line observations, pulsars, neutral hydrogen mapping, and radio survey analysis.
Applies numerical methods to astronomical problems including N-body integration, hydrodynamics concepts, radiative transfer approximations, Monte Carlo methods, parameter estimation, and reproducible simulation workflows.
Focuses on cosmological measurements from galaxy surveys, supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, weak lensing, the cosmic microwave background, survey systematics, and inference of cosmological parameters.
Introduces mission concepts, payload selection, orbital constraints, spacecraft subsystems, operations planning, risk, cost, launch environments, and science traceability matrices for astronomy and planetary missions.
Faculty-supervised independent research in observational astronomy, theory, instrumentation, science communication, or data-intensive astrophysics. May be repeated for credit with different project scope.
Limits, derivatives, applications of differentiation, optimization, related rates, antiderivatives, the definite integral, and mathematical modeling for physical science contexts.
Integration techniques, applications of integration, sequences and series, Taylor series, polar coordinates, parametric curves, and introductory differential equations.
Vectors, multivariable functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, vector fields, line and surface integrals, and the theorems of Green, Gauss, and Stokes.
First and second order differential equations, systems of equations, matrices, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, numerical methods, Fourier ideas, and applications to oscillations, waves, and orbital models.
Introduces programming for scientific work using variables, control flow, functions, arrays, plotting, file input and output, notebooks, version control basics, and simple astronomical data examples.
Covers numerical precision, interpolation, integration, root finding, differential equation solvers, optimization, linear algebra routines, data pipelines, and reproducible computational projects.
Probability, distributions, uncertainty propagation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression, Bayesian reasoning, model comparison, and statistics for experimental and observational measurements.
Calculus-based mechanics including kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotation, gravitation, oscillations, fluids, and laboratory measurement techniques.
Electric fields, potentials, circuits, magnetic fields, induction, Maxwell's equations in conceptual form, electromagnetic waves, geometric optics, physical optics, and laboratory applications.
Special relativity, early quantum theory, wave-particle duality, Schroedinger equation concepts, atoms, molecules, nuclei, particles, lasers, and connections to astrophysical spectra and compact objects.
Experimental design, measurement uncertainty, sensors, electronics, data acquisition, fitting, technical writing, and laboratory projects in mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, and modern physics.
Newtonian dynamics, central forces, oscillations, non-inertial frames, Lagrangian mechanics, coupled systems, rigid bodies, chaos, and applications to orbital and celestial dynamics.
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation, waveguides, and physical foundations of astronomical instrumentation.
Thermodynamic laws, entropy, kinetic theory, ensembles, partition functions, blackbody radiation, phase transitions, and statistical foundations used in stellar and planetary interiors.
Atomic structure, stoichiometry, bonding, periodic trends, thermochemistry, gases, molecular geometry, and laboratory methods for quantitative chemical analysis.
Chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, solubility, coordination chemistry, and laboratory techniques relevant to planetary and astrochemical systems.
Introduces organic structure, functional groups, reaction mechanisms, spectroscopy, carbon chemistry in planetary environments, prebiotic pathways, and chemical constraints on habitability.
Develops academic reading, argument, research, revision, citation, and evidence-based writing skills with assignments that may be adapted to science and society topics.
Introduces interpretive, historical, social, or cultural inquiry outside the natural sciences. Departments may approve astronomy-relevant options such as history of science or environmental studies.
Broadens degree study through creative practice, cultural analysis, language learning, or comparative traditions. Students are encouraged to choose courses supporting communication across communities.
Examines ethical reasoning and societal dimensions of scientific work, including technology, public policy, environmental responsibility, data ethics, or Indigenous and community relationships to sky knowledge.
Develops global and comparative understanding through history, geography, politics, culture, or environmental change, with recommended options in climate, space policy, or global science institutions.
Strengthens oral, written, visual, or digital communication. Recommended options include science communication, technical writing, public speaking, journalism, or data storytelling.
Upper-level integrative elective connecting scientific knowledge with policy, education, ethics, environment, communication, or public engagement. Suitable for students preparing capstone outreach or policy projects.
Open elective selected in consultation with an advisor. Recommended options include additional mathematics, computer science, geoscience, engineering, education, statistics, or approved astronomy electives.
Open elective supporting student goals in graduate study, teaching, public communication, data science, instrumentation, planetary science, or interdisciplinary science.