{
  "program": {
    "title": "Bachelor of Science in Astronomy: Four-Year Curriculum Draft",
    "degreeTargetCredits": 120,
    "summary": "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.",
    "creditDistribution": {
      "astronomyMathematicsPhysicsChemistryComputingAndResearchPreparation": 86,
      "generalEducation": 22,
      "freeOrSubjectAreaElectives": 12
    },
    "creditAudit": {
      "statedDegreeTargetCredits": 120,
      "degreePlanCreditsAsListed": 135,
      "status": "The structured JSON preserves the HTML as written; the listed semester plan currently sums to 135 credits while the program overview states a 120-credit target."
    },
    "programArc": "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."
  },
  "degreePlan": [
    {
      "year": 1,
      "theme": "Foundations in Science, Mathematics, and the Sky",
      "semesters": [
        {
          "term": "Fall",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 101", "title": "Introduction to Astronomy with Observing Lab", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "MATH 151", "title": "Calculus I", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "CHEM 101", "title": "General Chemistry I", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "COMP 110", "title": "Scientific Computing for Physical Sciences", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "WRIT 101", "title": "Academic Writing and Research", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        },
        {
          "term": "Spring",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 120", "title": "The Solar System", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "MATH 152", "title": "Calculus II", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "PHYS 171", "title": "University Physics I: Mechanics", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "CHEM 102", "title": "General Chemistry II", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "GE 101", "title": "Humanities or Social Science Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "year": 2,
      "theme": "Core Physical Methods",
      "semesters": [
        {
          "term": "Fall",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 210", "title": "Observational Astronomy and Data Reduction", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "MATH 251", "title": "Calculus III", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "PHYS 172", "title": "University Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "STAT 220", "title": "Statistics for Physical Scientists", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "GE 201", "title": "Arts, Culture, or Language Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        },
        {
          "term": "Spring",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 230", "title": "Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "MATH 255", "title": "Differential Equations and Linear Algebra", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "PHYS 271", "title": "Modern Physics", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "PHYS 275", "title": "Experimental Physics Laboratory", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "GE 202", "title": "Ethics, Society, and Science Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "year": 3,
      "theme": "Astrophysics Core and Subject Electives",
      "semesters": [
        {
          "term": "Fall",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 310", "title": "Astrophysics I: Radiation, Matter, and Orbits", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 320", "title": "Planetary Science", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "PHYS 331", "title": "Classical Mechanics", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "COMP 260", "title": "Scientific Programming and Numerical Methods", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "GE 301", "title": "Global Perspectives Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        },
        {
          "term": "Spring",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 330", "title": "Astrophysics II: Stellar Structure and Evolution", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 340", "title": "Astronomical Instrumentation", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "PHYS 341", "title": "Electromagnetic Theory", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 3XX", "title": "Subject Elective", "credits": 3, "placeholder": true },
            { "courseNumber": "GE 302", "title": "Communication Intensive Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "recommendedSubjectElectives": [
        "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"
      ]
    },
    {
      "year": 4,
      "theme": "Advanced Topics, Research, and Capstone",
      "semesters": [
        {
          "term": "Fall",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 410", "title": "Galactic Astronomy", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 420", "title": "Cosmology", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 430", "title": "Research Methods in Astronomy", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 4XX", "title": "Advanced Astronomy Elective", "credits": 3, "placeholder": true },
            { "courseNumber": "FREE 401", "title": "Free Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        },
        {
          "term": "Spring",
          "courses": [
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 450", "title": "Senior Capstone in Astronomy", "credits": 4 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 460", "title": "Seminar in Current Astrophysics", "credits": 2 },
            { "courseNumber": "ASTR 4XX", "title": "Advanced Astronomy Elective", "credits": 3, "placeholder": true },
            { "courseNumber": "FREE 402", "title": "Free Elective", "credits": 3 },
            { "courseNumber": "GE 401", "title": "Advanced Writing, Policy, or Society Elective", "credits": 3 }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "recommendedAdvancedElectives": [
        "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"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "courses": [
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 101",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "Introduction to Astronomy with Observing Lab",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "None",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 120",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "The Solar System",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 101 or permission of instructor",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 101"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 210",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Observational Astronomy and Data Reduction",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 101; MATH 151; COMP 110",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 101", "MATH 151", "COMP 110"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 230",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 101; PHYS 171 or concurrent enrollment",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 101", "PHYS 171"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 310",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Astrophysics I: Radiation, Matter, and Orbits",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 230; MATH 251; PHYS 172",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 230", "MATH 251", "PHYS 172"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Covers radiative processes, blackbody radiation, spectra, hydrostatic equilibrium, gravitational potentials, two-body motion, tidal effects, virial arguments, and the physical interpretation of astronomical measurements."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 320",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Planetary Science",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 120; CHEM 102; PHYS 172",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 120", "CHEM 102", "PHYS 172"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 330",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Astrophysics II: Stellar Structure and Evolution",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 310; MATH 255; PHYS 271",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 310", "MATH 255", "PHYS 271"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Develops the physics of stellar interiors, opacity, energy transport, nuclear burning, stellar atmospheres, main sequence evolution, late-stage evolution, compact remnants, supernovae, and nucleosynthesis."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 340",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Astronomical Instrumentation",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 210; PHYS 275",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 210", "PHYS 275"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Studies telescope optics, detectors, filters, spectrographs, adaptive optics, calibration systems, observatory operations, space-based instruments, error budgets, and instrument proposal design."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 350",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Exoplanets and Astrobiology",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 320 or ASTR 310",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 320", "ASTR 310"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Explores exoplanet detection, demographics, orbital architectures, atmospheres, biosignatures, habitable zone models, extremophiles, prebiotic chemistry, and the scientific limits of life detection."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 360",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "The Interstellar Medium",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 310; PHYS 271",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 310", "PHYS 271"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 370",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Solar Physics and Space Weather",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 172; ASTR 230",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 172", "ASTR 230"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Introduces solar structure, magnetic activity, sunspots, flares, coronal mass ejections, the solar wind, heliophysics missions, magnetospheric response, and space weather impacts on technology."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 410",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Galactic Astronomy",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 330; PHYS 331",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 330", "PHYS 331"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 420",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Cosmology",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 310; MATH 255; PHYS 271",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 310", "MATH 255", "PHYS 271"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 430",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Research Methods in Astronomy",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 210; STAT 220; junior or senior standing",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 210", "STAT 220"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Prepares students for independent research through literature review, proposal writing, reproducible analysis, data archives, observational planning, ethical conduct, scientific visualization, and conference-style communication."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 450",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Senior Capstone in Astronomy",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 430; senior standing",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 430"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Students complete an original research, instrumentation, data analysis, education, or mission-design project under faculty supervision and present written, oral, and poster-format results."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 460",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Seminar in Current Astrophysics",
      "credits": 2,
      "prerequisites": "Senior standing or permission of instructor",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "A reading and discussion seminar on recent literature, major survey results, mission discoveries, open problems, and professional pathways in astronomy and astrophysics."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 470",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "High-Energy Astrophysics",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 330; PHYS 341 recommended",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 330", "PHYS 341"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 472",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Radio Astronomy",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 340; PHYS 341 recommended",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 340", "PHYS 341"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Covers radio emission mechanisms, antennas, receivers, interferometry, aperture synthesis, calibration, spectral line observations, pulsars, neutral hydrogen mapping, and radio survey analysis."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 474",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Computational Astrophysics",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "COMP 260; ASTR 310; MATH 255",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["COMP 260", "ASTR 310", "MATH 255"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Applies numerical methods to astronomical problems including N-body integration, hydrodynamics concepts, radiative transfer approximations, Monte Carlo methods, parameter estimation, and reproducible simulation workflows."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 476",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Observational Cosmology",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 420 or concurrent enrollment",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 420"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Focuses on cosmological measurements from galaxy surveys, supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, weak lensing, the cosmic microwave background, survey systematics, and inference of cosmological parameters."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 478",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Space Mission Design",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "ASTR 340; PHYS 331 recommended",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["ASTR 340", "PHYS 331"],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Introduces mission concepts, payload selection, orbital constraints, spacecraft subsystems, operations planning, risk, cost, launch environments, and science traceability matrices for astronomy and planetary missions."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "ASTR 480",
      "subject": "ASTR",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Independent Research in Astronomy",
      "credits": "1-3",
      "prerequisites": "Permission of instructor",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "Astronomy Core and Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "repeatable": true,
      "description": "Faculty-supervised independent research in observational astronomy, theory, instrumentation, science communication, or data-intensive astrophysics. May be repeated for credit with different project scope."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "MATH 151",
      "subject": "MATH",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "Calculus I",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "Precalculus placement or equivalent",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Limits, derivatives, applications of differentiation, optimization, related rates, antiderivatives, the definite integral, and mathematical modeling for physical science contexts."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "MATH 152",
      "subject": "MATH",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "Calculus II",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "MATH 151",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["MATH 151"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Integration techniques, applications of integration, sequences and series, Taylor series, polar coordinates, parametric curves, and introductory differential equations."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "MATH 251",
      "subject": "MATH",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Calculus III",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "MATH 152",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["MATH 152"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Vectors, multivariable functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, vector fields, line and surface integrals, and the theorems of Green, Gauss, and Stokes."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "MATH 255",
      "subject": "MATH",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Differential Equations and Linear Algebra",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "MATH 152",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["MATH 152"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "First and second order differential equations, systems of equations, matrices, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, numerical methods, Fourier ideas, and applications to oscillations, waves, and orbital models."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "COMP 110",
      "subject": "COMP",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "Scientific Computing for Physical Sciences",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "None",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "COMP 260",
      "subject": "COMP",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Scientific Programming and Numerical Methods",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "COMP 110; MATH 152",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["COMP 110", "MATH 152"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Covers numerical precision, interpolation, integration, root finding, differential equation solvers, optimization, linear algebra routines, data pipelines, and reproducible computational projects."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "STAT 220",
      "subject": "STAT",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Statistics for Physical Scientists",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "MATH 151",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["MATH 151"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Probability, distributions, uncertainty propagation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression, Bayesian reasoning, model comparison, and statistics for experimental and observational measurements."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 171",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "University Physics I: Mechanics",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "MATH 151 or concurrent enrollment",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["MATH 151"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Calculus-based mechanics including kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum, rotation, gravitation, oscillations, fluids, and laboratory measurement techniques."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 172",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "University Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 171; MATH 152 or concurrent enrollment",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 171", "MATH 152"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Electric fields, potentials, circuits, magnetic fields, induction, Maxwell's equations in conceptual form, electromagnetic waves, geometric optics, physical optics, and laboratory applications."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 271",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Modern Physics",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 172; MATH 152",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 172", "MATH 152"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Special relativity, early quantum theory, wave-particle duality, Schroedinger equation concepts, atoms, molecules, nuclei, particles, lasers, and connections to astrophysical spectra and compact objects."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 275",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Experimental Physics Laboratory",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 172 or concurrent enrollment",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 172"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Experimental design, measurement uncertainty, sensors, electronics, data acquisition, fitting, technical writing, and laboratory projects in mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, and modern physics."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 331",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Classical Mechanics",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 171; MATH 255 or concurrent enrollment",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 171", "MATH 255"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Newtonian dynamics, central forces, oscillations, non-inertial frames, Lagrangian mechanics, coupled systems, rigid bodies, chaos, and applications to orbital and celestial dynamics."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 341",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Electromagnetic Theory",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 172; MATH 251",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 172", "MATH 251"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation, waveguides, and physical foundations of astronomical instrumentation."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "PHYS 361",
      "subject": "PHYS",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "PHYS 271; MATH 255",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["PHYS 271", "MATH 255"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Thermodynamic laws, entropy, kinetic theory, ensembles, partition functions, blackbody radiation, phase transitions, and statistical foundations used in stellar and planetary interiors."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "CHEM 101",
      "subject": "CHEM",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "General Chemistry I",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "High school chemistry or placement",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Atomic structure, stoichiometry, bonding, periodic trends, thermochemistry, gases, molecular geometry, and laboratory methods for quantitative chemical analysis."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "CHEM 102",
      "subject": "CHEM",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "General Chemistry II",
      "credits": 4,
      "prerequisites": "CHEM 101",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["CHEM 101"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Chemical kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, solubility, coordination chemistry, and laboratory techniques relevant to planetary and astrochemical systems."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "CHEM 230",
      "subject": "CHEM",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Organic and Prebiotic Chemistry",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "CHEM 102",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["CHEM 102"],
      "category": "Mathematics, Computing, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Introduces organic structure, functional groups, reaction mechanisms, spectroscopy, carbon chemistry in planetary environments, prebiotic pathways, and chemical constraints on habitability."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "WRIT 101",
      "subject": "WRIT",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "Academic Writing and Research",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "None",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": false,
      "description": "Develops academic reading, argument, research, revision, citation, and evidence-based writing skills with assignments that may be adapted to science and society topics."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "GE 101",
      "subject": "GE",
      "level": 100,
      "title": "Humanities or Social Science Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "None",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "GE 201",
      "subject": "GE",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Arts, Culture, or Language Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "Varies by selected course",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Broadens degree study through creative practice, cultural analysis, language learning, or comparative traditions. Students are encouraged to choose courses supporting communication across communities."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "GE 202",
      "subject": "GE",
      "level": 200,
      "title": "Ethics, Society, and Science Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "None unless specified by selected course",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "GE 301",
      "subject": "GE",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Global Perspectives Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "Sophomore standing or equivalent",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Develops global and comparative understanding through history, geography, politics, culture, or environmental change, with recommended options in climate, space policy, or global science institutions."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "GE 302",
      "subject": "GE",
      "level": 300,
      "title": "Communication Intensive Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "WRIT 101",
      "prerequisiteCourses": ["WRIT 101"],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Strengthens oral, written, visual, or digital communication. Recommended options include science communication, technical writing, public speaking, journalism, or data storytelling."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "GE 401",
      "subject": "GE",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Advanced Writing, Policy, or Society Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "Junior standing or equivalent",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "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."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "FREE 401",
      "subject": "FREE",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Free Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "Varies by selected course",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Open elective selected in consultation with an advisor. Recommended options include additional mathematics, computer science, geoscience, engineering, education, statistics, or approved astronomy electives."
    },
    {
      "courseNumber": "FREE 402",
      "subject": "FREE",
      "level": 400,
      "title": "Free Elective",
      "credits": 3,
      "prerequisites": "Varies by selected course",
      "prerequisiteCourses": [],
      "category": "General Education and Free Electives",
      "elective": true,
      "description": "Open elective supporting student goals in graduate study, teaching, public communication, data science, instrumentation, planetary science, or interdisciplinary science."
    }
  ],
  "advisingNotes": [
    "Students planning graduate study in astrophysics should strongly consider PHYS 361, ASTR 474, and additional mathematics or computer science electives.",
    "Students interested in planetary science should consider CHEM 230, ASTR 350, ASTR 478, geoscience electives, and summer field or mission-data projects.",
    "Students interested in observational astronomy should consider ASTR 472, ASTR 476, additional statistics, and repeated ASTR 480 research credits where permitted.",
    "The course sequence assumes calculus readiness in the first semester. Students beginning in precalculus would need a modified five-year or summer-supported plan."
  ],
  "reviewStatus": {
    "status": "Draft prepared for curriculum review",
    "institutionalScope": "This document is not tied to a specific institution and can be adapted to local credit, general education, laboratory, and accreditation requirements."
  }
}