2004-05 Undergraduate Catalog
The Major: Students comfortable with mathematics and physics who have a strong interest in understanding the nature of the solar system, stars, galaxies and the universe are encouraged to consider majoring in astronomy. The knowledge acquired and the analytical skills developed provide excellent broad-based training for careers in industry, education and government as well as preparation for graduate study in astronomy and astrophysics, science education, engineering, law and medicine.
In addition to the general requirements of CLAS, students majoring in astronomy must take AST 3018, 3019, 3722C, MAC 2311, 2312, 2313, MAP 2302; PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049, 2049L, 3101, 3221, 3323, 4222, 4324. One additional physics course must be selected from PHY 3513, PHY 4422, PHY 4523, and PHY 4604. Majors must also select five additional 3-credit courses from among the 4000-level astronomy courses. All required courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Students planning graduate work in astronomy should talk with the undergraduate coordinator and plan to take PHY 4604 and additional courses from the following: PHY 3513, 4422, 4523; MAS 3114, MAA 4402, MAP 4303, STA 3032, and CGS 2425.
Honors: To graduate cum laude, astronomy majors must earn an overall junior-/senior-level GPA of 3.5 or higher and have a 3.5 average in required courses. To graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude, students must complete six credits of AST 4905 in their junior or senior year and submit an acceptable senior thesis. The thesis will be evaluated by the faculty member who supervised the student in AST 4905 and two other faculty members appointed by the chair.
The Minor: To obtain a minor in astronomy the student must complete 15 credits of astronomy with grades of C or better. The student must take AST 3018, AST 3019, AST 3722C and two other 3-credit AST courses at the 4000 level.
General Education: Non-science majors may fulfill the physical sciences requirement by taking AST courses.
Astronomy
To remain ‘on track’ for this major, a student must meet the following critical- tracking criteria.
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5 Complete MAC 1147 or MAC 2311
Semester 2:
- Complete MAC 2311
Semester 3:
- Complete MAC 2312, PHY 2048 and PHY 2048L
Semester 4:
- Complete MAC 2313, PHY 2049 and PHY 2049L with 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work
Semester 5:
- Complete AST 3018 with 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work
|
Semester 1 |
Credits |
|
MAC 2311 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 1(GE-M) |
4 |
|
Composition (GE) |
3 |
|
Humanities (GE) |
3 |
|
Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE) |
3 |
|
Biological Science (GE) |
3 |
|
Total |
16 |
|
Semester 2 |
Credits |
|
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry & Calculus 2 (GE-M) |
4 |
|
PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 (GE-P) |
3 |
|
PHY 2048L Laboratory for PHY 2048 (GE-P) |
1 |
|
Biological Science (GE) |
3 |
|
Humanities (GE) |
3 |
|
Total |
14 |
|
Semester 3 |
Credits |
|
MAC 2313 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 3 |
4 |
|
AST 3018 Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 (GE-P) |
3 |
|
PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2 (GE-P) |
3 |
|
PHY 2049L Laboratory for PHY 2049 (GE-P) |
1 |
|
Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE) |
3 |
|
Total |
14 |
|
Semester 4 |
Credits |
|
MAP 2302 Elem. Differential Equations |
3 |
|
PHY 3101 Intro to Modern Physics (GE-P) |
3 |
|
Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE) |
3 |
|
Humanities (GE) |
3 |
|
AST 3019 Astronomy & Astrophysics 2 (GE-P) |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
|
Semester 5 |
Credits |
|
PHY 3221 Mechanics 1 |
3 |
|
PHY 3513 Thermal Physics or Elective |
3 |
|
AST 3722C Techniques of Observational Astronomy 1 |
3 |
|
AST (4000 level) |
3 |
|
Foreign language |
4-5 |
|
Total |
16-17 |
|
Semester 6 |
Credits |
|
PHY 3323 Electromagnetism 1 |
3 |
|
PHY 4222 Mechanics 2 |
3 |
|
AST (4000 level) |
3 |
|
AST (4000 level) |
3 |
|
Foreign language |
3-5 |
|
Total |
15-17 |
|
Semester 7 |
Credits |
|
PHY 4324 Electromagnetism 2 |
3 |
|
AST (4000 level) |
3 |
|
PHY 4604 Quantum Mechanics 1 or Elective |
3 |
|
Composition |
3 |
|
Electives (or complete foreign language, if 4-3-3 option) |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
|
Semester 8 |
Credits |
|
PHY 4422 Optics 1 or Elective |
3 |
|
PHY 4523 Statistical Physics or Elective |
3 |
|
AST (4000 level) |
3 |
|
Electives |
3-6 |
|
Total |
12-15 |
|
Total Required for Degree |
120 |