Read the sections describing general education and CLAS requirements. Refer especially to the Majors and Minors in the College section.
THE MAJOR: Students with a strong interest in un-derstanding 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 astro-physics, science education, engineering, law and medi-cine.
In addition to the general requirements of CLAS, students majoring in astronomy must take AST 3018, 3019, 4211, 4722C, 4723C; PHY 2048, 2049, 3101, 2048L, 2049L, 3221, 3323, 4324, 4422; MAC 2311, 2312, 2313; and MAP 2302. They must also select 3000 or above ATY astronomy courses to total 24 in ATY.
Students contemplating graduate work should take additional courses from the following: MAS 4156, MAA 4402, MAP 4305, STA 3032 and CGS 2420. All required courses must be completed with C or better grades.
HONORS: Honors will be awarded to astronomy ma-jors who earn an overall junior/senior level GPA of 3.5 or higher and have a 3.5 average in required courses. In addition, for high or highest honors students must com-plete 6 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 4722C, AST 4723C and one other 3-credit course numbered 3000 or above.
OVERSEAS STUDY: Consult an adviser or the UF International Center in 123 Grinter.
GENERAL EDUCATION: Non-science majors may fulfill the physical sciences requirement by taking AST courses.
NOTE: Read the Academic
Advising section of this catalog regarding the Gordon Rule communication
and computation requirement. Many general education courses qualify; check
the schedule of courses. Six gen-eral education credits must be international/diversity
(I).
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| Semester 1 - Fall | Credits |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry & Calculus I (GE-M) | 4 |
| Composition (GE) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE) . | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE) | 3 |
| Biological Sciences (GE) | 3 |
|
|
16 |
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• Complete MAC 1147 or 2311
| Semester 2 - Spring | Credits |
| MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry & Calculus 2 (GE-M) | 4 |
| PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus A (GE-P) | 3 |
| PHY 2048L Laboratory for PHY 2048 (GE-P) | 1 |
| Biological Sciences (GE) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE). | 3 |
|
|
14 |
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• Complete MAC 2311 by end of semester 2
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| Semester 3 - Fall | Credits |
| MAC 2313 Analytical Geometry & Calculus 3. | 4 |
| AST 3018 General Astronomy I (GE-P). | 3 |
| PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus B (GE-P) . | 3 |
| PHY 2049L Laboratory for PHY 2049 (GE-P). | 1 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (GE). | 3 |
|
|
14 |
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• Complete MAC 2312 and PHY 2048 by end of semes-ter 3
| Semester 4 - Spring | 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 General Astronomy 2 (GE-P) | 3 |
|
|
15 |
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• 2.0 cumulative UF GPA
• Complete MAC 2313 and PHY 2049 by end of semes-ter 4
• GPA of 2.5 or better in tracking courses listed as critical tracking
criteria in semesters 1-4
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 5 - Fall | Credits |
| PHY 3221 Mechanics I (GE-P). | 2 |
| AST 4722C Techniques of Observational
Astronomy I (GE-P). |
3 |
| AST 4211 Essentials of Astrophysics (GE-P). | 3 |
| Foreign Language. | 4-5 |
| Elective | 3 |
|
|
15-16 |
Critical Tracking Criteria:
• Complete semester 1-4 criteria plus one AST course (GPA of 2.5
or better in courses listed as critical tracking criteria in semesters
1-4)
| Semester 6 - Spring | Credits |
| PHY 4222 Mechanics 2 (GE-P). | 3 |
| AST 4723C Techniques of Observational
Astronomy 2 |
3 |
| Foreign Language. | 3-5 |
| AST (3000-level or above) | 3 |
| Composition. | 3 |
|
|
15-17 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| Semester 7 - Fall | Credits |
| PHY 3323 Electromagnetism 1. | 3 |
|
Electives (or complete foreign language, if 4-3-3 option) |
6 |
| AST (3000-level or above). | 3 |
| Electives (3000-level or above, not in major) | 3 |
|
|
15 |
| Semester 8 - Spring | Credits |
| PHY 4324 Electromagnetism 2 | 3 |
| PHY 4422 Optics I | 3 |
| AST (3000-level or above) | 3 |
| Electives (3000-level or above, not in major) | 3-6 |
|
|
12-15 |