For students considering graduate work in astrophysics, the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics recommends the program leading to a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Physics with Specialization in Astrophysics. The description of that program may be found in the Physics section of this catalog. Tutorial and research courses are available in addition to more informal opportunities for work and study in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Participation in a weekly seminar on current topics in astrophysical research is also recommended. Courses numbered 30000 and above are graduate courses and are available to undergraduate students only with the consent of the instructor.
L refers to courses with laboratory.
Any 10000-level general education sequence in chemistry, geophysical sciences, physical sciences, or physics. In this course we study what is known about our galaxy, the Milky Way. We discuss its size, shape, composition, location among its neighbors, motion, how it evolves, and where we are located within it, with an emphasis on how we know and what we know. Any 10000-level general education sequence in chemistry, geophysical sciences, physical sciences, or physics. This course discusses how the laws of nature allow us to understand the origin, evolution, and large-scale structure of the universe.