AST 1002 Discovering the Universe 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

This course provides a comprehensive look at modern astronomy, emphasizing the use of the scientific method and the application of physical laws to understand the universe including earth and its environment. Throughout this course, students will develop the ability to discern scientific knowledge from non-scientific information by using critical thinking.

Attributes: General Education - Physical Science

AST 1022L Astronomy Laboratory 1 Credit

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Introduces experimental work in astronomy including scheduled laboratory exercises during the day in the teaching lab and evening observational astronomy at the on campus teaching observatory. (P)

Attributes: General Education - Physical Science

AST 2000 Cosmology 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Overview of cosmology, the study of the large-scale structure and history of the universe, in four components: ideas about the universe as a whole predating the twentieth century; ideas from twentieth century physics that impact modern cosmology; stars, black holes, galaxies and quasars as probes of the universe; and the Hot Big Bang Model.

AST 2003 Introduction to the Solar System 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Survey of the solar system including the sun, planets, satellites, asteroids, meteorites and comets. (P)

Prerequisite: simple algebra.

Attributes: General Education - Physical Science

AST 2037 Life in the Universe 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

The origin of life on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere. A multidisciplinary approach is followed. Conditions for life to form and the likelihood that such conditions may exist elsewhere in the universe are discussed. Also considered are schemes proposed for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). (P)

Attributes: General Education - Physical Science

AST 2730 Introduction to Python for Physical Sciences 4 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Learn syntax, capabilities, and foundations of Python and basic numerical methods to address physical problems with a computational approach. Covers basics of dataset manipulation, algorithm development, and plotting.

AST 3018 Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

First part of a two part sequence. Survey of astronomy and astrophysics for physical science, engineering, or mathematics majors. Covers gravitation, orbits and tides; the Moon's phases and eclipses; light and spectra; the solar system; and a few historical milestones. (P)

Prerequisite: (PHY 2048 or PHY 2060) and (MAC 2311 or MAC 3472).

Corequisite: PHY 2049.

Attributes: General Education - Physical Science

AST 3019 Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Second part of a two part sequence. Survey of astronomy and astrophysics for physical science, engineering or mathematics majors. Covers compact objects; the Solar System; exoplanets; the Milky Way and galaxies; cosmology and relativity.

Prerequisite: (PHY 2048 or PHY 2060) and (MAC 2311 or MAC 3472).

Corequisite: PHY 2049.

Attributes: General Education - Physical Science

AST 3043 History of Astronomy through Newton 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Astronomy from its beginnings through Newton. Emphasizes the works of Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton.

Prerequisite: (MAC 1105 or MAC 1114) or higher.

Attributes: General Education - Humanities, General Education - International, General Education - Physical Science

AST 3722C Techniques of Observational Astronomy 1 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

First part of the AST 3722C-4723C sequence. The fundamental principles and techniques used in planning, making, reducing and analyzing modern astronomical observations. Includes classroom lectures and discussion, indoor laboratory work, data analysis and outdoor night observations. Introduces numerical treatment of observations, CCD imaging, digital imaging processing and astronomical spectroscopy.

Corequisite: AST 3018.

AST 4211 Essentials of Astrophysics 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Foundation and background on topics in astrophysics, including broadening mechanisms of spectral lines, equations of state of gases, thermodynamics, radiation sources, radiative transport, kinetic theory of gases and stellar structure.

Prerequisite: AST 3018, AST 3019 and a working knowledge of calculus.

AST 4300 Galactic Astronomy 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Intensive introduction to the fundamental properties of the Milky Way and its system of satellite galaxies. Course is intended for astronomy majors and natural science students. Topics include the ages, chemical abundances and kinematics of field stars and star clusters, the properties of the interstellar medium and its role in star formation, the dark matter content and models of the Milky Way's physical structure.

Prerequisite: AST 3018, AST 3019 and a working knowledge of calculus.

AST 4402 Galaxies and Cosmology 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

An investigation into the properties of galaxies and their distribution in space. Some cosmological implications of this distribution are discussed. Intended for astronomy majors and advanced students of other mathematical sciences.

Prerequisite: AST 3018, AST 3019 and a working knowledge of calculus.

AST 4723C Techniques of Observational Astronomy 2 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Second part of a sequence. The fundamental principles and techniques used in planning, making, reducing, and analyzing modern astronomical observations. Includes classroom lectures and discussion, indoor laboratory work, data analysis, and outdoor night observations. Introduces numerical treatment of observations, CCD imaging, digital imaging processing, and astronomical spectroscopy.

Prerequisite: AST 3722C.

AST 4905 Individual Work 1-3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Assigned reading or research for qualified undergraduates.

Prerequisite: AST 3018 and AST 3019, or two years of college physics and instructor permission.

AST 4911 Undergraduate Research in Astronomy 0-3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Provides firsthand, supervised research in Astronomy. Projects may involve inquiry, design, investigation, scholarship, discovery or application in Astronomy.

AST 4930 Special Topics 1-3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Lecture, seminar or laboratory sessions covering selected topics of current interest in astronomy.

Prerequisite: instructor permission.

PHZ 3152 Advanced Computational Techniques 3 Credits

Grading Scheme: Letter Grade

Advanced Computational Techniques in Astronomy and Physics. Advanced techniques in computational methods in the natural sciences and numerical analysis. Includes version controlling and programming in distributed environments; grid construction and convergence techniques; numerical differentiation; linear algebra; root finding; differential equations; Monte Carlo simulations; open source project development.

Prerequisite: MAC 2312 or equivalent.