ASAPPHD - Astronomy and Astrophysics

63

18 units of graded core courses

ASTR 589 (3 units): Physics of Astrophysics

ASTR 501 (1 unit): Introduction to Computing

ASTR 541 (3 units): Cosmology

ASTR 545 (3 units): Stars and Planets

ASTR 513 (3 units): Statistical and Computational Methods

ASTR 540 (2 units): Structure & Dynamics of Galaxies

ASTR 515 (2 units): Interstellar Medium & Star Formation

ASTR 518 (2 units): Instrumentation

8-9 units of graded elective/seminars (see below)

19-20 units of Independent Research (Astronomy 900)

18 units of dissertation credits (Astronomy 920)

Example Electives and Seminars
 

ASTR 502. Data Mining and Machine Learning in Astronomy (2)

ASTR 503. Physics of the Solar System (3 units)

ASTR 516. Modern Astronomical Optics (3)

ASTR 520. Seminar on Advanced Extragalactic Astronomy (2)

ASTR/PTYS 550. Planets (3)

ASTR 553. Solar System Dynamics (3)

ASTR 560. Seminar with a Focus on Stellar Evolution from an Observational Perspective (2)

ASTR 569. Introduction to General Relativity (3)

ASTR 575. Astrobiology (3)

ASTR 578. Writing in Astronomy (3)

ASTR 582. High Energy Astrophysics (3)

ASTR 585. Radio Astronomy (3)

ASTR 588. Astrochemistry (3)

ASTR 589. Topics in Theoretical Astrophysics (3)

ASTR 596B. Methods in Computational Astrophysics (3)

PTYS 558. Plasma Physics with Astrophysical and Solar System Applications (3)

as well as other related courses in Planetary Sciences, Optics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Sciences.

By the end of the third semester, the student should have completed the core Ph.D. qualification requirement, which consists of seven graduate astronomy core courses, with a grade of C or better in each course. The student's overall GPA must remain 3.0 or above to hold either a research or teaching assistantship. A GPA of 3.0 is also a graduation requirement for either a Masters or Ph.D. in Astronomy.

Core courses will always be taken for letter grades by Astronomy students, but may be taken for Pass/Fail credit, with instructor approval, by students from other departments. Electives and seminars may be taken for Pass/Fail credit, subject to the limitation of no more than two Pass/Fail courses per semester and the overall constraint of having taken a sufficient number of credits in letter-graded courses.

Formally, all Ph.D. students in our program select both a major and a minor subject. For most, both are astronomy. However, it is possible for the minor to be in one of the other science or engineering disciplines. The course requirement is set by the minor department, but usually at least three of the required elective courses are graduate courses in the minor department. At least one representative from the minor department should participate on the preliminary and final oral (thesis defense) exams.

The astronomy department allows graduate students whose Ph.D. major is in another department to minor in astronomy. We require that they pass nine units of coursework that the department considers acceptable for this purpose, preferably "core" courses, and that one astronomy faculty member participate in the preliminary and final oral exams.

See the Graduate Catalogue and the "Handbook for Completing the Steps to Your Degree" for more information. These publications also contain requirements involving the dissertation, as does also the Manual for Theses and Dissertations.

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.