Astronomy Courses

BA in Astronomy

Overview

The BA in Astronomy is broader and less specialized than the BS, with the aim of developing and sharpening analytical and quantitative reasoning while at the same time cultivating broader knowledge that can be applied to a variety of careers, including business, law, the health professions, science writing, and teaching.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

The BA in astronomy requires a total of 41 credits, 20 credits of foundation coursework and 21 credits of major coursework. Students pursuing the BA have greater flexibility for taking courses in other disciplines.

All courses must be completed with minimum grade of C. A minimum of 15 credits of required AST-prefix courses must be UF credit.

Required Foundation Coursework

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
MAC 2311	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1	4
MAC 2312	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2	4
MAC 2313	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3	4
Select one:		4
PHY 2060 & PHY 2048L	Enriched Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for PHY 2048
PHY 2048 & 2048L	Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for PHY 2048
Select one:		4
PHY 2049 & 2049L	Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for PHY 2049
PHY 2061 & PHY 2049L	Enriched Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for PHY 2049
Total Credits		20

Required Major Coursework

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses
AST 3018	Astronomy and Astrophysics 1	3
AST 3019	Astronomy and Astrophysics 2	3
AST 3722C	Techniques of Observational Astronomy 1	3
Astronomy BA Major Electives
Two 2000/3000/4000-level astronomy courses		6
Select two courses:		6
PHY 3000/4000-level courses
PHZ 3000/4000-level courses
GLY 2010C	Physical Geology
GLY 3045	Planetary Geology
GLY 3105C	Evolution of Earth and Life
MCB 3703	Astrobiology
SWS 2007	The World of Water
Total Credits		21

Recommended Coursework for Graduate Study

Students should talk with the undergraduate coordinator and plan to take:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Select additional courses:
COP 2271	Computer Programming for Engineers
or AST 2730	Introduction to Python for Physical Sciences
MAA 4402	Functions of a Complex Variable
MAS 3114	Computational Linear Algebra
PHY 3513	Thermal Physics 1
PHY 4424	Optics 1
PHY 4523	Statistical Physics
STA 3032	Engineering Statistics

Students of exceptional ability who have some background in physics are encouraged to take the enriched physics with calculus sequence PHY 2060/PHY 2061 instead of PHY 2048/PHY 2049; PHY 3063 may then be taken in place of PHY 3101; and PHZ 3113 may be substituted for PHY 3221.

BS in Astrophysics

Overview

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Astrophysics is for students who intend to pursue careers in a scientific or technical field by continuing to study astronomy, astrophysics, or physics at the graduate level or to commence study in some related field such as planetary science.

Requirements for the Major

The BS in Astrophysics requires 20 credits of foundation coursework in mathematics and physics and 42 credits of major coursework in for a total of 62 credits.

All courses must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 15 credits of required AST-prefix courses must be UF credit.

Required Foundation Coursework

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
MAC 2311	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1	4
MAC 2312	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2	4
MAC 2313	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3	4
Select one:		4
PHY 2048 & 2048L	Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for PHY 2048
PHY 2060 & PHY 2048L	Enriched Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for PHY 2048
Select one:		4
PHY 2049 & 2049L	Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for PHY 2049
PHY 2061 & PHY 2049L	Enriched Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for PHY 2049
Total Credits		20

Required Major Coursework

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Astrophysics BS Major Core Courses
AST 3018	Astronomy and Astrophysics 1	3
AST 3019	Astronomy and Astrophysics 2	3
AST 3722C	Techniques of Observational Astronomy 1	3
MAP 2302	Elementary Differential Equations	3
PHY 3101	Introduction to Modern Physics	3
PHY 3221	Mechanics 1	3
PHY 3323	Electromagnetism 1	3
PHY 4324	Electromagnetism 2	3
PHY 4604	Introductory Quantum Mechanics 1	3
Select one:		3
PHY 3513	Thermal Physics 1
PHY 4424	Optics 1
PHY 4523	Statistical Physics
PHY 4222	Mechanics 2
Astrophysics Major Electives
Four 4000-level AST courses ¹		12
Total Credits		42

¹: Prerequisites: AST 3018 and AST 3019.

Recommended Coursework for Graduate Study

Students should talk with the undergraduate coordinator and plan to take:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Select additional courses:
COP 2271	Computer Programming for Engineers	2-4
or AST 2730	Introduction to Python for Physical Sciences
MAA 4402	Functions of a Complex Variable	3
MAS 3114	Computational Linear Algebra	3
PHY 3513	Thermal Physics 1	3
PHY 4424	Optics 1	3
PHY 4523	Statistical Physics	3
STA 3032	Engineering Statistics	3

Students of exceptional ability who have some background in physics are encouraged to take the enriched physics with calculus sequence.

PHY 2060/PHY 2061 instead of PHY 2048/PHY 2049; PHY 3063 may then be taken in place of PHY 3101; and PHZ 3113 may be substituted for PHY 3221.

Current Astronomy Courses

AST4911 - Undergraduate Research in Astronomy

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

Class #19429