Core Curriculum Courses
- AST 6215 – Stars and the Galaxy
- AST 6245 – Stellar Atmospheres & Radiative Processes
- AST 6309 – Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology
- AST 6336 – Astrophysics of the Interstellar Medium
- AST 6725 – Fundamentals of Observational Astronomy
Offered Graduate Courses and Electives
- AST 6112 – Astrophysics of Planetary Systems (3)
Systematic examination of formation and current state of planetary systems.
- AST 6215 – Stars and the Galaxy (3)
Theoretical approach to the study of stellar structure.
- AST 6245 – Stellar Atmospheres & Radiative Processes (3)
Radiative transfer, spectral line formation and broadening, and other topics applicable to stellar atmospheres and photoionized nebulae.
- AST 6309 – Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology (3)
Observations and interpretations of the kinematics, dynamics, and structure of the Milky Way Galaxy, extragalactic objects, and galaxy clusters.
- AST 6336 – Astrophysics of the Interstellar Medium (3)
Complex interplay of physical processes that determine the structure of the interstellar medium in our galaxy; emphasis is placed upon a comparison of observational data with theoretical prediction.
- AST 6415 – Observational Cosmology (3)
Basic science and observations that underlie modern cosmology.
- AST 6416 – Physical Cosmology (3)
Introduction to the observational background and to the theory of cosmology.
- AST 6725C – Fundamentals of Observational Astronomy (3)
Overview of techniques associated with observational astronomy.
- AST 6905 – Individual Work (1-6, max: 12)
Supervised study or research in areas not covered by other courses.
- AST 6925 – Departmental Colloquium (1)
Coreq: AST 6935, 6936. Intended for first-year graduate students. Presentation of topics by visiting and local researchers. S/U.
- AST 6935 – Frontiers in Astronomy (1, max:6)
Coreq: AST 6925, 6936. Recent developments in theoretical and observational astronomy and astrophysics. S/U.
- AST 6936 – Journal Club (1)
Coreq: AST 6925, 6935. Intended for first-year graduate students. Discussion of journal articles. S/U.
- AST 7930 – Special Topics in Astronomy (2-4, max: 12)
Assigned reading, programs, seminar, or lecture series in a new field of advanced astronomy.- Active Galaxies
- Astronomical Instrumentation
- Extrasolar Planets
- High Energy Astrophysics
- Black Holes & Neutron Stars
- Star Formation
- Stellar Populations
- Machine Learning in Astronomy
- AST 7979 – Advanced Research (1-12)
Research for doctoral students before admission to candidacy. Designed for students with a master’s degree in the field of study or for students who have been accepted for a doctoral program. Not appropriate for students who have been admitted to candidacy. S/U.
- AST 7980 – Research for Doctoral Dissertation (1-15) S/U.