Unless otherwise stated in the description below, each class meets for three
lecture hours a week for one semester.
Astronomy: AST
Lower-Division Courses
301. Introduction to Astronomy.
General introduction to astronomy
for nonscience majors. The solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Only
one of the following may be counted: Astronomy 301, 302, 303, 307.
302. Self-Paced Introduction to Astronomy.
General, self-paced
introduction to astronomy for nonscience majors. The solar system, stars,
galaxies, and cosmology. Only one of the following may be counted: Astronomy
301, 302, 303, 307.
303. Introduction to Astronomy with Celestial Observations.
General
introduction to astronomy for nonscience majors. The solar system, stars,
galaxies, and cosmology. Introduces students to the night sky and includes some
observational activities. Only one of the following may be counted: Astronomy
301, 302, 303, 307.
103L. Astronomical Observations.
For nonscience majors. Observations of
celestial phenomena with naked eye and small telescope; photographic option.
Two laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Credit or
registration for Astronomy 301. (May not be taken by students enrolled in
Astronomy 302 or 303.)
104. Undergraduate Astronomy Seminar.
Designed for astronomy majors.
Discussions about current astronomical research, with different topics
emphasized each semester. One lecture hour a week for one semester. May be
repeated twice for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the pass/fail basis
only.
307. Introductory Astronomy.
Introduction to astronomy for science and
engineering students. The solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Only
one of the following may be counted: Astronomy 301, 302, 303, 307.
Prerequisite: Mathematics 305G or the equivalent or consent of
instructor; high school trigonometry and physics are recommended.
309. Topics in Astronomy for Nonscience Students.
Selected topics in
modern astronomy: solar system, galaxies, peculiar stars, cosmology, and
others. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite:
Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of instructor.
309L. Search for Extraterrestrial Life.
Origin of life in the solar
system, existence of other planetary systems, possibilities and techniques for
detection of and communication with other intelligences. Prerequisite:
Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of instructor.
309N. Astronomy Bizarre: Stars and Stellar Evolution.
Exotic objects
and extremes in stellar evolution: pulsars, neutron stars, novae, supernovae,
black holes. Astronomy 309N and 309Q may not both be counted.
Prerequisite: Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of instructor.
309P. Astronomy in Science Fiction.
The use of astronomy and other
sciences in science fiction literature. Critical analysis of selected novels as
to the validity of the astronomy used. Prerequisite: Astronomy 301, 302,
303, or consent of instructor.
309Q. Time and the Cosmos.
For nonscience majors. From the beginning of
time in the Big Bang to the end of time in the black hole. Includes the early
universe, the formation and evolution of single and double stars, and the
supercompact objects they eventually become: white dwarfs, pulsars, and black
holes. Astronomy 309N and 309Q may not both be counted; Astronomy 309Q and 309R
may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or
consent of instructor.
309R. Astronomy Bizarre: Galaxies, Quasars, and Cosmology.
Past,
present, and projected future behavior of the universe and its contents,
including galaxies and quasars. Astronomy 309Q and 309R may not both be
counted. Prerequisite: Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of
instructor.
309T. The Milky Way Galaxy.
Our spiral system of stars, gas, and dust;
star formation. Prerequisite: Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of
instructor.
110K, 210K, 310K, 410K. Conference Course.
Supervised study of selected
areas of astronomy, by arrangement with a faculty member. May be repeated for
credit when the topics vary. Some sections are offered on the pass/fail basis
only; these are identified in the Course Schedule. Prerequisite:
Written consent of instructor.
316K. Archaeo- and Ethno-Astronomy of the Americas.
Same as
Anthropology 316K. Introduction to the astronomical practices of native peoples
of North, Central, and South America, including practical exercises in
naked-eye astronomy. Past and present cosmological outlook as revealed through
oral traditions and material culture.
119S, 219S, 319S, 419S, 519S, 619S, 719S, 819S, 919S. Topics in
Astronomy.
This course is used to record credit the student earns while
enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's
Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser
in the Department of Astronomy. University credit is awarded for work in an
exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer
credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated
for credit when the topics vary.
Upper-Division Courses
- 321. Current Problems in Astronomy.
- For nonscience majors. May
be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite:
Upper-division standing; and Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of
instructor.
- 324. Origins: The Universe, Stars, Planets, and Life.
- For
nonscience majors. Origins of the universe, stars, and planets; origin of life
from simple molecules. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; and
Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of instructor.
- 129S, 229S, 329S, 429S, 529S, 629S, 729S, 829S, 929S. Topics in
Astronomy.
- This course is used to record credit the student earns while
enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's
Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser
in the Department of Astronomy. University credit is awarded for work in an
exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer
credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated
for credit when the topics vary.
- 350L. History and Philosophy of Astronomy.
- Historical influence of
astronomical concepts on social, economic, literary, and scientific life; the
place of astronomy in society. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing;
and Astronomy 301, 302, 303, or consent of instructor.
- 352K. General Stellar Astronomy.
- The observed properties of normal
stars, multiple stars, variable stars, and peculiar stars. Prerequisite:
Physics 316 and 116L.
- 352L. Positional, Dynamical, and Kinematical Astronomy.
- Coordinate
systems and time; stellar positions and motions; the kinematics and dynamics of
star clusters and galaxies. Prerequisite: Credit or registration for
Mathematics 427K.
- 152M. Stellar Astronomy Laboratory.
- An introduction to practical
observational techniques in astronomy, designed for astronomy majors or
advanced students in a physical science. Exercises on the spectroscopy,
photometry, and positions of stars using a sixteen-inch telescope on campus.
Three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Physics
316 and 116L; concurrent enrollment in Astronomy 352K is recommended.
- 353. Astrophysics.
- Survey of the physics of stellar and nonstellar
radiation laws, stellar atmospheres and interiors; high-energy astrophysics.
Prerequisite: Physics 316 and 116L.
- 358. Galaxies and the Universe.
- Structure and contents of our galaxy;
normal and active galaxies, quasars; introduction to cosmology.
Prerequisite: Physics 316 or the equivalent; Astronomy 352K is
recommended.
- 364. Solar System Astronomy.
- Modern studies of the solar system,
including properties of the planets and smaller bodies, and the origin of
planetary systems. Prerequisite: Physics 316 and 116L.
- 367M. Methods of Astronomy.
- Same as Physical Science 367M. An
introductory, self-paced course in the methods of astronomy that emphasizes
learning astronomical principles through observations. Six laboratory hours a
week for one semester. May not be counted toward the Bachelor of Arts, Plan I,
degree with a major in astronomy. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing
and nine semester hours of mathematics and/or science, including one of the
following: Physical Science 303, 304, Astronomy 301, 302, 303. Equivalent
preparation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, or earth sciences may be
substituted with written approval of the instructor.
- 175, 275, 375, 475. Conference Course.
- May be repeated for credit when
the topics vary. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and consent of
instructor.
- 376. Special Topics in Advanced Astronomy.
- Designed for science majors.
May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Up to six semester hours may
be counted toward the major requirement for the Bachelor of Arts with a major
in astronomy. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and consent of
instructor.
- 679H. Honors Tutorial Course.
- Research project and thesis for students
electing to take the honors program in astronomy. Conference course for one or
two semesters. Prerequisite: Admission to Astronomy Honors Program,
upper-division standing, a University grade point average of at least 3.00, a
grade point average of at least 3.50 in physics, mathematics, and astronomy,
and consent of instructor.
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28 August 1996. Registrar's Web Team
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