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Course descriptions, prerequisites and more...

Below you will find the list of courses offered through the College's schools, departments, and programs. This list includes important information about each course, including the course description, credit hours, prerequisites, repeatability, and more. Use the filters to narrow your search.

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19 courses found. Showing results 1–10.
  • AST-A 100 The Solar System (3 cr.) Celestial sphere, apparent motions of celestial objects, eclipses, history of astronomy, astronomical observations, the Earth as a planet, the Moon, the planets and their satellites, comets, meteors, theories of the origin of the solar system.
  • AST-A 102 Gravity, the Great Attractor (3 cr.) The fundamental role of gravity in shaping the evolution of planets, stars, galaxies and other astrophysical systems is the underlying theme. The scientific method is emphasized. Topics include planetary systems, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, binary x-ray sources, gamma-ray bursts, galaxies, and the large scale structure of the universe.
  • AST-A 103 The Search for Life in the Universe (3 cr.) Explores the origin, nature, and history of life on Earth, prospects for life in our own and other planetary systems, extrasolar planet detection, and the possibility of other technological civilizations.
  • AST-A 105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr.) Introduction to the physical universe. Topics include constellations, gravity, radiation, the Sun, structure and evolution of stars, neutron stars and black holes, the Milky Way galaxy, normal galaxies, active galaxies, quasars, cosmology, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
  • AST-A 107 The Art of Astronomy: Images of the Universe (3 cr.) Astronomy has inspired generations with its beauty. Breathtaking images reveal the secrets of our universe and of our own origins. This course explores the science of imaging the universe and the technology that makes the images possible. Topics include the night sky, telescopes and cameras, light and color, and the science behind the images.
  • AST-A 115 Birth and Death of the Universe (3 cr.) Introduction to cosmology. Traces the ideas describing the origin and evolution of the universe from ancient geocentric cosmologies to the Big Bang cosmology.
  • AST-A 221 General Astronomy I (4 cr.) R: Mastery of high school algebra and trigonometry; or MATH-M 025 and MATH-M 026. For physical science majors. Introduction to modern astronomy and astrophysics, including basic principles of mechanics, gravity, optics, radiation, and observational and experimental methods. A main theme is to explore how these principles affect the evolution of our scientific understanding of astronomical phenomena. Topics typically include the night sky, planetary bodies, the Sun and our solar system, and stars in our Milky Way galaxy. Credit given for only one of AST-A 201 or AST-A 221.
  • AST-A 222 General Astronomy II (4 cr.) R: Mastery of high school algebra and trigonometry; or MATH-M 025 and MATH-M 026. Continuation of AST-A 221. For physical science majors. Application of basic principles of gravity, mechanics, optics, and radiation to modern astronomy and astrophysics. Topics typically include stars, stellar populations, interstellar matter, galaxies, cosmology, and observational astronomy from radio to gamma rays. Credit given for only one of AST-A 202 or AST-A 222.
  • AST-A 305 Modern Observational Techniques (3–4 cr.) P: AST-A 202 or AST-A 222; MATH-M 120, MATH-M 212, or MATH-S 212; and PHYS-P 202, PHYS-P 222, or PHYS-H 222; or consent of instructor. Telescopes, astronomical imaging, spectroscopic and photometric observations, and reductions.
  • AST-A 405 Computational Astrophysics (3 cr.) P: AST-A 202 or AST-A 222; MATH-M 120, MATH-M 212, or MATH-S 212; and PHYS-P 301 or PHYS-H 301; or consent of instructor . Efficient analysis of quantitative astronomical data requires the use of computers. Helps students build a computational skill set that can be used for carrying out research projects in astronomy/astrophysics or other fields. Covers a range of topics, from the sources of astronomical data to the presentation of the results.