Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics
The Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics provides an in-depth study of the field, and prepares students for graduate study and a subsequent career in astronomy and astrophysics, but also for careers in related technical fields including conducting research at universities or national facilities such as NASA centers (e.g. the Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington, DC) and national and private observatories (e.g. the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Arizona or the Carnegie Observatory in Pasadena, California, or the National Radio Astronomy Observatory), teaching at the college or high school level, working at planetariums and science museums, computer-support positions for NASA contractors, scientific writing, positions in the aerospace, defense, surveillance, and environmental fields, and military work.
Requirements
- Mathematics Core.
- Calculus III. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 311 Calculus III
- MATH-S 311 Honors Course in Calculus III
- Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications I. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 343
- MATH-S 343 Honors Course in Differential Equations
- Calculus III. One (1) course:
- Physics Core.
- Physics III. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 301 Physics III
- Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I
- Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II. One (1) course:
- PHYS-P 332 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II
- Physics Electives. Two (2) courses:
- PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics I
- PHYS-P 442 Analytical Mechanics II
- PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- PHYS-P 454 Modern Physics
- Physics III. One (1) course:
- Astronomy Core.
- General Astronomy I. One (1) course:
- AST-A 221 General Astronomy I
- General Astronomy II. One (1) course:
- AST-A 222 General Astronomy II
- Astronomy Electives. Three (3) courses:
- AST-A 305 Modern Observational Techniques
- Any AST-A 400–499
- Any AST-S 400–499 except AST-S 499
- Any AST-X 400–499
- General Astronomy I. One (1) course:
- Addenda Requirements*.
- Mathematics.
- Calculus I. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 211 Calculus I
- MATH-S 211
- Calculus II. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 212 Calculus II
- MATH-S 212 Honors Calculus II
- Calculus I. One (1) course:
- Physics.
- Physics I. One (1) course:
- PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
- PHYS-P 221 Physics I
- Physics II. One (1) course:
- PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
- PHYS-P 222 Physics II
- Physics I. One (1) course:
- Mathematics.
- Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
- Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Major Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
ASTsubject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent - Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
Exclusions
The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements:
- Any AST-[x] 100–199
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in in Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASTPHYSBA)
- Minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASTMIN)
The Bachelor of Science degree requires at least 120 credit hours, to include the following:
- College of Arts and Sciences Credit Hours. At least 100 credit hours must come from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines.
- Upper Division Courses. At least 36 credit hours (of the 120) must be at the 300–499 level.
- College Residency. Following completion of the 60th credit hour toward degree, at least 36 credit hours of College of Arts and Sciences coursework must be completed through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- College GPA. A College grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.000 is required.
- CASE Requirements. The following College of Arts and Sciences Education (CASE) requirements must be completed:
- CASE Foundations
- CASE Breadth of Inquiry
- CASE Culture Studies
- Diversity in the United States: 1 course
- Global Civilizations and Cultures: Not required
- CASE Critical Approaches: 1 course
- CASE Foreign Language: Proficiency in a single foreign language through the first semester of the second year of college-level coursework
- CASE Intensive Writing: 1 course
- CASE Public Oral Communication: 1 course
- Major. Completion of the major as outlined in the Major Requirements section above.
Most students must also successfully complete the Indiana University Bloomington General Education program.