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Department of Astronomy

Bachelor of Arts in in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements ASTPHYSBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy and Astrophysics is for a student who enjoys astronomy; likes to be challenged; enjoys solving puzzles; wants to pursue other interests and talents outside of astronomy; desires flexibility and choice in major requirements; has strong analytical skills and wants to develop them further; and wants to keep options open for a variety of career fields. It is designed for students who are interested in astronomy as the subject of a liberal arts education, or as a background in the physical sciences for a wide range of career possibilities such as teaching, journalism, law or government or public policy, medicine, science writing and science in the media, visualization, and business.

Requirements

The major requires at least 31 credit hours (42–44 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Physics Core.
    1. Physics II. One (1) course:
      • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
      • PHYS-P 222 Physics II
      • PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
    2. Physics III. One (1) course:
      • PHYS-P 301 Physics III
      • PHYS-P 371 Radiation Science Fundamentals
  2. Astronomy Core.
    1. General Astronomy I. One (1) course:
      • AST-A 221 General Astronomy I
    2. General Astronomy II. One (1) course:
      • AST-A 222 General Astronomy II
    3. Modern Observational Techniques. One (1) course:
      • AST-A 305 Modern Observational Techniques
  3. Advanced Astronomy. Two (2) courses:
    • AST-A 305 Modern Observational Techniques
    • AST-A 405 Computational Astrophysics
    • AST-A 450 Galactic Astrophysics
    • AST-A 451 Stellar Astrophysics
    • AST-A 452 Extragalactic Astrophysics
    • AST-A 453 Topics in Astrophysics
  4. Advanced Electives. At least five (5) additional credit hours:
    • Additional Astronomy and Astrophysics
      • AST-A 305 Modern Observational Techniques
      • AST-X 390 Reading Course
      • AST-X 399 Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics
      • AST-A 405 Computational Astrophysics
      • AST-A 450 Galactic Astrophysics
      • AST-A 451 Stellar Astrophysics
      • AST-A 452 Extragalactic Astrophysics
      • AST-A 453 Topics in Astrophysics
    • Probability/Statistics
      • MATH-M 365 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
      • STAT-K 310 Statistical Techniques
      • STAT-S 320 Introduction to Statistics
    • Scientific Computing or Programming
      • CSCI-A 321 COMPUTING TOOLS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
      • CSCI-C 311 Programming Languages
      • PHYS-P 325 Computing Skills for Physical Scientists
      • PHYS-P 410 Computing Applications in Physics
    • Data Mining
      • CSCI-B 461 Database Concepts
    • Visualization
      • CSCI-B 481 Interactive Graphics
    • Artificial Intelligence or Autonomous Robotics
      • CSCI-B 351 INTRODUCTION TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
      • CSCI-B 355 Autonomous Robotics
    • Science Writing
      • ENG-W 321 Advanced Technical Writing
      • ENG-W 350 Advanced Expository Writing
    • Additional Mathematics or Physics
      • MATH-M 301 Linear Algebra and Applications
      • MATH-M 303 Linear Algebra for Undergraduates
      • MATH-M 311 Calculus III
      • MATH-M 312 Calculus IV
      • MATH-M 343 Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications I
      • MATH-M 344 Introduction to Differential Equations with Applications II
      • MATH-M 415 Elementary Complex Variables with Applications
      • MATH-T 336 Topics in Euclidean Geometry
      • PHYS-P 309 Modern Physics Laboratory
      • PHYS-P 321 Techniques in Theoretical Physics
      • PHYS-P 331 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I
      • PHYS-P 332 Theory of Electricity and Magnetism II
      • PHYS-P 340 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
      • PHYS-P 400 Analog and Digital Electronics
      • PHYS-P 441 Analytical Mechanics I
      • PHYS-P 451 Experiments in Modern Physics I
      • PHYS-P 453 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
      • PHYS-P 455 Quantum Computing I
      • PHYS-P 460 Modern Optics
    • Course(s) approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies
  5. Addenda Requirements*.
    1. Mathematics.
      1. Calculus I. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
        • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
        • MATH-S 211 Honors Calculus I
      2. Calculus II. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 120 Brief Survey of Calculus II
        • MATH-M 212 Calculus II
        • MATH-S 212 Honors Calculus II
    2. Physics I. One (1) course:
      • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
      • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
      • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
  6. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. 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.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

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 AST subject 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
Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

  • AST-S 499 Honors Research

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASTPHYSBS)
  • Minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASTMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.