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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ASTRONOMY
(AST)

1013 Introduction to Astronomy [TCCN: PHYS 1311.]
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: MAT 1023 or MAT 1073.
A descriptive course including the development of astronomy, its methods, and the motions, laws, and evolution of the solar system. Topics include general properties and types of stars, unusual stellar objects such as quasars and black holes, galaxies, evolution, and cosmology. Occasional evening viewing sessions are held. May apply toward the Level II Core Curriculum requirement in science.

1031 Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory [TCCN: PHYS 1111.]
(1-2) 1 hour credit. Prerequisite: AST 1013, or concurrent enrollment in AST 1013, or consent of instructor.
Exercises in the use of the telescope and certain other astronomical instruments, including simple observations, measurement, and photography.

1033 Exploration of the Solar System [TCCN: PHYS 1312.]
(3-0) 3 hours credit, Prerequisite: MAT 1023 or MAT 1073.
A descriptive course of modern studies of the solar system, including a survey of the properties of the planets and smaller bodies (asteroids and comets) and current theories of the origin of planetary systems. Topics include results from the latest satellite, robotic, and human exploration of space, origin of life in the solar system, existence of other planetary systems, possibilities of space colonization, and the search for extraterrestrial life (techniques and possibilities of communication with other intelligences). May apply toward the Level II Core Curriculum requirement in science.

1053 Extreme Astronomy
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: AST 1013 with a grade of “C” or better.
Topics include supernovae, neutron stars and pulsars; black holes, X-ray astronomy, and gamma-ray bursts; extragalactic radio sources, active galactic nuclei, and quasars.

3003 Introduction to Astrophysics
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisites: PHY 3103 and PHY 3203 or consent of instructor.
Topics include the celestial sphere, and celestial mechanics; stellar parameters, masses, spectra, classification, atmospheres, and interiour; star formation; white dwarves, neutron stars, and black holes; galaxies, their dynamics, structure and morphology; structure of the universe. AST 1013 strongly recommended but not required. (Formerly PHY 4003. Credit cannot be earned for both AST 3003 and PHY 4003.)

3103 Observational Astronomy Laboratory
(0-6) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: Completion of with a grade of “C” or better or concurrent enrollment in AST 3003 or consent of instructor.
Topics include basic observational techniques and modern instrumentation in astronomy including astrophotography, photometry, and spectroscopy of solar system, stellar and deep-space objects. Under the supervision of the course instructor, the students will use the 0.4-m telescope and other instrumentation on the campus observatory.

3303 Introduction to Galactic and Extragalactic Astronomy
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: AST 3003 or consent of instructor.
Topics include the Milky Way and the Local Group, morphology of galaxies, Dark Matter, galaxy clusters, structure and evolution of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, gravitational lensing, and quasars.

4203 Stellar Astrophysics
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: AST 3003 or consent of instructor.
Topics include properties and evolution of stars, stellar atmospheres, stellar spectra, nuclear reactions, stellar models, equations of state, radiative transfer, nucleosynthesis in stars, supernovae, and degenerate stars.

4303 The Solar System
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: AST 3003 or consent of instructor.
Topics include the solar system, its formation, structure, and evolution; orbital dynamics, surfaces, interiors, atmospheres, magnetospheres, and other properties of the sun, the planets and their satellites; comets and asteroids; origin of planetary systems; extra-solar systems.

4953 Special Studies in Astronomy
(3-0) 3 hours credit. Prerequisite: AST 3003 and consent of instructor.
An organized course offering the opportunity for specialized study not normally or not often available as part of the regular course offerings. Special Studies may be repeated for credit when the topics vary, but not more than 6 semester credit hours, regardless of discipline, will apply to a bachelor’s degree.

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