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Academic Course Map for Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (B.A.)
CU Boulder's Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) is one of the few programs that combines both astrophysics and planetary science. APS offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Astronomy (ASTR) with an option to pursue a more math or physics-intensive track in astrophysics/physics. Students receive both practical and theoretical knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics. The courses provide significant hands-on experience with telescopes, optics, instrumentation, computer image processing and computer modeling skills that complement the pursuit of graduate degrees or careers in the space sciences, aerospace, technical or computer industries.
Default Astronomy Major
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Astronomy (ASTR) prepares undergraduates for academic research assistant careers and the industrial market (aerospace, computer software, instrumentation and other technical areas), as well as for science education, science journalism and space policy. This major provides a broad program in the science of astronomy, observations and technology, as well as core training in astronomical sciences and mathematics, applied physics and computational and instrumental technology. Majors can focus on observations (ground-based telescopes, rocket probes, space-borne observatories) or on K–12 science education.
Astrophysics/Physics Option
The more math-intensive Astrophysics/Physics option of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Astronomy (ASTR) is intended for students who wish to do research and continue on to graduate work in astronomy or planetary sciences, and requires multidisciplinary work in physics and mathematics together with astronomy. Students are provided with scientific and technological training in the space sciences, including mathematical, physical, computational and instrumental expertise. An honors thesis or other research work is encouraged but not required.
Admission Requirements
Students who begin at a Colorado Community College can transfer directly to CU Boulder to finish their degree in any of the programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Please see the CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences’ Colorado Community College webpage for more information detailed information admissions requirements for students transfering from a Colorado Community College.
Transfer Recommendations
To graduate in a 4-year overall time frame, it is important that students follow the recommended schedule. Students who wish to continue their education at the community college beyond the number of credits specified below should explore with both community college and CU Boulder staff how their graduation timeline, COF stipend, and financial aid will be affected.
Suggested Four-Year Course Plan for the Astronomy (ASTR) major
This is a suggested guide of coursework only and is subject to change. Always consult your academic advisor for graduation planning purposes. Depending on a student’s situation, a different plan might be more applicable.
Student must be ready for Pre-Calculus
Community College (first two years)
Fall Semester 1
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 121/1021* | English Composition I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
AST 101/1110 | Planetary Astronomy with Lab (GT-SC1)** | 4 |
MAT 166/1440 | Pre-Calculus (GT-MA1) | 5 |
Guaranteed Transfer History Course (GT-HI1) | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Spring Semester 1
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 122/1022 | English Composition II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
AST 102/1120 | Stellar Astronomy with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
MAT 201/2410 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 5 |
Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course (GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4) | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Fall Semester 2
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 211/2111 | Physics: Calculus-Based I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
MAT 202/2420 | Calculus II (GT-MA1) | 5 |
Guaranteed Transfer Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3) |
3 | |
2nd Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course from a different GT-AH category than the 1st. | 3 | |
Total Credits | 16 |
Spring Semester 2
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 212/2112 | Physics: Calculus-Based II with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
GEY 111/111 OR MET 150/1050 |
Physical Geology w/Lab (GT-SC1) OR General Meteorology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
COM 125/1250 OR COM 220/2300 |
Interpersonal Communication (GT-SS3) OR Intercultural Communication (GT-SS3) |
3 |
Transfer Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Total credits at community college: 61
Completion of the four semesters of coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for an Associate of Science Degree at your community college and fulfills the General Education requirements at the University of Colorado Boulder.
CU Boulder (last two years)
Fall Semester 3
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ASTR 2100 | Fundamental Concepts in Astrophysics | 3 |
ASTR 3720 OR ASTR 3730 |
Planets and Their Atmospheres OR Astrophysics 1 - Stellar and Interstellar (part 1 of required sequence) | 3 |
GEOL 1020 OR ATOC 1060 |
3 | |
Non-Major Elective | 2 | |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 14 |
Spring Semester 3
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ASTR 3750 or ASTR 3830 |
Planets, Moons and Rings OR Astrophysics 2 - Galactic and Extragalactic (part 2 of required sequence) |
3 |
|
2000-level ASTR course | 3 |
|
2000-level ASTR course |
3 |
Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Fall Semester 4
Course Title | Credits |
---|---|
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 3 |
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 3 |
Upper Division Elective |
3 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 |
Total Credits | 15 |
Spring Semester 4
Course Title | Credits |
---|---|
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 5 |
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 3 |
Upper Division Elective |
3 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 |
Total Credits | 15 |
Total credits at CU Boulder: 59
Completion of all eight semesters coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Astronomy at the University of Colorado Boulder.
*For community college courses, the first course number is previous to summer 2022, and the second course number is the new number starting in summer 2022.
**AST 101 and AST 102 will count toward an Astronomy major at CU Boulder only if a student has also completed two semesters of calculus and two semesters of the calculus-based physics.
***Students who take GEY 111 at their community college must take GEOL 1020 and those who take MET 150 at their community college must take ATOC 1060.
Suggested Four-Year Course Plan for the Astronomy (ASTR) major - Astrophysics/Physics track
This is a suggested guide of coursework only and is subject to change. Always consult your academic advisor for graduation planning purposes. Depending on a student’s situation, a different plan might be more applicable.
Student must be ready for Calculus. Check to see if PHY 213/2113 Physics III: Calculus-Based Modern Physics is offered at your community college.
Community College (first two years)
Fall Semester 1
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 121/1021**** | English Composition I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
AST 101/1110 | Planetary Astronomy with Lab (GT-SC1)***** | 4 |
MAT 201/2410 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 5 |
Guaranteed Transfer History Course (GT-HI1) | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Spring Semester 1
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
AST 102/1120 | Stellar Astronomy with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
PHY 211/2111 | Physics: Calculus-Based I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
MAT 202/2420 | Calculus II (GT-MA1) | 5 |
Total Credits | 14 |
Fall Semester 2
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENG 122/1022 | English Composition II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
PHY 212/2112 | Physics: Calculus-Based II with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
MAT 204/2431 | Calculus III with Engineering Applications (GT-MA1)****** | 5 |
Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course (GT-AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH3, GT-AH4) | 3 | |
Total Credits | 16 |
Spring Semester 2
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHY 213/2113 | Physics III: Calculus-Based Modern Physics | 3 |
COM 125/1250 OR COM 220/2300 |
Interpersonal Communication (GT-SS3) OR Intercultural Communication (GT-SS3) |
3 |
Guaranteed Transfer Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3) | 3 | |
2nd Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course from a different GT-AH category than the 1st. | 3 | |
Transfer Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Total credits at community college: 60
Completion of the four semesters of coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for an Associate of Science Degree at your community college and fulfills the General Education requirements at the University of Colorado Boulder.
CU Boulder (last two years)
Fall Semester 3
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ASTR 3730 OR ASTR 3730 | Astrophysics 1 - Stellar and Interstellar OR Planets and Their Atmospheres(part 1 of required sequence) | 3 |
PHYS 2210 |
Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 1 |
3 |
PHYS 2150 | Experimental Physics | 1 |
APPM 2360 | Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 14 |
Spring Semester 3
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ASTR 3830 or ASTR 3730 |
Astrophysics 2 - Galactic and Extragalactic OR Planets, Moons and Rings(part 2 of required sequence) |
3 |
ASTR 2600 |
Introduction to Scientific Programming (recommended, not required) | 3 |
PHYS 3210 | Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 2 | 3 |
PHYS 3310 | Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 1 | 3 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Fall Semester 4
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ASTR 3400 | Research Methods in Astronomy OR Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 3 |
PHYS 3220 | Quantum Mechanics 1 | 3 |
PHYS 3320 |
Principles of Electricity and Magnetism 2 |
3 |
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 | |
Total Credits | 15 |
Spring Semester 4
Course | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PHYS 4230 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (recommended, not required) | 5 |
PHYS 4410 | Quantum Mechanics 2 (recommended, not required) | 3 |
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective |
3 | |
Upper Division ASTR Major Elective | 3 | |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective or ASTR Independent Study or Research (would not count for ASTR Upper Division Credit) | 4 | |
Total Credits | 16 |
Total credits at CU Boulder: 60
Completion of all eight semesters coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Astronomy - Astrophysics/Physics track at the University of Colorado Boulder.
****For community college courses, the first course number is previous to summer 2022, and the second course number is the new number starting in summer 2022.
*****AST 101 and AST 102 will count toward an Astronomy major at CU Boulder only if a student has also completed two semesters of calculus and two semesters of the calculus-based physics.
******Students can take MAT 203 instead, but then would need 1 credit of elective to reach the 60 credits required for the AS.
This material was supported by NSF grant #1649201. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.