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College of Arts and Sciences; University of Colorado Boulder

Academic Course Map for Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (B.A.)


Program Overview

Degree Requirements

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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

Dodos, Dinos, and Deinococcus: The History of a Habitable Planet (GT-SC2) OR Our Changing Environment: El Nino, Ozone, and Climate***

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.


NSFThis 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 nec​essarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.