The program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in astronomy is designed to prepare students to enter graduate programs in astronomy, physics, or related disciplines, or to embark upon careers in research laboratories and observatories, government, industry, or education. Specific educational outcomes include the following:
Selected Educational Outcomes
- students will demonstrate knowledge in the of the historical context from which astronomy has arisen, from the developments of ancient civilizations through the Renaissance;
- students will develop interdisciplinary skills for studying planets and other small bodies using the supporting scientific branches of physics, chemistry, geology, and biology;
- students will build knowledge regarding the birth, evolution, and death of stars using theoretical, observational, and numerical methods;
- students will establish a working knowledge of techniques used for laboratory applications, telescope operations, and the planetarium;
- students will conduct observational and/or theoretical research into astronomical systems;
- students will apply the techniques of mathematical analysis to complex systems and develop an interdisciplinary perspective.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
Assessment of the educational outcomes for the astronomy major is primarily the responsibility of the departmental Astronomy Area Committee, comprised of faculty with expertise in astronomy and cognate disciplines. This assessment is conducted through evaluation of the major educational outcomes in relation to astronomy programs at comparable institutions (particularly the member institutions of SARA). The Committee assesses the extent to which the program requirements create the desired outcomes by using a variety of techniques. Examples of these assessments include the following:
- All student majors will complete a research project with a faculty mentor demonstrating the proficiency in either observational or computational techniques.
- All student majors will make presentations of their research results at the annual VSU Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Annual Meeting of the Georgia Academy of Science, and/or and equivalent meeting.
- Students will submit a departmental copy of their portfolios of undergraduate coursework, research projects, and professional activity at the end of their last semester of residence.
- At the time of major coursework completion, students will complete an exit questionnaire to determine the students’ perception of achievement of the major’s educational outcomes.
- Periodic surveys of alumni who have completed the astronomy program will be conducted. These surveys will evaluate the relevancy of the major program to graduates’ present employment, their perception of success, and their personal satisfaction with the program. The surveys will also solicit suggestions for improvement of the astronomy major program.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Astronomy
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core Curriculum Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Astronomy majors are required to take Pre-calculus (MATH 1113) in Area A and Calculus I (MATH 2261) in Area D and are advised to take 3 hours of a foreign language in Area C, and PHYS 2211K and PHYS 2212K in Area D2 | ||
| Core Curriculum Area F | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (1 hour left over from Area D) | ||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus II and Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | ||
| Astronomy of the Solar System and Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | ||
| Tools of Astronomy | ||
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Upper-Level Courses in Astronomy | ||
| ASTR 4101 | Observational Techniques I | 4 |
| ASTR 4400 & ASTR 4410 | Physics of the Solar System and Astrophysics | 6 |
| Upper-Level Supporting Courses in Physics and Mathematics | ||
| PHYS 2700 | Modern Physics | 1 |
| MATH 2150 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 3340 | Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| or PHYS 3800 | Differential Equations in Physical Systems | |
| PHYS 3810 | Mathematical Methods of Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 4111 & PHYS 4112 | Theoretical Mechanics I and Theoretical Mechanics II | 6 |
| PHYS 4211 & PHYS 4212 | Electromagnetism I and Electromagnetism II | 6 |
| PHYS 4411 & PHYS 4412 | Quantum Mechanics I and Quantum Mechanics II | 6 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Electronics | ||
| Optics | ||
| Computational Physics I | ||
| Experimental Physics | ||
| Other Supporting Courses | ||
| Language Requirement (3 hours may be taken in Area C) | 3-6 | |
| Guided Electives--Select from the following: | 12-15 | |
| Cosmology | ||
| Planetary Geology | ||
| Astrobiology | ||
| Special Topics in Astronomy | ||
| Set Theory | ||
| Probability and Statistics | ||
| Modern Algebra I | ||
| Modern Algebra II | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Functions of a Complex Variable | ||
| Electronics | ||
| Optics | ||
| Computational Physics I | ||
| Computational Physics II | ||
| Experimental Physics | ||
| Plasma Physics | ||
| Thermodynamics | ||
| Total hours required for the degree | 120 | |
