Astronomy
Astronomy
courses
Astronomy department home page
Director of undergraduate studies: Charles Bailyn, 270 JWG, 432-3022, charles.bailyn@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ASTRONOMY
Professors
Charles Bailyn, *Charles Baltay, Sarbani Basu, Paolo Coppi, Pierre Demarque (Emeritus), Jeffrey Kenney (Chair), Richard Larson, *Peter Parker, Sabatino Sofia, *C. Megan Urry, William van Altena (Emeritus), Pieter van Dokkum, Robert Zinn
Associate Professor
Priya Natarajan
Assistant Professors
Hector Arcé, *Richard Easther, *Steven Furlanetto, Marla Geha
Lecturers
Gordon Drukier, Michael Faison
*A joint appointment with primary affiliation in another department.
The Department of Astronomy offers courses both for the nonscientist interested in learning about modern astronomy and for the student wishing to prepare for graduate work in astronomy or a related science. The department offers two degree programs: the B.A. degree program in Astronomy and the B.S. degree program in Astronomy and Physics.
The department offers a variety of courses without prerequisites that provide an introduction to astronomy with particular attention to recent discoveries and theories. Courses numbered below 150, including ASTR 110a, 120b, and 130a, are intended for students who do not plan to major in the sciences but who desire a broad, nontechnical introduction to astronomy. These courses have no prerequisites, and a student may elect any or all of them and take them in any order. Courses with numbers between 150 and 199, including ASTR 155a, 160b, and 170a, are also intended for students who do not plan to major in the sciences, but they provide a more in-depth treatment and assume a somewhat stronger high school science background. ASTR 155a provides a hands-on introduction to astronomical observing, while ASTR 160b and 170a provide an introduction to topics in modern astrophysics and cosmology. For students with good preparation in high school mathematics and physics, ASTR 210b and 220a provide a more intensive introduction to astronomy with emphasis on topics of current interest, and ASTR 255a provides a more quantitative introduction to astronomical research techniques. These courses may be taken independently of each other.
Courses numbered 300 and above are open to students at the sophomore and higher levels who already have an elementary acquaintance with astronomy, and mathematics and physics as described in the course prerequisites. For advice about astronomy courses, students should consult the director of undergraduate studies.
In addition to the normal undergraduate courses, graduate courses in astronomy are open to qualified undergraduates who already have strong preparation in mathematics, physics, and astronomy. Students wishing to take a graduate course must first obtain the permission of the instructor and of the director of graduate studies.
B.A. degree program in Astronomy. The B.A. degree program is designed for students who may not intend to do graduate work in astronomy but who are interested in the subject as a basis for a liberal education or as a background for a career in medicine, teaching, journalism, business, law, or government. It allows greater flexibility in course selection than the B.S. program because the emphasis is on breadth of knowledge rather than on specialization. The prerequisites for the B.A. program are: either PHYS 150a and 151b, or 180a and 181b, or 200a and 201b; and MATH 112a or b and 115a or b. Ten term courses are required beyond these prerequisites, including the senior requirement. Five courses in astronomy must be completed, four of which must be numbered 200 or above, including ASTR 255a or 355b; ASTR 310a, or both ASTR 210b and 220a (ASTR 170a may substitute for 220a in the latter case); and a senior project or essay (ASTR 490a or 491b). Also required are MATH 120a or b and four additional courses in the natural or applied or mathematical sciences, at least two of which must have college-level prerequisites; these may include additional astronomy courses. The senior requirement consists of a senior essay or independent research project carried out for one term under the supervision of a faculty member (ASTR 490a or 491b).
Before entering the junior year, the student should consult the director of undergraduate studies.
B.S. degree program in Astronomy and Physics. This program is designed to provide a strong background in astronomy and in the relevant physics for students interested in graduate study or a career in astronomy, physics, or a related science.
Prerequisite to the B.S. degree program is work in fundamental physics and mathematics. A student planning to major in Astronomy and Physics should complete this work by the end of the sophomore year. The prerequisites for the B.S. program are: one of the introductory physics sequences (PHYS 180a, 181b, or 200a, 201b, or 260a, 261b); one of the physics laboratory sequences (PHYS 165La, 166Lb or 205La or Lb, 206La or Lb); and the mathematics sequence MATH 112a or b, 115a or b, and 120a or b. ASTR 155a may be substituted for one term of the physics laboratory sequence.
Beyond the prerequisites, twelve term courses are required in astronomy, physics, and mathematics. In astronomy, the student should complete at least six courses including ASTR 255a or 355b; ASTR 310a; ASTR 320b or 343b, or a more advanced astrophysics course with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies; a two-term senior project (ASTR 490a and 491b); and one additional astronomy course numbered 200 or above. In physics, the student should complete at least four courses numbered 400 or above, normally PHYS 401a or 410a, 420a, 430b, and either 439a or 440b; the sequence PHYS 401a, 402b, 440b, and 441a may also fulfill this requirement. With the permission of the director of undergraduate studies, ASTR 440a may be substituted for PHYS 430b. In mathematics, the student should complete one course in mathematics numbered 200 or above, or PHYS 301a or ENAS 194a or b; and either an additional course in mathematics numbered 200 or above or a course in statistics or computing. The senior requirement consists of an independent research project in astronomy carried out for two terms under the supervision of a faculty member (ASTR 490a and 491b).
Before entering the junior year, the student should arrange a specific program of study in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies in Astronomy, whose approval of the program is needed, and should then also consult the director of undergraduate studies in Physics.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
ASTRONOMY, B.A.
Prerequisites: PHYS 150a, 151b, or 180a, 181b, or 200a, 201b; MATH 112a or b, 115a or b
Number of courses: 10 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req
Distribution of courses: 5 term courses in astronomy, 4 of them numbered 200 or above; 5 addtl courses in science or math (may include addtl astronomy courses)
Specific courses required: ASTR 255a or 355b; ASTR 310a, or both 210b and 220a; MATH 120a or b; 4 addtl courses in natural or applied or mathematical sciences, at least 2 with college-level prereqs
Substitution permitted: ASTR 170a for 220a
Senior requirement: Senior essay or senior research project (ASTR 490a or 491b)
ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS, B.S.
Prerequisites: PHYS 180a, 181b, or 200a, 201b, or 260a, 261b; PHYS 165La, 166Lb or 205La or Lb, 206La or Lb; MATH 112a or b, 115a or b, 120a or b
Number of courses: 12 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req
Distribution of courses: 6 term courses in astronomy numbered 200 or above; 4 courses in physics numbered 400 or above, as specified; 2 courses in math or mathematical methods in science, as specified
Specific courses required: ASTR 255a or 355b; ASTR 310a; ASTR 320b or 343b; 1 course in math numbered 200 or above, or PHYS 301a or ENAS 194a or b; 1 addtl course in math numbered 200 or above, or a course in stat or computing
Substitution permitted: ASTR 155a for 1 term of prereq physics lab; ASTR 440a for PHYS 430b, with DUS permission; a more advanced astrophysics course for ASTR 320b or 343b, with DUS permission
Senior requirement: Senior independent research project (ASTR 490a and 491b)
Unless otherwise indicated, courses in Astronomy count toward the natural science requirement for the Class of 2008.
