Course Listing
Below is a description of all courses offered by the Astronomy Department. Several courses are only offered every other semester or every other year, so check the current semester’s offerings.
All Astronomy courses can be used towards satisfying the Natural Sciences area requirement. ASTR 1210 and 1220 cover complementary subject matter. Each is complete in itself, and a student may elect to take either ASTR 1210 or ASTR 1220, or both concurrently.
Graduate Courses
ASTR 5010: Astrophysical Processes (3 credits)
Basic concepts in mechanics, statistical physics, atomic and nuclear structure, and radiative transfer are developed and applied to selected fundamental problems in the areas of stellar structure, stellar atmospheres, the interstellar medium and extragalactic astrophysics.
ASTR 5110: Astronomical Techniques (3 credits)
This course surveys modern techniques of radiation measurement and data analysis and their application to astrophysical problems, especially the physical properties of stars. Relevant experiments in the laboratory and at the telescope will be included.
ASTR 5260: Introduction to Astrochemistry (3 credits)
This interdisciplinary course will introduce graduates and advanced undergraduates to molecules and their chemistry in different sources throughout the universe. Major topics include chemistry in interstellar clouds and star-forming regions, the kinetics of gas-phase and grain-surface reactions, astronomical spectroscopy, laboratory experiments, and astrochemical modeling. The class will cater to students with either an astronomy or chemistry background, to provide the knowledge and tools needed to understand the main themes and problems in astrochemistry. The course will also provide a foundation to those moving into astrochemistry research.
ASTR 5340: Introductory Radio Astronomy (3 credits)
Fundamentals of measuring power and power spectra, antennas, interferometers, and radiometers. Thermal radiation, synchrotron radiation and line frequency radiation. Radio emission from the planets, sun, flare stars, pulsars, supernovae, interstellar gas, galaxies and quasi-stellar sources.
ASTR 5350: Radio Astronomy Instrumentation (3 credits)
An introduction to the instrumentation of radio astronomy. Discussion includes fundamentals of measuring radio signals, noise theory, basic radiometry, antennas, low noise electronics, coherent receivers, signal processing for continuum and spectral line studies, and arrays. Lecture material is supplemented by illustrative labs.
ASTR 5420: The Interstellar Medium (3 credits)
Topics covered include the physics of interstellar gas and grains, the distribution and dynamics of the gas, and cosmic radiation and interstellar magnetic fields.
ASTR 5430: Stellar Astrophysics (3 credits)
Observed properties and physics of stars. Radiation transfer; stellar thermodynamics; convection. Formation of spectra in atmospheres. Equations of stellar structure; nuclear reactions. Stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. Applicable numerical techniques.
ASTR 5450: High Energy Astrophysics (3 credits)
Introduction to the physics of basic radiation mechanisms and particle acceleration processes which are important in high energy phenomena and space science. Applications to pulsars, active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, quasars, and supernovae will be discussed.
ASTR 5460: Binary Stars (3 credits)
The determination of orbital elements, the mass-luminosity-radius relation, formation of binary systems, the Roche model, mass loss, mass transfer, circumstellar material, accretion disks, evolution of close interacting binaries, and some special classes of binaries such as cataclysmic variables, RS CVn binaries, Algol-type binaries, and X-ray binaries.
ASTR 5480: Evolution of the Universe (3 credits)
The origin and evolution of structure in the universe. The formation and evolution of galaxies. Tests of the theory based on observations of large scale structure and the properties of galaxies as a function of lookback time.
ASTR 5610: Galactic Structure and Stellar Populations (3 credits)
This course explores the structure and evolution of star clusters and galaxies, with particular emphasis on objects in the local universe. Topics explored include the evolution of individual stars and their kinematics, chemistry, and spectral energy distributions, the effeE6CC99 such evolution on populations of stars with both simple and complex star formation histories, and galaxies as collections of stellar populations. The course introduces fundamental tools of Galactic astronomy, with topics including methods for assessing the size, shape, age, and dynamics of the Milky Way and other stellar systems, galaxy formation, interstellar gas and dust, dark matter, and the distance scale.
ASTR 5630: Extragalactic Astronomy (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of extragalactic astronomy. Topics include both qualitative and quantitative discussion of various types of galaxy (ellipticals, spirals, dwarf, starburst); results from theory of stellar dynamics; groups and clusters of galaxies; active galaxies; high-redshift galaxies; galaxy evolution; the intergalactic medium; and dark matter. The course is intended for advanced undergraduate astrophysics majors and first and second year graduate students. Prerequisite: Physics and Math through PHYS 2610, MATH 3250 (or equivalent); ASTR 2110, 2120 (or equivalent).