Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics, M.S. - Astronomy Concentration


Concentration Requirements (Minimum of 30 Credit Hours)


Completion or Exemption


Students must either complete or exempt ASTR 6510 , ASTR 6520 , PHYS 6510 , PHYS 6520 , PHYS 6810 , PHYS 7600 , and PHYS 7700  (0-23 hours). Exemption from these courses may be granted on the basis of testing or of having successfully completed similar courses elsewhere. Students not exempting at least four courses must take more than 30 hours to complete the degree requirements.

Competence in the Following Areas of Mathematics


Students must have competence in the following areas of mathematics: matrix algebra, vector and tensor analysis, partial differential equations, Fourier series and boundary value problems, and complex variables.

Core Courses (20 Hours)


Students must complete the following six core courses (20):

Minimum of Six Hours of


Additional Graduate Level Courses


Additional graduate level courses should be taken to complete the 30 hours degree requirements (0-4 hours). No more than three hours total of ASTR 6300 /PHYS 6300  Teaching Physics/Astronomy and ASTR 6310 /PHYS 6310  Teaching Physics/Astronomy Lab Practicum, and no more than three hours of ASTR 8710 /PHYS 8710  Research Topics or ASTR 8910 /PHYS 8910  Directed Study can be applied to the 30 hour program of study for the MS thesis option.

Approved Language or Research Skill


Proficiency in an approved language or research skill. Contact the department for details.

A General Examination


  • Students seeking an MS degree in Physics, concentration in Astronomy, must pass the first astronomy general examination, administered as a written examination covering the fundamentals of astronomy, within a year of entering the program.

A Thesis


A Final Oral Presentation


A final oral presentation directed primarily to the defense of the thesis.

Graduate Assistants Requirements


Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed 30-hour program of study, as well as additional hours of ASTR/PHYS 8999 , ASTR 8710 /PHYS 8710 , ASTR 8910 /PHYS 8910 .

Non-Thesis Option (Minimum of 36 Credit Hours)


Completion or Exemption


Students must either complete or exempt ASTR 6510 , ASTR 6520 , PHYS 6510 , PHYS 6520 , PHYS 6810 , PHYS 7600 , and PHYS 7700  (0-23 hours). Exemption from these courses may be granted on the basis of testing or of having successfully completed similar courses elsewhere. Students not exempting at least four courses must take more than 30 hours to complete the degree requirements.

Competence in the Following Areas of Mathematics


Students must have competence in the following areas of mathematics: matrix algebra, vector and tensor analysis, partial differential equations, Fourier series and boundary value problems, and complex variables.

Core Courses (20 Hours)


Students must complete the following six core courses (20):

At Least 2 Additional 8000-Level Astronomy


Students must complete at least 2 additional 8000-level astronomy (ASTR) or physics (PHYS) courses (6-8 hours) excluding ASTR 8710 /PHYS 8710 , ASTR 8910 /PHYS 8910 , or PHYS 8999 . Courses should be selected in consultation with the graduate director.

Additional Graduate Level Courses


Additional graduate level courses should be taken to complete the 36 hours degree requirements (0-10 hours). No more than three hours total of ASTR 6300 /PHYS 6300  Teaching Physics/Astronomy and ASTR 6310 /PHYS 6310  Teaching Physics/Astronomy Lab Practicum, and no more than three hours of [ASTR 8710 /PHYS 8710  or ASTR 8910 /PHYS 8910  can be applied to the 36 hour program of study for the MS non-thesis option.

Approved Language or Research Skill


Proficiency in an approved language or research skill. Contact the department for details.

A General Examination


  • Students seeking an MS degree in Physics, concentration in Astronomy, must pass the first astronomy general examination, administered as a written examination covering the fundamentals of astronomy, within a year of entering the program.

A Research Paper or Written Report


Graduate Assistants Requirements


Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed 36-hour program of study, as well as additional hours of ASTR 8710 /PHYS 8710 , and ASTR 8910 /PHYS 8910 .