Astrophysics Major Requirements
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Credit Hours: 58+
"PR" indicates a pre-requisite. "CO" indicates a co-requisite.
Courses within this major may also satisfy general education requirements. Please consult http://registrar.cofc.edu/general-edu for more information.
Required Courses
General Physics I (3) PR or CO: MATH 120 or equivalent or instructor permission; PHYS 111L |
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General Physics I Lab (1) CO: PHYS 111 or instructor permission |
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General Physics II (3) PR: MATH 120 or equivalent; PHYS 111, PHYS 111L or HONS 157; PR or CO: MATH 220 or equivalent or instructor permission; CO: PHYS 112L |
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General Physics II Lab (1) CO: PHYS 112 or instructor permission |
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Introduction to Modern Physics I (3) PR: PHYS 112 or HONS 158; CO or PR: MATH 221 or instructor permission |
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Classical Mechanics (3) PR: PHYS 112 or HONS 158, and MATH 323 or instructor permission |
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Introductory Quantum Mechanics (3) PR: PHYS 230; CO or PR: MATH 323 or instructor permission |
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Thermal Physics (3) PR: PHYS 230, MATH 323 or instructor permission |
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Electricity and Magnetism (3) PR: PHYS 112 or HONS 158 and MATH 323 or instructor permission |
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Research Seminar (1) PR or CO: PHYS 370 or ASTR 377 or instructor and department chair permission |
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Senior Research (3) PR: PHYS 419 and instructor and department chair permission |
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OR |
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PHYS 499** |
Bachelor's Essay (6) PR: PHYS 419 or department chair permission; credit will not be awarded for both PHYS 420 and PHYS 499 |
Planetary Astronomy (3) PR: PHYS 111 (PHYS 101 and MATH 120 may substitute for PHYS 111 with instructor permission.) |
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Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics (3) PR: ASTR 230 |
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Galactic/Extragalactic Astronomy (3) PR: ASTR 311and MATH 221 or instructor permission |
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Experimental Astronomy (4) PR: PHYS 230 or instructor permission |
Note: *Credit will not be awarded for both PHYS 420 and PHYS 499. ** With department approval, PHYS 499 may be substituted for PHYS 420.
Select 3 additional credit hours from the following:
Black Holes: Advanced Topics (1) PR: PHYS 112 or instructor permission; CO: ASTR 210 |
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Astrophysics (3) PR: PHYS 301 and MATH 323 or instructor permission |
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NASA Space Mission Design Leadership Lab (1) PR: Instructor permission; CO: ASTR 260 |
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Research (astronomy topic required) (1-3; repeatable up to 6 credit hours) PR: Instructor and department chair permission |
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Introductory Quantum Mechanics II (3) PR: Instructor permission |
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Introduction to Nuclear Physics (3) PR: PHYS 230 or instructor permission |
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Electricity and Magnetism (3) PR: PHYS 409 |
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Special Topics (Astronomy topic required) (3) PR: Instructor permission |
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Fluid Mechanics (3) PR: MATH 323 and PHYS 301 or instructor permission |
Math Requirement
Introductory Calculus (4) PR: C- or better in MATH 111 or placement |
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Calculus II (4) PR: MATH 120 or HONS 115 |
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Calculus III (4) PR: MATH 220 |
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Differential Equations (3) PR: MATH 221 and either MATH 203 or instructor permission |
Notes:
- Computer Programming I (CSCI 220 and 220L) is strongly recommended.
- With department approval, completion with grades of at least "B" in PHYS 101/101L and PHYS 102/102L, together with MATH 120 and MATH 220 may be substituted for PHYS 111/111L and PHYS 112/112L.
- Except for the substitution of ASTR 377 for PHYS 370, this qualifies for the B.S. in Physics. If the student takes ASTR 377 and PHYS 370, then they have a double major in Physics and Astronomy.
- Suggested programs of study leading to graduate school in physics, astronomy, astrophysics, meteorology and engineering are available from the department.
