Astronomy, Master of Science (M.S.)

Thesis option: 33 credits

Non-thesis option: 32 credits  

Course Title Credits
Complete eight of the ten principal courses:24
Radiative Processes
Stellar Structure and Evolution
Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques
Computational Astrophysics
Galaxies
Cosmology
Planetary Science
Exoplanetary Astrophysics
Interstellar Medium and Gas Dynamics
High Energy Astrophysics
Both thesis and non-thesis students take each of the following research courses:
ASTR688Special Topics in Modern Astronomy (ASTR688B - Current Astronomy Research)1
ASTR688Special Topics in Modern Astronomy (ASTR688C - Seminar in Modern Astronomy Research)1
ASTR695Introduction to Research1
Thesis or non-thesis option5-6
Thesis (6 credits):
Master's Thesis Research
Master's Thesis Defense
Non-thesis (5 credits):
Special Problems in Advanced Astronomy
Second-Year Project Presentation
Total Credits32-33

Non-thesis Option

32 credits.  A minimum of 32 semester hours of coursework is required for the degree program.  This must include 24 hours of 600-level ASTR courses from the list of principal courses.  The remaining 8 semester hours come from additional 600-level courses.  Students must complete a second-year project which includes one or more scholarly papers demonstrating their ability to conduct original and/or literature-based research.  The student will orally present their second-year project to a committee of tenured and tenure-track Astronomy faculty who will evaluate the project and presentation.

Thesis Option

33 credits. A minimum of 33 semester hours of coursework is required for the degree program.  This must include 24 hours of 600-level ASTR courses from the list of principal courses.  The remaining 9 semester hours come from 3 additional credits of 600-level courses and 6 credits of ASTR799. A written thesis is required and must be successfully defended in an oral examination following Graduate School policies and procedures.