The main requirement for an Astronomy (or a related field) major is a real interest. If you are willing to work hard and are ready for some totally unconventional way of thinking then you will do fine. In general, a major in Astronomy includes the same courses required for a major in Physics plus additional courses in Astronomy.

For Astronomy majors, no introductory course is necessary and usually you don't start taking Astronomy classes until your junior year. If you would like to take a survey course anyway, AST 200 is the right course. Thus, with minor exceptions, in your first two years with us you can take all the courses required by all baccalaureate institutions for the freshman-sophomore curriculum in astronomy. At minimum, you should take with us PHY 201, PHY 202, MAT 221, MAT 222, and probably AST 200. The complete sequence includes the following courses.

• AST 200: General Astronomy (4 credits); check with the instructor at your local campus about this class.
• PHY 201: General Physics (5 credits); offered in the fall of every year.
• PHY 202: General Physics (5 credits); a continuation of PHY 201, offered in the spring of every year.
• PHY 205: Modern Physics (3 credits); this course is not offered due to low enrollments unless enough interest exists at a local campus, in which case the local instructor may offer it. If you do not take this course with us you can easily take it at the institution you transfer to and still be in step with the recommended sequence in your junior and senior years. The Department is discussing the possibility of offering this course via DE to all campuses either in the spring or summer of every year.

• MAT 221: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 credits); offered in the fall and spring of every year. This is a prerequisite for PHY 201 (or you must be concurrently enrolled in both classes and have consent of your physics instructor).
• MAT 222: Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (5 credits); a continuation of MAT 221, offered in the fall and spring of every year. This is a prerequisite for PHY 202 (or you must have consent of your physics instructor).
• MAT 223: Calculus and Analytic Geometry III (5 credits); a continuation of MAT 222, offered in the fall and spring of every year.
• MAT 271: Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits); offered in the spring of every year.

There are six astronomy classes we offer for those simply interested in a gentle introduction to the discipline. Depending on your interest, background and transfer needs you can choose among the following.

• AST 100: Survey of Astronomy (3-4 credits); for non-science majors.
• AST 101: Observational Astronomy (1 credit)
• AST 105: The Solar System (3-4 credits)
• AST 106: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (3-4 credits)
• AST 291: Topics in Astronomy (1-3 credits)
• AST 299: Independent Study in Astronomy (1-3 credits)

If you have any questions about which course(s) you should take, consult with your local Student Services personnel or instructor(s). 

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