Graduate programs in astrophysics | Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network

Astronomy 201 Radiative Processes in Astronomy
Astronomy 202 Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Astronomy 203 Astrophysical Techniques
Astronomy 204 Numerical Techniques in Astronomy
Astronomy 216 Interstellar Matter
Astronomy 217 Radiative Astrophysics: Stars, Disks, and Winds
Astronomy 218 Stellar Dynamics and Galactic Structure
Astronomy C228 Extragalactic Astronomy and Physical Cosmology
Astronomy C249 Solar System Astrophysics
Astronomy 252 Stellar Structure and Evolution
Astronomy C254 High Energy Astrophysics
Astronomy 255 Computational Astrophysics
Astronomy 267 Plasma Astrophysics
Astronomy 290AB – The Introduction to Current Research seminar is required of all students in their first year. This consists of weekly lectures by different faculty members and research staff, and introduces the student to current research being carried out in the Department and nearby Labs. (This course is not a prelim topic.)

Electives:

Astronomy 298 – Tutorials are recommended for all students at times until the Qualifying Examination has been passed. Depending on the time commitment, students may sign up for one or two units per semester. This, along with participation in seminars, can be a primary mechanism for advancing your knowledge and developing skills. It depends on Faculty availability.
Astronomy 300 – Instruction Techniques in General Astronomy

UC Los Angeles

Department: Physics and Astronomy, with separate Astronomy degree

Quarters/semesters: Quarters

Requirements: Students are required to take 10 core courses (including 2physics courses), one 2-quarter research project during the 2nd year and at least 3 special topics courses. Examinations for the PhD Degree ComprehensiveExamination: The comprehensive examination consists of satisfactory completion of: the second-year research project, culminating in a written report of the methods used and results obtained, and passing the oral portion of the comprehensive examination at the master's level. The oral exam is administrated by the Comprehensive Examination Committee at the beginning of the spring quarter of the student's 2nd year. In addition the committee will review the instructor's written narrative of the student's performance in all graduate courses taken during the first five quarters.

[Editors's note: the physics courses taken in astronomy appear to be E&M. Colloqium and research courses count too. Here is the schedule.]

Courses offered:

270. Fundamentals I: Fluids and Dynamics (4)

271. Fundamentals II: Radiation (4)

272. Stellar Structure and Evolution (4)

273. Stellar Photospheres (4)

274. Galaxies (4)

275. Cosmology (4)

276. Instrumentation and Observational Techniques (4)

281. Quantum Mechanics for Astrophysics (4)

M285. Origin and Evolution of Solar System (4)

UC Santa Barbara

Department: Physics

Quarters/semesters: Quarters

Requirements:

Courses offered:

UC Santa Cruz

Department: Astronomy

Quarters/semesters: Quarters

Requirements: 11 quarter courses, including 7 core and 4 electives. By the end of their second year, students must:

Complete one quarter of independent study with a faculty member and give a department talk on that work.

Pass a written Preliminary Examination based on course material, relevant physics, and general astronomical knowledge.

Submit one lead-author paper to a refereed journal that is based on research conducted at UCSC. A one-year probation & extension will be allowed by department faculty vote at the Board Review meeting at the end of the second year but such extension will not be considered unless a reasonable first draft is submitted at the Board Review and accompanied by a proposed completion strategy which has been approved by the student’s advisor.

By the end of the third year, students must complete a Qualifying Exam that presents and defends a proposed thesis topic. Upon completion of the Ph.D. dissertation, students must pass an oral Dissertation Defense.

Core courses (7):

Astronomy 202, Radiative Processes
Astronomy 204, Astrophysical Flows
Astronomy 205, Introduction to Astronomical Research
Astronomy 212, Dynamical Astronomy
Astronomy 220A, Stellar Structure and Evolution
Astronomy 230, Diffuse Matter in Space
Astronomy 233, Physical Cosmology

Elective courses (4):

Astronomy 207, Future Directions/Future Missions
Astronomy 214, Special Topics in Cosmology
Astronomy 220B, Star Formation
Astronomy 220C, Advanced Stages of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis
Astronomy 222, Planetary Formation and Evolution
Astronomy 223, Planetary Physics
Astronomy 225, High Energy Astrophysics
Astronomy 231, Diffuse Gas in and Between Galaxies
Astronomy 235, Numerical Techniques
Astronomy 237, Accretion Processes
Astronomy 240A, Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Astronomy 240B, High Redshift Galaxies
Astronomy 257, Modern Astronomical Techniques
Astronomy 260, Instrumentation for Astronomy
Astronomy 289, Adaptive Optics and Its Applications
Physics / Astronomy 224, Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Physics / Astronomy 226, General Relativity
Earth Sciences 275, Magnetohydrodynamics
Engineering 206, Bayesian Statistics
Engineering 214, Applied Dynamical Systems
Engineering 217, Introduction to Fluid Dynamics
Physics 210, Classical Mechanics
Physics 215, Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 216, Advanced Topics in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 217, Quantum Field Theory I
Physics 218, Quantum Field Theory II
Physics 227, Advanced Fluid Dynamics

Chicago

Department: Astronomy & Astrophysics

Quarters/semesters: Quarters

Requirements: A student normally enters graduate study in theDepartment of Astronomy and Astrophysics with an undergraduate degree in physics or in another physical science. During the first academic year, a student concentrateson basic graduate courses in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Department of Physics or Chemistry. The candidacy examination for admission to doctoral research is taken just prior to the beginning of a student's second academic year. During the second year of the program, a student is expected to concentrate on research and, in particular, to declare candidacy by making formal arrangements to obtain a faculty sponsor who will supervise the research for the dissertation. A research project must also be completed during the second year. An advanced student is also expected to fulfill the remaining course requirements. It should normally require four to five years to complete the doctoral program.

Core classes:

Autumn Quarter:
- Astronomy 30100: Astrophysics I
- Astronomy 30500: Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
- Physics 33000: Mathematical Methods of Physics OR
- Physics 34100 or Chemistry 36100: Quantum Mechanics I
Winter Quarter:
- Astronomy 30200: Astrophysics II
- Astronomy 30600: Radiation Measurements in Astrophysics
- Physics 32200: Electrodynamics and Optics I OR
- Physics 34200 or Chemistry 36200: Quantum Mechanics II
Spring Quarter:
- Astronomy 30300: Astrophysics III
- Astronomy 30400: Astrophysics IV
- Astronomy 30700: Preparation for Summer Research Project

One additional research class is required in the second year.

Electives -- 8 required, at least 4 from:

Astronomy 31300: Extragalactic Studies
Astronomy 31500: Dynamics I (Fluids)
Astronomy 31600: Dynamics II (Particles)
Astronomy 32000: Relativistic Astrophysics
Astronomy 32100: Cosmology
Astronomy 33000: Computational Astrophysics
Astronomy 34000: Statistical Methods in Astrophysics
Astronomy 36100: Interstellar Matter
Astronomy 38x00: History of Astronomy
The Physics or Chemistry sequence not taken in year 1
Physics 33400: Advanced Experimental Physics
Physics 35200: Statistical Mechanics
Physics 36300: Particle Physics
Physics 36400: General Relativity
Physics 44300/44400: Quantum Field Theory

Harvard

Department: Astronomy

Quarters/semesters: Semesters

Requirements: Before beginning work on athesis, a student must complete one research project, write a report andgive an oral presentation.

Core classes all 5 required:

Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics
Interstellar Medium and Star Formation
Galaxies and Dynamics
Cosmology

Electives: One of:

Astrophysics Lab
Tools and Techniques of Astronomical Measurements
Noise and Data Analysis to Astrophysics
Radio Astronomy
High Energy Astrophysics
Formation of Stars and Planets
General Theory of Relativity
Generaly Relativity, Cosmology, and Other Topics
Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
Advanced Quantum Mechanics II

Princeton

Department: Astrophysical Sciences

Quarters/semesters: Semesters

Requirements: In the first two years‭, ‬a student completes three or four research projects under the supervision of faculty members‭. ‬Although they are called semester projects‭, ‬their difficulty and duration vary significantly‭. ‬Some of them may‭ (‬and should‭) ‬result in published papers‭. ‬In addition to research‭, ‬during the first two years of the program students take courses offered by both astrophysics and physics departments‭.

The departmental requirement is for graduate students to take a minimum of one graduate astro course per semester in the first two years‭, ‬which is much less than many peer institutions‭. ‬This enables studentsto focus on research rather than doing homework‭.‬

Core classes: Only one course per semester during the first two years is required. They may be chosen from:

Stellar Systems‭ ‬
Extragalactic Astronomy‭
Stellar Structure‭
High-energy astrophysics‭
Diffuse Matter in Space
Dynamics of Stellar
Planetary Systems
Scientific Computation in Astrophysics
Introduction to Relativity
Physics of the Universe: Origin and Evolution (empirical cosmology)
Many Plasma Physics courses

Texas

Department: Astronomy

Quarters/semesters: Semesters

Requirements: There are no quals, but students must complete a 2nd year research project and defend it. There is a PhD defense.

Courses: 10 of the below are "core" (which ones are not clear), and students must take 6 of these, an "intro to the department" course, plus two other electives from the list.

AST 380E	Radioactive Processes and Radiative Transfer
AST 381	Theoretical Astrophysics
AST 381C	Gravitational Dynamics
AST 382C	Astrophysical Gas Dynamics
AST 383	Stellar Astronomy
AST 383C	Stellar Atmospheres
AST 383D	Stellar Structure and Evolution
AST 384T	Current Studies in Astronomy for Teachers
AST 185C	Conference on Modern Astronomy
AST 386	Extragalactic Astronomy
AST 386C	Properties of Galaxies
AST 389	Dynamical Astronomy
AST 392D	Mathematical Techniques in Astronomy
AST 392E	Optical Techniques in Astronomy
AST 392G	Observing Techniques in Astronomy
AST 392J	Astronomical Instrumentation
AST 393F	Survey of the Interstellar Medium
AST 396C	Elements of Cosmology
AST 398T	Supervised Teaching in Astronomy

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