Astronomy Discipline Courses Details
ASTR 115 : Introduction to Astronomy
| Prerequisites: | None |
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| Description: | Designed for non-science majors (majors should take ASTR 320). Stonehenge; solar system; sun, stars and stellar evolution, pulsars; black holes; nebulae; galaxies, quasars, big bang, and expanding universe; search for extraterrestrial life. Opportunity for telescopic observation. |
| General Education: |
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| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Fall 2012 |
ASTR 116 : Astronomy Laboratory
| Prerequisites: | Concurrent registration in or completion of ASTR 115. |
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| Description: | Fundamentals of astronomical observation, including optics and spectroscopy. Planetarium exploration of stars, Sun and moon. Opportunity for telescopic observation. |
| General Education: |
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| Units: | 1 |
| Latest Offering: | Fall 2012 |
ASTR 300 : Stars, Planets, and the Milky Way
| Prerequisites: | PHYS 220 or PHYS 111 with grade of C- or better. |
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| Description: | Quantitative study of stars, stellar evolution, and the Milky Way; emphasis on the observational basis of our knowledge of the Galaxy's structure and contents. Application of Newton's laws to exoplanets, determination of stellar masses, and evidence for dark matter. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Spring 2012 |
ASTR 301 : Observational Astronomy Laboratory
| Prerequisites: | ASTR 115 or ASTR 300 with grade of C or better; MATH 109 or equivalent. |
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| Description: | Principles and practice of astronomical observation including telescope design and operation, and coordinate and magnitude systems. Observations of the night sky, planets, stars, and nebulae using determination of stellar masses, and evidence for dark matter. Classwork, 1 unit; laboratory, 1 unit. |
| Units: | 2 |
| Latest Offering: | Fall 2012 |
ASTR 340 GW : The Big Bang - GWAR
| Prerequisites: | ENG 214 (or equivalent) with grade of C or better; PHYS 320 (or equivalent) with grade of C- or better. |
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| Description: | Introduction to cosmology, from earlier human conceptions of the universe, through the hot big bang and inflation; early universe, nucleosynthesis, dark matter, dark energy, photon and neutrino backgrounds, and observational tests of cosmology. (Cross listed with PHYS 340. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) ABC/NC grading only. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Spring 2012 |
ASTR 400 : Stellar Astrophysics
| Prerequisites: | CSC 309, MATH 245 or 376, and PHYS 320, all with grades of C- or better. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Introduction to stellar astrophysics: the birth, life and death of stars; stellar atmospheres and spectra; stellar interiors; energy generation and transport; star formation; stellar evolution and death; the Solar Cycle and the Sun-Earth connection. Paired with ASTR 700. Students who have completed ASTR 700 may not take ASTR 400 for credit. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Spring 2012 |
ASTR 442 : Galaxies and Cosmology
| Prerequisites: | PHYS 320, ASTR 300, MATH 245 or 376, ASTR 400 recommended, all with grades of C- or better. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Introduction to extragalactic astronomy, focusing on galaxies beyond the Milky Way, theories of galaxy formation, and the large-scale structure and evolution of the universe. Overview of modern astrophysical observations and the interplay between theory and observation. Paired with ASTR 742. Students who have completed ASTR 742 may not take ASTR 442 for credit. (Formerly 410.) |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Fall 2012 |
ASTR 470 : Observational Techniques in Astronomy
| Prerequisites: | ASTR 300; ASTR 301 recommended; CSC 309 strongly recommended; all with grades of C- or better. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Astronomical instrumentation and data analysis; statistical analysis, CCD photometry, spectroscopy, image processing, instrument design. Paired with ASTR 770. Students who have completed ASTR 770 may not take ASTR 470 for credit. Classwork, 2 unit; laboratory, 1 unit. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Spring 2012 |
ASTR 498 : Astronomy Research Literature
| Prerequisites: | ASTR 320, PHYS 320 or consent of instructor, with grades of C- or better. |
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| Description: | Critical reading and analysis of current literature in astronomy and astrophysics. Culminating experience for undergraduates. Paired with ASTR 798. Students who have completed ASTR 798 may not take ASTR 498 for credit. |
| Units: | 2 |
ASTR 685 : Projects in the Teaching of Astronomy
| Prerequisites: | Grade of B or better in the ASTR 321 or ASTR 470 and consent of instructor. |
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| Description: | Methods for effective student teaching in the SFSU Observatory and/or Planetarium. Leading of Observatory Open Nights; development and/or presentation of Planetarium shows. May be repeated for a total of 3 units. (Students may earn a maximum of 4 units toward the baccalaureate degree for any course(s) numbered 685 regardless of discipline.) |
| Units: | 1 |
ASTR 697 : Senior Project
| Prerequisites: | ASTR 470 with grade of C- or better; senior standing. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Culminating experience in the B.S. in Physics: Concentration in Astrophysics. Observational or theoretical projects under the direction of department faculty. Student must submit a written report of work accomplished. May be repeated for a total of three units. |
| Units: | 1-3 |
ASTR 699 : Independent Study
| Prerequisites: | Approval of department and consent of instructor. |
|---|---|
| Description: | For advanced students majoring or minoring in astronomy or astrophysics. Special study in the laboratory, field, or library under the direction of a member of the astronomy faculty. The student must present a written report of the work accomplished to the faculty and to the department. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 units. |
| Units: | 1-3 |
ASTR 700 : Stellar Astrophysics
| Prerequisites: | CSC 309, MATH 245 or 376, PHYS 320, all with grades of C- or better. |
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| Description: | Paired with ASTR 400. For course description, see ASTR 400. Students who have completed ASTR 400 may not take ASTR 700 for credit. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Spring 2012 |
ASTR 742 : Galaxies and Cosmology
| Prerequisites: | PHYS 320, ASTR 300, MATH 245 or 376, ASTR 400 recommended, all with grades of C- or better. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Paired with ASTR 442. For course description, see ASTR 442. Students who have completed ASTR 442 may not take ASTR 742 for credit. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Fall 2012 |
ASTR 770 : Observational Techniques in Astronomy
| Prerequisites: | ASTR 300; ASTR 301 recommended; CSC 309 strongly recommended; all with grades of C- or better. |
|---|---|
| Description: | For course description, see ASTR 470. Paired with ASTR 470. Students who have completed ASTR 470 may not take ASTR 770 for credit. Classwork, 2 unit; laboratory, 1 unit. |
| Units: | 3 |
| Latest Offering: | Spring 2012 |
ASTR 798 : Astronomy Research Literature
| Prerequisites: | ASTR 320, PHYS 320 or consent of instructor, with grades of C- or better. |
|---|---|
| Description: | Paired with ASTR 498. For course description, see ASTR 498. Students who have completed ASTR 498 may not take ASTR 798 for credit. |
| Units: | 2 |
