Astronomy and Astrophysics

[ graduate program | courses ]

Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
https://astro.ucsd.edu/

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

The Undergraduate Program

UC San Diego is a world-leading institution in cutting-edge scholarship in astronomy and astrophysics. The undergraduate program in astronomy and astrophysics is designed to serve students from all backgrounds with broad training in modern astronomy and astrophysics, with topics including:

1. Classical physics such as mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics with a focus on astrophysical applications
2. Modern physics such as quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics and the relationship to astrophysical topics
3. The physics of the interiors and atmospheres of stars
4. Compact objects, including neutron stars and black holes
5. Structure, dynamics, and evolution of galaxies
6. Formation, evolution, and observations of exoplanets
7. Modern cosmology
8. Practical training in optical and radio astronomy using observations with modern telescopes

Students will also have the opportunity to explore honors research with faculty in the department, whose research spans the full range of astrophysical topics, with access to world-class facilities and observatories such as Lick Observatory, Keck Observatory, the Simons Observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the San Diego Supercomputer Center.

Entry to Major(s)

The astronomy and astrophysics majors are not capped and are open to all students interested in pursuing a STEM degree with a focus on astrophysical sciences. Plans of study are available to students starting the major at all levels, from freshman entrants to transfer students.

General Major/Program Requirements

PHYS 2 versus PHYS 4 Series: The PHYS 2 or 4 series is designed to prepare students for the upper-division program. Students may take either the 2 or the 4 series, though we recommend the 4 series, which is strongly recommended for BS students. BS students are required to take ASTR 18 if they take the PHYS 2 series. BA students are recommended, but not required, to take ASTR 18 if they take the PHYS 2 series. 

MATH 18 and the 20 Series: The honors math series (MATH 31AH, 31BH, 31CH) can replace the standard math courses (MATH 18, 20C, 20E, respectively). If students are taking the 4 series, please note that MATH 18/31AH must be completed before enrolling in PHYS 4C. Since PHYS 4C is typically offered in the fall, it is best to complete this requirement in the first year.

Programming: It is recommended that the programming requirement be completed as early as possible, but the requirement may be completed anytime during the undergraduate years. 

Prerequisites: Check Courses sections of the UC San Diego General Catalog for the prerequisites to all listed courses.

Substitutions and Exceptions: Permissible only by approved petition to the department.

P/NP Grading Option: Not allowed for any courses applied to the major (the exceptions are courses completed via AP/IB/A-Level and a single four-unit ASTR 199/199H that may only be applied as an upper-division restricted elective). 

Grades and GPA: A grade point average of 2.0 or higher in the upper-division major program is required for graduation. Students must receive a grade of C– or better in any course to be counted toward fulfillment of the major requirements.

Residence Requirements At least 60 percent of the upper-division courses in the major must be taken while in residence at UC San Diego.

Double Majors: Approved by petition only. A student with a double major must fulfill the separate requirements of each major, and the equivalent of at least ten upper-division courses (forty units) must be unique to each major. Courses taken in fulfillment of lower-division requirements may overlap to any degree. Students cannot pursue both the BA and the BS in astronomy and astrophysics.

BA, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Unit Requirements for the Major

* See “Graduation Requirements in the UC San Diego Colleges” for complete graduation requirements in each college

Major Summary

Lower-Division Requirements

• PHYS 2A-B-C-D or PHYS 4A-B-C-D-E
• One programming course from the following: DSC 10, BILD 62, COGS 18, PHYS 41, CSE 6R, CSE 8A, CSE 11, ECE 15
• MATH 18 and 20A-B-C-D-E
• ASTR 20A-B
• Students taking the PHYS 2 series are recommended, but not required, to take ASTR 18

Upper-Division Requirements

• Core: Three courses from the following: ASTR 120, 122, 123, 124
• Lab: One practical skills course from the following: ASTR 150, 152, 154, 155
• Electives: Eight upper-division courses that grant at least four units each, including
  • At least four ASTR courses
  • At least three courses from other departments—Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Biological Sciences
• Optional: Two quarters of honors thesis (eight units) counts as two of the eight additional courses. If completing the honors thesis for those two, the remaining courses must be at least three ASTR courses and at least two courses in other departments listed above. A single four-unit ASTR 199/199H course may only be applied as one upper-division restricted elective.

Other Information Specific to the Major

BS, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Unit Requirements for the Major

* See “Graduation Requirements in the UC San Diego Colleges” for complete graduation requirements in each college

Major Summary

Lower-Division Requirements

• PHYS 4A-B-C-D-E or PHYS 2A-B-C-D and ASTR 18
• One programming course from the following: DSC 10, BILD 62, COGS 18, PHYS 41, CSE 6R, CSE 8A, CSE 11, ECE 15
• MATH 18 and 20A-B-C-D-E
• ASTR 20A-B

Upper-Division Requirements

• Core: Six required specific courses: ASTR 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106
• Core: Three required courses from the following: ASTR 120, 122, 123, 124
• Lab: One required practical skills course from the following: ASTR 150, 152, 154, 155
• Electives: Three additional (any) upper-division ASTR courses
• Optional: Two quarters of honors thesis (eight units) counts as two of the additional upper-division ASTR courses. A single four-unit ASTR 199/199H course may only be applied as an upper-division restricted elective.

Other Information Specific to the Major

The PHYS 4 series is strongly recommended for BS students. BS students are required to take ASTR 18 if they take the PHYS 2 series.

Minor in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The minor in astronomy and astrophysics provides a broad overview of the discipline, allowing students to choose from a variety of theoretical and experimental courses. The minor consists of a total of sixty-eight units, with forty-eight units in lower-division courses and twenty in upper-division astronomy and astrophysics courses.

Upper-division courses being applied to the minor must be taken at UC San Diego in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and must be taken for a letter grade. Students must earn a grade of C– or above in all courses applied to the minor, including transfer course work. The minimum overall GPA requirement for the minor is a 2.0. A petition is required for any waivers/substitutions to the minor requirements (e.g., applying a non–UC San Diego upper-division astronomy course).

Lower-Division Requirements

• PHYS 2A-B-C-D or PHYS 4A-B-C-D-E
• One programming course from the following: DSC 10, BILD 62, COGS 18, PHYS 41, CSE 6R, CSE 8A, CSE 11, ECE 15
• MATH 18 and 20A-B-C-D-E
• Recommended but not required: ASTR 20A-B

Upper-Division Requirements

• Any five ASTR courses

Honors

The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics offers an honors program to those students who have demonstrated excellence in either of the majors. Students are eligible to apply for departmental honors at graduation if they have met all of the following:

1. Achieved an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher.
2. Completed two quarters of ASTR 199H (eight units). A student who has successfully petitioned to use an ASTR 199 course to fulfill elective credit toward their major may not use those four units to fulfill the honors requirements.
3. Write a thesis and give a research presentation.

Undergraduate students can also enroll in astronomy and astrophysics graduate courses if they satisfy the prerequisite requirements.

Advising Information

The astronomy and astrophysics academic advising office serves undergraduate student majors and students enrolled in astronomy and astrophysics courses. For more information about advising services in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, please visit https://astro.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/academic-advising/index.html.