Ph.D. in Astronomy

Our astrophysics Ph.D. program is structured to provide students with a thorough grounding in the tools of astronomy and stresses an early entry into research. Evaluation of students for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. places significant weight on their potential as research scientists.

Online Graduate Program Application

To receive the Ph.D. in Astrophysics and Astronomy  a student must:

1. 1.Pass the Qualifying Examination on undergraduate Physics at a Ph.D. level (grade of A), before the end of the student’s first semester of the second year. A maximum of three tries is allowed on this exam. Alternatively, a student may qualify for the Ph.D. program by taking a sequence of undergraduate courses, based on discussions with the graduate advisory committee, and by achieving at least a 3.5 average on these courses.
   

2. 2.Pass the core physics or their subject exams and the core astronomy courses with a grade averaged over all core courses of 3.375. The core courses are described below.
   

3. 3.Complete the two-semester AST 805 research project satisfactorily at the Ph.D. level. The research project would be graded by a committee consisting of two members of the astronomy group and one faculty member from outside the astronomy group, who would examine the student on the research and on general knowledge pertinent to the research project. This oral examination will serve as the student’s comprehensive examination. A Record of Completion Form (see Appendix F) must be signed by the committee at the end of the oral examination. A proposal for this research project must be approved by the astronomy group by the end of the first year of graduate study.
   

4. 4.All Astrophysics Ph.D. students must complete the following courses. This normally will take two years.
   
   Core physics courses:
      PHY 820 - Classical Mechanics (Fall)
      PHY 831 - Statistical Mechanics (Fall)
      PHY 851 - Classical Electrodynamics I (Spring)
   
   Core astronomy courses:
      AST 810 - Radiation Astrophysics (Fall*)
      AST 840 - Stellar Atmospheres,            
                           Structure
                           and Evolution (Spring*)
      AST 825 - Galactic Astronomy (Fall*)
      AST 835 - Extragalactic Astronomy and
                          Cosmology (Spring*)
      PHY 983 - Nuclear Astrophysics (Spring*)
   
      *These courses are offered in alternate years.
   

5. Our core courses do not cover all areas of astronomy and physics to which graduate students ought to be exposed. Additional topics will be offered from time to time in elective courses, or in the Special Topics Seminars. Among these additional topics are Observational Techniques in Astronomy, Numerical Techniques, and General Relativity.
   

5. 5.Form a Ph.D. Guidance Committee (see Sections VII and VIII) no later than six months after fulfilling the Comprehensive Exam Requirement. The Guidance Committee must meet with the student at least once every year. Prior to the formation of their Guidance Committee the students are mentored by the Associate Chair for graduate studies and the Graduate Advising Committee.
   

6. 6.Write a dissertation on original research, followed by an oral examination based on the dissertation and related material. A student’s research program is determined in consultation with the student’s research advisor and guided by the student’s Ph.D. Guidance Committee.
   

7. 7.Register for a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research (AST999).
   

8. 8.The Department of Physics and Astronomy has no foreign language requirement.
   

9. 9.The student should serve as a Teaching Assistant for at least one semester. International students who are not native English speakers must pass the SPEAK test in order to be a TA.

M.S. in Astronomy

Many of our Ph.D. students obtain an M.S. degree during the course of their studies. However, students will not normally be accepted into the astrophysics graduate program unless their ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D. degree. To obtain a M.S. degree, students must take the same two-year sequence of core classes as for the Astrophysics Ph.D. degree.

Online Graduate Program Application

The requirements for the M.S. degree are:

1. 1.Complete a total of 30 credits that satisfy either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis) of the general university requirements for a Masters degree.
   

2. 2.Pass the Qualifying Exam on undergraduate Physics at the M.S. (with a grade of B or above) level before the end of the student’s first semester of the second year. A maximum of three tries is allowed on this exam.
   

3. 3.Pass the core physics and astronomy courses with an average grade of 3.0 or better.
   

4. 4.Students under Plan A must complete at least 4 credits of Astronomy 899 Master’s Thesis Research, and pass a final oral examination in defense of the thesis,  Students choosing Plan A must form a Guidance Committee of three regular faculty members, including the student’s Master’s thesis advisor. This committee will meet with the student yearly and will act as examiners of the student’s thesis and oral defense (see form needed – Appendix E).
   

5. 5.Students under Plan B must complete 6 credits in Astronomy 805 Research Project and pass the research course examinations at least at the M.S. level.
   

6. 6.The Department of Physics and Astronomy has no foreign language requirement.

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