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Choosing a First Astronomy Course

There are three options for an introductory course in Astronomy:

Prerequisites:
  • Basic Skills component of the QR requirement.
  • Neither high school physics nor calculus is required.
Distribution:
  • Mathematical Modeling or Natural and Physical Sciences
  • [#] satisfies Laboratory requirement

ASTR 100 investigates the origin of life on Earth and the prospects for finding life elsewhere in the cosmos. This is not a laboratory class, but some self-scheduled nighttime observations are required. Offered both semesters.

[#] ASTR 101 examines the life stories of stars, galaxies, and the universe itself. This is a laboratory class, meeting for one two-hour nighttime lab session per week. Offered both semesters.

ASTR 108 traces the story of the quest to determine our place in space and time, based on hands-on experiments and key astronomical observations. It's not a laboratory class, but some daytime and nighttime observations are required.

Either ASTR 101 or 108 is required of all Astronomy majors, Astrophysics majors, and Astronomy minors. Potential majors are strongly encouraged to take ASTR 108, although 101 is also acceptable if 108 cannot be taken because of scheduling conflicts.

Note: ASTR 100 doesn't satisfy the prerequisite for some upper-level subjects.

See the College course catalog for further descriptions. (PDF file; requires Acrobat Reader.)