2008-09 Undergraduate Catalog
Majors
Students comfortable with mathematics and physics who have a strong interest in understanding the nature of the solar system, stars, galaxies and the universe are encouraged to consider majoring in astronomy. The knowledge acquired and the analytical skills developed provide excellent broad-based training for careers in industry, education and government as well as preparation for graduate study in astronomy and astrophysics, science education, engineering, law and medicine.
In addition to the general requirements of CLAS, students majoring in astronomy with the B.S. must take AST 3018, 3019 and 3722C; MAC 2311, 2312 and 2313; MAP 2302; PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049, 2049L, 3101, 3221, 3323, 4222 and 4324. One additional physics course must be selected from PHY 3513, PHY 4422, PHY 4523, and PHY 4604. Majors must also select five additional 3-credit courses from among the 4000-level astronomy courses. All required courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Students planning graduate work in astronomy should talk with the undergraduate coordinator and plan to take PHY 4604 and additional courses from the following: PHY 3513, 4422 and 4523; MAS 3114, MAA 4402, MAP 4403, STA 3032 and CGS 2425.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Note: UF freshmen and sophomores should plan to take AST 3018 by the fourth semester.
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
In addition to the general requirements of CLAS, students majoring in astronomy with the B.A. must take AST 3018, 3019, and 3722C; MAC 2311, 2312, and 2313; PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049, 2049L, and 3101. Majors must also select three 3000- or 4000-level AST courses and an additional AST or PHY course at the 3000 or 4000 level. All required courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
| Astronomy |
| College: Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Degree: Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Arts |
| Hours for Degree: 120 |
| Minor: Yes |
| Combined-Degree Program: No |
| Website: www.astro.ufl.edu/UnderProg.html |
Students comfortable with mathematics and physics who have a strong interest in understanding the nature of the solar system, stars, galaxies and the universe are encouraged to consider majoring in astronomy. The knowledge acquired and the analytical skills developed provide excellent broad-based training for careers in industry, education and government as well as preparation for graduate study in astronomy and astrophysics, science education, engineering, law and medicine.
In addition to the general requirements of CLAS, students majoring in astronomy with the B.S. must take AST 3018, 3019 and 3722C; MAC 2311, 2312 and 2313; MAP 2302; PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049, 2049L, 3101, 3221, 3323, 4222 and 4324. One additional physics course must be selected from PHY 3513, PHY 4422, PHY 4523, and PHY 4604. Majors must also select five additional 3-credit courses from among the 4000-level astronomy courses. All required courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Students planning graduate work in astronomy should talk with the undergraduate coordinator and plan to take PHY 4604 and additional courses from the following: PHY 3513, 4422 and 4523; MAS 3114, MAA 4402, MAP 4403, STA 3032 and CGS 2425.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan
Note: UF freshmen and sophomores should plan to take AST 3018 by the fourth semester.
Semester 1:
- 2.0 UF GPA for semesters 1-5
- Complete MAC 1147 or MAC 2311
Semester 2:
- Complete MAC 2311
Semester 3:
- Complete MAC 2312, PHY 2048 and PHY 2048L with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 4:
- Complete MAC 2313, PHY 2049 and PHY 2049L with 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Semester 5:
- Complete AST 3018 with a 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE-M) | 4 |
| PHY 2048 and 2048L Physics with Calculus 1 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 | 4 |
| AST 3018 Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 (GE-P) | 3 |
| PHY 2049 and 2049L Physics withCalculus 2 (3) and Laboratory (1) (GE-P) | 4 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| AST 3019 Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 (GE-P) | 3 |
| AST 3722C Techniques of Observational Astronomy 1 | 3 |
| MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| PHY 3101 Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHY 3221 Mechanics 1 | 3 |
| PHY 3513 Thermal Physics 1 or elective | 3 |
| AST course (4000 level) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Total | 15-17 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| PHY 3323 Electromagnetism 1 | 3 |
| PHY 4222 Mechanics 2 | 3 |
| AST course (4000 level) | 3 |
| AST course (4000 level) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Total | 15-17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| PHY 4324 Electromagnetism 2 | 3 |
| AST course (4000 level) | 3 |
| PHY 4604 Introductory Quantum Mechanics 1 or elective | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective (or complete foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| PHY 4422 Optics 1 or elective | 3 |
| PHY 4523 Statistical Physics or elective | 3 |
| AST course (4000 level) | 3 |
| Electives (3000-level non-major if needed) | 7-3 |
| Total | 16-12 |
In addition to the general requirements of CLAS, students majoring in astronomy with the B.A. must take AST 3018, 3019, and 3722C; MAC 2311, 2312, and 2313; PHY 2048, 2048L, 2049, 2049L, and 3101. Majors must also select three 3000- or 4000-level AST courses and an additional AST or PHY course at the 3000 or 4000 level. All required courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| MAC 2311 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1 | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Biological Sciences (GE-B) | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| MAC 2312 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 | 3 |
| PHY 2048L Laboratory for PHY 2048 (GE-P) | 1 |
| Biological Sciences (GE-B) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| MAC 2313 Analytical Geometry and Calculus 3 | 4 |
| AST 3018 Astronomy and Astrophysics 1 | 3 |
| PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2 | 3 |
| PHY 2049L Laboratory for PHY 2049 | 1 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Total | 14 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| AST 3019 Astronomy and Astrophysics 2 | 3 |
| AST 3722C Observational Techniques 1 | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) | 3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AST course (3000 or 4000 level) | 3 |
| PHY 3101 Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Elective (3000 or 4000 level, not in major) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15-17 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AST course (3000 or 4000 level) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3-5 |
| Electives (3000 or 4000 level, not in major) | 6 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15-17 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| AST course (3000 or 4000 level) | 3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) | 3 |
| Elective (or complete foreign language if 4-3-3 option) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AST or PHY course (3000 or 4000 level) or PHY 2464 Physical Basis of Music | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Electives | 7-3 |
| Total | 16-12 |