{"id":30235,"date":"2011-07-22T11:32:29","date_gmt":"2011-07-22T15:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/?page_id=30235"},"modified":"2025-01-16T14:07:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T19:07:05","slug":"ma","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/grs\/programs\/astronomy\/ma\/","title":{"rendered":"MA in Astronomy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Students admitted to the PhD program may opt to earn a master\u2019s degree en route to the PhD, or to take a terminal MA, if they satisfy the appropriate requirements. Students may not apply for admission to only earn a master\u2019s degree.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Learning Outcomes<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">Demonstrate graduate-level knowledge of astronomy and physics, including the following topics: fundamental physics and astrophysics; gravitation, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics appropriate to astronomy; and the dynamical behavior of space and astrophysical plasmas.<\/li>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">Demonstrate graduate-level knowledge of observational techniques used to study astronomical and space phenomena.<\/li>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">Perform directed research within the discipline.<\/li>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">Present directed research to a committee of faculty members and to a scientific audience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Course Requirements<\/h2>\n<p>The MA in Astronomy requires completion of 32 graduate units with a grade of B\u2013 or higher. At least 20 of these units must be from astronomy courses numbered 700\u2013799.<\/p>\n<h2>Language Requirement<\/h2>\n<p>There is no foreign language requirement for this degree.<\/p>\n<h2>Thesis\/Comprehensive Exam<\/h2>\n<p>A master\u2019s thesis is optional, not required. If a candidate elects to submit a master\u2019s thesis, then it must give evidence of the candidate\u2019s ability to understand, critically evaluate, and competently carry forward a scientific investigation. This is achieved by advancing an experimental technique, by extending the application of a physical theory, or by collecting new scientifically relevant data or analyzing previously existing data. The thesis must demonstrate the candidate\u2019s ability to present the results of their work in a logical and coherent manner. The thesis is judged in an oral examination administered by a committee of three faculty members, including the student\u2019s advisor. The committee must approve a prospectus of the thesis at least three months before the oral examination.<\/p>\n<p>The candidate must pass an oral comprehensive examination by one of three means:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">For a student who writes a master\u2019s thesis, describing a research project carried out by the student and directed by a faculty member, the oral exam takes place as part of the thesis defense.<\/li>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">For students taking the PhD Oral Qualifying Examination, achieving either a \u201cmaster\u2019s pass\u201d or a \u201cPhD pass\u201d will meet the master\u2019s comprehensive examination requirement.<\/li>\n<li data-gc-list-depth=\"1\" data-gc-list-style=\"bullet\">Alternatively, a student wishing to earn a terminal MA may have a Master\u2019s Oral Comprehensive Examination committee, consisting of three Astronomy faculty members, to query the student regarding their understanding of graduate-level physics, astrophysics, and space physics to ascertain mastery of these topics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students admitted to the PhD program may opt to earn a master\u2019s degree en route to the PhD, or to take a terminal MA, if they satisfy the appropriate requirements. Students may not apply for admission to only earn a master\u2019s degree. Learning Outcomes Demonstrate graduate-level knowledge of astronomy and physics, including the following topics: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2696,"featured_media":0,"parent":3482,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30235"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2696"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30235"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96800,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30235\/revisions\/96800"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}