| REMINDERS | |
|---|---|
Official Schedule |
The University Class Schedule is the official listing for courses in a specific semester.
Students: Check the official University Schedule via Class Search in MyBU Student for additional course notes and the most up-to-date information regarding current courses. |
Separate Courses |
None of the 100-level astronomy courses (i.e. AS 101, 102, 105, etc.) are connected to each other, or need to be taken in a specific sequence. They are separate courses from each other and can be taken in any order. |
| NAVIGATION | |
|---|---|
Go to Astronomy Courses Numbered: |
|
| 100 – 109 | Introductory for Non-Majors |
| 200 – 312 | Introductory Courses for Majors or Minors (& related fields) |
| 401 – 492 | Advanced Courses for Majors or Minors (& related fields) |
| 700 – 720 | Introductory Graduate Courses |
| 751 – 793 | Advanced Graduate Courses |
| 850 – 866 | Graduate Seminar Courses |
🙛 Course Offerings 🙙
The Solar System
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 101 A14 units |
|
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 101 C14 units |
The historical development of astronomy and the motion of the planets. The formation of the solar system. The sun and its effects on the earth. Description of the planets and the moons of our solar system including recent results from the space program. Use of the observatory.
| DIVISIONAL STUDIES: | Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. |
| BU HUB: | Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking. |
🙛 Notes & Schedules 🙙
| NOTES: |
CAS AS 101 A1 |
The CAS AS 101 “A1” lecture section is associated with 101 lab sections B1 – B4 *only*. Students registering for AS 101 A1 must register for the A1 lecture section and a lab section from: B1, B2, B3, or B4. |
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section(s) | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Lecture | Mon, Wed, Fri | 1:25 PM | 2:15 PM | CAS 313 |
| B1 – B4 | Lab | Lab section details listed in MyBU Student | |||
| NOTES: |
CAS AS 101 C1 |
The CAS AS 101 “C1” lecture section is associated with 101 lab sections D1 – D4 *only*. Students registering for AS 101 C1 must register for the C1 lecture section and a lab section from: D1, D2, D3, or D4. |
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section(s) | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| C1 | Lecture | Tues, Thurs | 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM | CAS B20 |
| D1 – D4 | Lab | Lab section details listed in MyBU Student | |||
The Astronomical Universe
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 1024 units |
The birth and death of stars. Red giants, white dwarfs, black holes. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, and other galaxies. The Big Bang and other cosmological theories of our expanding universe.
| DIVISIONAL STUDIES: | Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. |
| BU HUB: | Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Teamwork/Collaboration. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking. |
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section(s) | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Lecture | Mon, Wed, Fri | 11:15 AM | 12:05 PM | CAS 522 |
| B1 – B8 | Lab | Lab section details listed in MyBU Student | |||
Cosmology
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 1094 units |
The evolution of cosmological thought from prehistory to the present: Greek astronomy, Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. Motion, gravity, and the nature of space-time. The expanding universe. The early universe and Big Bang.
| DIVISIONAL STUDIES: | Carries natural science divisional credit in CAS. | ||||
| BU HUB: | Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU HUB areas: Quantitative Reasoning I, Scientific Inquiry I, Critical Thinking. |
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| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section(s) | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Lecture | Tues, Thurs | 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM | CAS 313 |
| B1 – B5 | Discussion | Discussion section details listed in MyBU Student | |||
Principles of Astronomy I
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 2024 units |
Astronomical observing and the night sky; optics and telescopes; birth of modern astronomy; atoms, spectra and spectroscopy; planetary motion and orbits; overview of solar system; uses observatory. Intended primarily for astronomy or physics majors. Lectures and laboratories.
| UNDERGRADUATE CO-REQUISITES: |
CAS MA 123 |
| DIVISIONAL STUDIES: | Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS. |
| BU HUB: | Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking. |
| RESERVED SEATING: | Seating is reserved for Astronomy program students until the start of the Fall 2026 semester; any remaining seats open starting 9/02/2026. |
| MATH / PHYSICS – EVENING EXAMS: | Some Math (MA) or Physics (PY) courses have evening exam times reserved. If applicable, please do not select an AS 202 lab section which conflicts with MA or PY evening exam times. |
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section(s) | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Lecture | Mon, Wed, Fri | 11:15 AM | 12:05 PM | CAS B36 |
| B1 – B3 | Lab | Lab section details listed in MyBU Student | |||
Planetary Physics
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 3114 units |
Celestial mechanics, tides, resonances. Physical processes that affect atmospheres, surfaces, interiors of planets, and their satellites. Comets, asteroids, meteorites, and Kuiper belt objects. Formation and evolution of the solar system. Extra-solar planets.
| UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES: |
CAS MA 124 and (CAS PY 211 or CAS PY 251) |
| BU HUB: | Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Scientific Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration. |
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Lecture | Tues, Thurs | 12:30 PM | 1:45 PM | CAS 502 |
| also meets: Fridays |
1:25 PM | 2:15 PM | CAS 502 | ||
Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmology
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 4134 units |
Historical and intellectual developments that led to our current understanding of the universe; galaxies, galaxy clusters and large-scale structure; galaxy formation and evolution; dark matter and dark energy; Hot Big Bang and inflation; foundations of general relativity. (Offered alternate years.)
| UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES: |
CAS AS 203 and CAS AS 312 and CAS PY 355 |
| BU HUB: | Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Research and Information Literacy. |
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Lecture | Tues, Thurs | 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM | CAS 502 |
| also meets: Wednesdays |
12:20 PM | 1:10 PM | CAS 502 | ||
Introduction to Astrophysics
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 7014 units |
Introduction to astronomical and astrophysical nomenclature and concepts. Coordinate systems, celestial orbits, radiation, stars, stellar structure, stellar evolution, clusters of stars, galactic components, galactic structure, galaxy types, active galaxies, cosmology.
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Independent | Tues, Thurs | 9:30 AM | 10:45 AM | CAS 502 |
Introduction to Space Physics
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 7034 units |
Survey of physical phenomena in the sun, solar wind, magnetospheres, ionospheres, and upper atmospheres of objects in the solar system. Introduction to the physical processes governing space plasmas, solar-terrestrial interactions, and ionized and neutral media surrounding the Earth and other solar system bodies.
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Independent | Tues, Thurs | 2:00 PM | 3:15 PM | CAS 502 |
Special Topics in Astrophysics
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 7914 units |
Lecture course examining special topics of current interest in astrophysics. Offered as a 2- or 4-credit course, depending on the topic.
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Independent | Tues, Thurs | 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM | CAS 500 |
Graduate Literature Seminar I
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 8502 units |
Weekly seminar offering graduate students the skills and practice needed for reading, evaluating, and discussing scientific peer-reviewed literature on current research topics.
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Independent | Wednesdays | 2:30 PM | 3:45 PM | CAS 502 |
Graduate Research Seminar I
| INSTRUCTOR: | |
CAS AS 8652 units |
Weekly seminar offering graduate students the skills and practice needed for oral presentations on current research topics and to receive peer and expert feedback.
| SCHEDULE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Type | Days | Start | End | Location |
| A1 | Independent | Fridays | 2:30 PM | 3:45 PM | CAS 502 |