* REMINDER *

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.

 

Please Note

None of the 100-level astronomy courses (i.e. AS 101, 105, etc.) need to be taken in a specific sequence. They are separate courses from each other and can be taken in any order.

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🙛  Course Offerings  🙙

 

The Solar System

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 101 A1

4 units

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 101 G1

4 units

TBA

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 – B6 *only*. Students registering for AS 101 A1 must register for the A1 lecture section and a lab section from: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, or B6.
SCHEDULE
Section(s) Type Days Start End Location
A1 Lecture Mon, Wed, Fri 11:15 AM 12:05 PM CAS 522
B1 – B6 Lab Lab section details listed in MyBU Student

 


NOTES:

CAS AS 101 G1

The CAS AS 101 “G1” lecture section is associated with 101 lab sections H1 and H2 *only*. Students registering for AS 101 G1 must register for the G1 lecture section and a lab section from: H1 or H2.
SCHEDULE
Section(s) Type Days Start End Location
G1 Lecture Mon, Wed, Fri 1:25 PM 2:15 PM CAS 502
H1 – H2 Lab Lab section details listed in MyBU Student

 

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The Astronomical Universe

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 102

4 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 Tues, Thurs 11:00 AM 12:15 PM CAS 522
B1 – B8 Lab Lab section details listed in MyBU Student

 

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Life Beyond Earth: A Consideration of Extraterrestrial Civilizations

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 107

4 units

About 10% of the planets in our Milky Way galaxy are like Earth in size and material composition. The same physical laws operate everywhere so extraterrestrial life may be both common and technologically advanced. Where is Everybody?

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.

SCHEDULE
Section(s) Type Days Start End Location
A1 Lecture Tues, Thurs 2:00 PM 3:15 PM CAS 522
B1 – B8 Discussion Discussion section details listed in MyBU Student

 

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Principles of Astronomy II

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 203

4 units

Astronomical measurements; time and the celestial sphere; telescopes and observatories; the solar system, orbital motion; comparative planetology; the sun and solar-terrestrial effects; electromagnetic radiation; spectroscopy, stellar properties and stellar evolution; the Milky Way galaxy; galaxies; the universe. Lectures and laboratories. Intended primarily for astronomy or physics concentrators.

UNDERGRADUATE COREQUISITES:   CAS MA 123.
DIVISIONAL STUDIES:   Carries natural science divisional credit (with lab) in CAS.
BU HUB:   Effective Spring 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking.

SCHEDULE
Section(s) Type Days Start End Location
A1 Lecture Mon, Wed, Fri 11:15 AM 12:05 PM CAS 502
B1 – B3 Lab Lab section details listed in MyBU Student

 

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Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 312

4 units

Basic physics of radiation; radiative transfer; spectral analysis; distances, motions, and physical properties of stars; stellar interiors and atmospheres; stellar evolution; clusters of stars; the interstellar medium; content, structure, and rotation of the Milky Way Galaxy.

UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES:   CAS MA 124, and either CAS PY 212 or CAS PY 252.
BU HUB:   Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Quantitative Reasoning II, Teamwork/Collaboration. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Scientific Inquiry II, Creativity/Innovation.

SCHEDULE
Section Type Days Start End Location
A1 Lecture Tues, Thurs 11:00 AM 12:15 PM CAS 502

 

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Solar and Space Physics

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 414

4 units

The Sun and Solar Wind: solar magnetic fields, sunspot cycle, active sun, corona. Interaction of the solar wind with planets and comets. Planetary Magnetospheres and Ionospheres. Aeronomy. Solar System plasma physics. Magnetic Storms and Space Weather.

UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES:   CAS PY 355, and either CAS PY 212 or CAS PY 252.
BU HUB:   Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Historical Consciousness, Research and Information Literacy.

SCHEDULE
Section Type Days Start End Location
A1 Lecture Tues, Thurs 12:30 PM 1:45 PM CAS 502
also meets:
  Wednesdays
12:20 PM 1:10 PM CAS 502

 

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Observational Astronomy

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 441

4 units

Astronomical techniques. Photometry, spectroscopy, photography, CCD imaging, and interferometry. Statistical methods for data reduction and analysis. Strong laboratory component. Use of computers.

UNDERGRADUATE PREREQUISITES:   CAS AS 312, First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120).
BU HUB:   Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy.

SCHEDULE
Section Type Days Start End Location
A1 Lecture Mon, Wed, Fri 11:15 AM 12:05 PM TBA
B1 Discussion Arranged with instructor
C1 Lab Lab section details listed in MyBU Student

 

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Cosmic Gas Dynamics

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 704

4 units

Gas dynamics as applied to astrophysical settings. Basic fluid mechanics. Ideal gases. One-dimensional gas flow. Supersonic flows and shock waves. Quasar jets and stellar winds. Fluid instabilities, turbulence, and convection.

SCHEDULE
Section Type Days Start End Location
A1 Independent Tues, Thurs 9:30 AM 10:45 AM CAS 502

 

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Graduate Research and Scholarship

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 720

2 units

An introduction to the methods of research and scholarship required for successful graduate study and the associated ethical issues. Topics include choosing a research advisor, the research topic, the research record, scholarly writing and publishing, intellectual property, and research funding.

SCHEDULE
Section Type Days Start End Location
A1 Independent Fridays 12:20 PM 1:35 PM CAS 500

 

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Cosmology

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 759

4 units

Modern physical cosmology. The Friedmann equation, expansion of the universe and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation. Determination of fundamental cosmological parameters. Large-scale structure, galaxy formation, active galaxies, and quasars. Dark matter and dark energy in the universe. The inflation era.

GRADUATE PREREQUISITES:   CAS AS 701, CAS AS 704, and CAS AS 706.

SCHEDULE
Section Type Days Start End Location
A1 Independent Tues, Thurs 2:00 PM 3:15 PM CAS 502

 

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Graduate Literature Seminar II

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 851

2 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

 

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Graduate Research Seminar II

INSTRUCTOR:

CAS AS 866

2 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

 

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