{"id":9059,"date":"2020-09-09T11:08:58","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T15:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/?page_id=9059"},"modified":"2026-02-09T14:31:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T19:31:07","slug":"ba-astronomy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/undergraduate\/ba-astronomy\/","title":{"rendered":"BA, Astronomy"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Our Program<\/h2>\n<p>Astronomy encompasses all of the physical phenomena in the universe, from the atmospheres of planets, to the discovery and characterization of planets orbiting other stars, the nature of galaxies and the stars in them, the supermassive black holes that reside at the centers of all large galaxies, and how the universe got to be the way it is. Astronomy majors gain exposure to the principles of astronomy, physics, and mathematics. They learn to communicate astronomical information effectively to a range of audiences using a variety of media. They learn to think critically and evaluate, interpret, and solve problems related to astronomy, physics, and general scientific topics. Students develop the technical skills and problem-solving experience that gives them the tools to work in the modern, high-tech world. The <strong>BA in Astronomy<\/strong> prepares students for entry into the competitive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workplace.<\/p>\n<p>Students majoring in Astronomy begin with surveys of the solar system and of stars, galaxies, and the universe. As they advance their mathematical and physical understandings, their studies of planets and of stellar and galactic astrophysics take on more depth. In their last two years as undergraduates, Astronomy majors select from a range of advanced astronomy and physics classes, and can engage in directed research with a faculty advisor or pursue honors work via an honors thesis. They also often complement their studies with additional elective courses in computer science, math, physics, and\/or earth science.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Degree Learning Outcomes<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the principles of astronomy.<\/li>\n<li>Communicate astronomical information effectively, using a variety of media, and to a range of audiences.<\/li>\n<li>Think critically and evaluate, interpret, and solve problems related to astronomical topics as well as other technical and general scientific topics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Course Requirements<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nThe major in Astronomy requires a total of <strong>15 courses<\/strong>, each completed with a grade of <strong>C<\/strong> or higher. <\/p>\n<p>Those 15 courses include four (4) foundational courses, and eleven (11) principal courses, with the eleven principal courses composed of: seven specific astronomy, math, and physics courses, and four chosen from a selection of advanced astronomy and physics courses.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4 align=\"center\" style=\"background-color: #D8D6E0;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Foundational Courses &#8211; (Required) &mdash; (4)<\/span><\/h4>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Astronomy<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-202\/\">AS 202<\/a> &#8211; Principles of Astronomy 1<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-203\/\">AS 203<\/a> &#8211; Principles of Astronomy 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Physics<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-211\/\">PY 211<\/a> &#8211; General Physics 1 (or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-251\/\">PY 251<\/a> &#8211; Principles of Physics 1)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-212\/\">PY 212<\/a> &#8211; General Physics 2 (or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-252\/\">PY 252<\/a> &#8211; Principles of Physics 2)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h4 align=\"center\" style=\"background-color: #D8D6E0;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Principal Courses &#8211; (Required) &mdash; (11)<\/span><\/h4>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Astronomy<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-311\/\">AS 311<\/a> &#8211; Planetary Physics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-312\/\">AS 312<\/a> &#8211; Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-441\/\">AS 441<\/a> &#8211; Observational Astronomy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Math<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-ma-123\/\">MA 123<\/a> <strong>*<\/strong> &#8211; Calculus 1<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-ma-124\/\">MA 124<\/a> <strong>*<\/strong> &#8211; Calculus 2<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-ma-225\/\">MA 225<\/a> &#8211; Multivariate Calculus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Physics<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-313\/\">PY 313<\/a> &#8211; Waves and Modern Physics<br \/>\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-351\/\">PY 351<\/a> &#8211; Modern Physics 1)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Additional Courses<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\nAnd at least four courses from the following list:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-413\/\">AS 413<\/a> &#8211; Planetary Physics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-414\/\">AS 414<\/a> &#8211; Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-491\/\">AS 491<\/a> &#8211; Directed Study in Astronomy (or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-as-492\/\">AS 492<\/a>, but not both)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-355\/\">PY 355<\/a> &#8211; Methods of Theoretical Physics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-405\/\">PY 405<\/a> &#8211; Electromagnetic Fields and Waves 1<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-408\/\">PY 408<\/a> &#8211; Intermediate Mechanics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-410\/\">PY 410<\/a> &#8211; Statistical Thermodynamics<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-451\/\">PY 451<\/a> &#8211; Quantum Physics 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h3><i>Notes<\/i><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<li>(<strong>*<\/strong>) &mdash; <i>Students who enter the program with a strong background in calculus may substitute CAS MA 127 <strong>or<\/strong> MA 129 for the combination of MA 123 <strong>and<\/strong> MA 124, in consultation with their academic advisor.<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Recommended Courses<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nStudents who plan to enter graduate school to study astronomy should take several of the recommended courses, in consultation with an Astronomy academic advisor.<\/p>\n<p>Recommended courses include any courses from the lists above, if not taken as a required course, in addition to any of the following:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Math<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-ma-226\/\">MA 226<\/a> &#8211; Differential Equations<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-ma-242\/\">MA 242<\/a> &#8211; Linear Algebra<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Physics<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-406\/\">PY 406<\/a> &#8211; Electromagnetic Fields and Waves II<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-py-452\/\">PY 452<\/a> &#8211; Quantum Physics 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Earth &amp; Environment<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-ee-310\/\">EE 310<\/a> &#8211; Climate and the Environment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"border:none;\">\n<col>\n<colgroup span=\"2\"><\/colgroup>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; width: 20%;\">\n<h4>Computer Science<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 80%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-cs-111\/\">CS 111<\/a> &#8211; Introduction to Computer Science 1<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/cas\/courses\/cas-cs-112\/\">CS 112<\/a> &#8211; Introduction to Computer Science 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Advising<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nEffective academic advising is an important part of every academic program. Any student considering one of the astronomy majors is urged to discuss their goals and how these might be met, with the Astronomy <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/people\/staff#dus\">Director of Undergraduate Studies<\/a><\/strong>.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Declaring an Astronomy Major<\/h4>\n<p>To declare or add the BA in Astronomy major, please review our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/academics\/undergraduate\/advising#major\">Advising FAQ: Declaring an Astronomy Major<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">BU Hub Categories<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\nStarting Fall 2018, all first-year, first-time students will pursue coursework related to the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/hub\">BU Hub<\/a><\/strong>, a general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience.<\/p>\n<p>Students majoring in Astronomy will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hub\/advising-and-the-hub\/hub-requirements-for-students\/\">BU Hub requirements<\/a> in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scientific Inquiry<\/li>\n<li>Quantitative Reasoning<\/li>\n<li>Communication<\/li>\n<li>Intellectual Toolkit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Honors in the Major<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/student-resources\/undergraduate\/honors-in-the-major\/\"><strong>Honors in Astronomy<\/strong><\/a> is an opportunity for senior undergraduates in the Department of Astronomy to conduct in-depth research in the field and to become more fully involved in the intellectual life of the department. Students work with a faculty project advisor on an honors research project over the course of two semesters (while enrolled in the Astronomy Honors courses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/academics\/courses\/inventory#honors\">AS 401 and AS 402<\/a>). <\/p>\n<p>Students each write a <strong>thesis<\/strong>, give a <strong>public presentation<\/strong> based on the thesis, and take an <strong>oral examination<\/strong> about the thesis with a small committee of Astronomy faculty members. In addition, students participate in one of four seminar and journal club series offerings.<\/p>\n<p>Students interested in the Honors program should consult with their faculty academic advisor or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/people\/staff#dus\">Director of Undergraduate Studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<hr>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Program Astronomy encompasses all of the physical phenomena in the universe, from the atmospheres of planets, to the discovery and characterization of planets orbiting other stars, the nature of galaxies and the stars in them, the supermassive black holes that reside at the centers of all large galaxies, and how the universe got to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7810,"featured_media":0,"parent":8799,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/landing.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9059"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7810"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9059"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12414,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9059\/revisions\/12414"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}