This is an archived copy of the 2014-16 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.utexas.edu/.

Bachelor of Science in Astronomy

Astronomy tells us about the place of humankind in the universe: how Earth was created, how the Sun was formed, how galaxies form and evolve. It tells us where the universe is going and where it came from. Astronomers address these questions at a fundamental level. Their goal is to determine the basic and controlling properties of the universe and to transmit that knowledge to society. The Bachelor of Science in Astronomy is designed to give students an understanding of the universe and to prepare them to participate in the advancement of this exciting search.

Two options are available: astronomy and astronomy honors. Students who plan to follow option II, astronomy honors, must be admitted to the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program .

Prescribed Work Common to all Options

All students pursuing an undergraduate degree must complete the University’s Core Curriculum . 

In addition, students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy must complete the following degree-level requirements. In some cases, courses that fulfill degree-level requirements also meet the requirements of the core.

  1. Two courses with a writing flag. One of these courses must be upper-division.
  2. One course with a quantitative reasoning flag.

Courses with flags are identified in the Course Schedule . They may be used simultaneously to fulfill other requirements, unless otherwise specified.

  1. One of the following foreign language/culture choices. Students in option II are exempt from this requirement.
    1. Second-semester-level proficiency, or the equivalent, in a foreign language.
    2. First-semester-level proficiency, or the equivalent, in a foreign language and a three-semester-hour course in the culture of the same language area.
    3. Two three-semester-hour courses in one foreign culture area chosen from an approved list available in the dean’s office and the college advising centers.
  2. At least thirty-six semester hours of upper-division coursework.
  3. At least twenty-one hours of upper-division coursework, including at least twelve semester hours in physics and astronomy, must be completed in residence at the University.

Additional Prescribed Work for Each Option

Option I: Astronomy

  1. Six semester hours in biology, chemistry, computer science, and/or geological sciences. Chemistry 301 or 301H and the courses in the Elements of Computing Certificate Program may be counted toward this requirement; any other course to be counted must meet major requirements in the department that offers it.
  2. Mathematics 408C and 408D, or the equivalent; and 427K, 427L, and 340L.
  3. Physics 301, 101L, 315, 115L, 316, 116L, 336K, 352K, 353L, 355, 362K, 369, and 373.
  4. Twelve semester hours of upper-division coursework in astronomy, including Astronomy 352K, 353, and 358. Astronomy 351 is recommended.
  5. Nine additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in physics and/or astronomy.
  6. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 123 semester hours.

Option II: Astronomy Honors

  1. Breadth requirement: An honors mathematics course, Chemistry 301H, and nine additional hours of coursework chosen from honors courses in the college. Credit earned by examination may not be counted toward this requirement.
  2. Physics 301, 101L, 315, 115L, 316, and 116L. 
  3. Twelve semester hours of upper-division coursework in astronomy approved by the departmental honors adviser.
  4. Eighteen semester hours of upper-division coursework in physics approved by the departmental honors adviser.
  5. Three additional semester hours of upper-division coursework in astronomy or physics. 
  6. A section of Undergraduate Studies 302 or 303 that is approved by the departmental honors adviser.
  7. A section of Rhetoric and Writing 309S that is restricted to students in the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program. 
  8. Astronomy 379H and either a three-semester-hour upper-division research course approved by the departmental honors adviser or a second section of Astronomy 379H.
  9. Sixteen additional hours of coursework approved by the departmental honors adviser.
  10. Six semester hours of coursework in the College of Liberal Arts or the College of Fine Arts.
  11. Enough additional coursework to make a total of 120 semester hours.

Special Requirements

Students in both options must fulfill both the University's General Requirements for graduation and the college requirements . They must also earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a University grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades and the grade point average is given in General Information .

To graduate under option II, students must remain in good standing in the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program, must earn grades of at least A- in the departmental research and thesis courses described in requirement 12 above, and must present their research in an approved public forum, such as the college’s annual Undergraduate Research Forum .