Astrophysics Major

The Honors Tutorial Bachelor of Science program in astrophysics provides unique opportunities for exceptional students. The astrophysics program is intended for students interested in pursuing graduate work in astronomy, or planning careers related to space science. The curriculum includes the same requirements as the HTC physics major; a solid foundation in classical and modern physics leading to deeper study in more specialized areas including quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, nuclear and elementary particle physics, and condensed matter physics.

Curriculum

Students typically spend one-quarter of their total time (and academic credit) in tutorials, the rest being in laboratories or in other required or elective classes. Because the Honors Tutorial College has no specific general education (or “distribution”) requirements, students are free to create unique courses of study in subjects outside their major fields according to personal taste. Physics and astronomy students frequently take courses in chemistry, biology, and computer science; but interest in areas much further afield, such as music, language, or history, is also very much encouraged.

View Full Curriculum in the Academic Catalog

• 1st year: Physics freshman seminar, Tutorials (mechanics, electricity & magnetism, heat, waves, optics, special relativity), Calculus
• 2nd year: Tutorials (quantum mechanics, nuclei & particles), Electronics Lab, Fundamentals of Astrophysics, Stellar Astrophysics, Calculus, Differential Equations, Fourier Analysis
• 3rd year: Tutorials (advanced mechanics, special topics), Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, Galactic Structure, Extragalactic Astronomy & Cosmology, Electrons, Photons, and Nucleons Labs, Vector Analysis
• 4th year: Electricity & Magnetism, Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Observational Astrophysics, Senior Thesis

Honors Tutorials and Thesis

Students complete six tutorials, including one devoted to an original senior honors thesis. These tutorials support in-depth study and research in astrophysics topics under direct faculty mentorship.

Students must also complete a high-quality, advisor-approved thesis that reflects original research and analysis in the field.

Research

Physics and astronomy students are strongly encouraged to gain experience as research assistants, either in the Physics and Astronomy Department’s laboratories or through temporary internships at other universities, research centers, or national labs or observatories.

Research work usually begins in the third or fourth year, though opportunities can sometimes arise earlier, and often becomes the basis of the student’s senior thesis.

Research opportunities are available in the Department in the following areas:

• Condensed Matter and Surface Science: creating, studying, and simulating the properties of new substances, such as thin magnetic films and semiconductors
• Astronomy and Astrophysics: studying the structure and evolution of galaxies and galaxy clusters, the power sources of quasars, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy
• Nuclear and Particle Physics: investigating how the basic building blocks of matter interact with each other, and how they combine to form the elements we know
• Biophysics: using experimental techniques and computer modeling to understand processes in living systems, including cell adhesion, interacting neurons, and natural antifreeze proteins.

In addition, advanced students interested in teaching can sometimes be given paid appointments as teaching assistants.

Career Opportunities

Recipients of a B.S. degree in astrophysics possess high-level problem-solving skills that provide excellent preparation for graduate school programs in astronomy or astrophysics. This program can also prepare students for employment opportunities in research institutions, government, industry, or teaching.

Graduates are employed by institutions of higher education, multiple governmental departments, planetariums, non-profit organizations, and the aerospace, computer software, remote sensing, and communications industries.

This degree also prepares students for graduate study in astrophysics and related fields.