ASTRONOMY MINOR DEGREE/ASTRONOMY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM/GRADUATE ASTRONOMY AT DU
The ASTRONOMY MINOR degree option:
You can achieve a MINOR degree in PHYSICS or ASTRONOMY in several ways:
Any student who has completed GENERAL or UNIVERSITY PHYSICS with LABS should
have earned 15 PHYS credits. Only 5 more credits are needed for the PHYSICS
minor degree,
and these can be obtained with ANY Physics or Astronomy 2000 or higher classes,
including Astro Theory (Phys 2050), Astro Methods (Phys 2060), Advanced
Topics (Phys 3709) and/or MtEvans/Indep Research (Phys2991, Phys
3995) among others.
Requires 20 quarter hours of astronomy
coursework from the following list of options, but not including intro
Physics credits but, yes, including:
Current course offerings (in rotation; *=required):
*Phys205x: ASTROPHYSICAL THEORY (3 course sequence * 4 cr.ea.)
*2051: Bio-Astronomy of Solar Systems [Sept.]
*2052: Stellar Physics [alt.Jan.]
*2053: Galaxies & Cosmology [alt.Mar.]
*Phys206x: ASTRONOMICAL METHODS (2-3 course sequence * 3 cr.ea.)
*2061: Telescopes & Instruments [alt.Jan.]
*2062: Astronomy with Digital Cameras [alt.Mar.]
2063 [opt]: Observing Intensives [Mt.Evans, June or Aug]
Phys3709: Adv. Special Topics in Astrophysics (3 credits)
TBD/on demand
Phys3995: INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, such as *SENIOR THESIS report, and/or
summer research work at Mt.Evans obs. or S.A.L.
(2 or more cr./qtr).
*TOTAL 20 or more credits --> Astro Minor degree
For more info: email rstencel@du.edu and/or ldanly@du.edu and see the
Dept homepage, www.du.edu/physastron links to Undergraduate requirements.
The Theory and Methods classes are offered in rotation, normally for
students who have completed their basic Physics and Math classes. You can
enroll in any quarter, and not have to take all 2 or 3 quarters of it either.
ASTRONOMY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:
There is a need for more
instructors at the high school and community college level, and
occasionaly for observing assistants locally. In addition, there are
frequent requests: "how can I learn more about the subject I love?"
Adult learners with
serious interest in astronomy are invited to inquire about our plans for
a new certificate program in astronomy. Note: other teaching
credentials may be required for teaching at high school or
comm.college. The successful student will earn 20 college credits, a
certificate and letters of recommendation from the first astronomy program
in Colorado. The program
is based on the six 10-week quarters of upper division astronomy classes
listed above [Theory, Methods, project]. Summer tuition charges can be
based on the non-degree program scales. For information, contact
Professor Stencel at rstencel@du.edu, 303-871-2135.
The certificate is awarded to students completing 20 or more credits from
the classes listed, including Astro Theory and Astro Methods as
required.
Summer observing at Mt.Evans is available via the Astronomical
Methods and/or Independent Research courses, with instructor approval.
Please see the Registrar's website for current schedule.
Want info about our new Mt.Evans Observatory
Examples of current
student research can be seen here.
What's involved in a career in Astronomy? Consult the Amer. Astron. Society Career Info Resources"
For other information concerning upper division and graduate coursework in
Physics & Astronomy, see our
Departmental web pages, or
contact Prof. Stencel by email!
Current/recent grad student astronomy projects [2006/7]:
Ian
McNabb, MSci candidate, infrared studies of evolved stars
Alexa
Amos, MSci candidate, interferometry of binary stars
Some recent thesis results:
PhD 2005: Colby
Jurgenson, "Astrophysical Spectropolarimetry"
Additional
papers: SIFTIR
instrument and
PDF
of NGC7027 polarimetry paper
2006 at New Mexico Tech, MROI
PhD 1997: Michelle
Creech-Eakman, "Silicate Feature Variation in LPV Stars"
Postdoc
at CalTech and JPL prior to joining faculty, Dept.Physics, New Mexico
Tech & the Magdalena
Ridge Observatory Interferometer
Master's Degrees [copies available on request]:
*2002 Therese [Ostrowski] Fukuda "VLBA SiO maser studies of S Persei"
see: http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v34n2/aas200/576.htm
& http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v33n4/aas199/417.htm
& http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v33n4/aas199/386.htm
*2001 Michael Edwards "Stellar Infrared Excesses, Abundances and
Planet-making in Nearby Stars" [USAF]
see: http://origins.colorado.edu/cs12/proceedings/poster/edwardsxx.pdf
*1996 Mary Dahm "Mid-Infrared Imaging of Star Forming
Regions" (Hughes)
cf. "A New IR Camera for the 10 and 20 micron Region", by Klebe, Dahm &
Stencel, in Polarimetry of the interstellar medium. ASP Conf Ser; Vol. 97;
June 1995; p.79
*1995 Jessica Reynolds "Infrared Spectra of the Comet
Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collision with Jupiter obtained at Mt.Evans
Observatory" (CCHS)
Current undergrad student astronomy projects:
Rachel
Matson, class of '06, Sr. Thesis on Open Star Clusters"
Anuradha
Bhatia, class of '06, Sr. Thesis on Solar Photovoltaics
Matt
Dahl, class of '08, Indep. Research - Transits in Open Clusters [AAS
paper]
Ryan
McDuffee, class of '09, Indep. Res. String Theory
Additional famous graduates (and their recent whereabouts):
*Winners of the William Herschel Womble Award for Outstanding
astronomy Senior thesis or project:
*Jeff Stout, '05, "Spectro-Polarimetric
Imaging in the Infrared" & RHODES SCHOLAR WINNER 2005
*2003: Engineering project by Y.Maes, S.Onen, S.Sutton & C.Williams
*Justin Carricuburu, '01, "The Orbits of Killer Asteroids"
*Therese Ostrowski, '00, "CCD Photometry of Hipparcos Variable Stars"
Reyco Henning, '98 (MIT)
Brian Lepore, '98 (Purdue)
Nathan Roskop, '97 Microwave link for Mt.Evans Observatory [BAE]
Emily Howard, '97 [Florida FIU]
Matti Jalakas, '97 (Estonia)
And some websites with FAQs about a career in astronomy:
American
Astronomical Society's brochure about careers in astronomy
FAQs about a career in astronomy
yet another FAQ list
Especially for
girls
& of course you can websearch on the terms _ astronomy _ career _