Bachelor of Science in
Astronomy and Astrophysics
With a solid base in math and physics, this program uses hands-on and classroom courses to prepare students for a broad range of scientific careers or graduate degrees.
Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects such as planets, stars, galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. In practice, Astronomy is mostly about using remote observations of celestial objects to understand how those objects work.
At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, students in the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics program are prepared to enter a broad variety of industrial and basic science applications, as well as graduate programs in related fields. Students will use a combination of physics and astronomy classroom courses, along with hands-on laboratory courses, to understand and explore the Universe.
Embry-Riddle offers students significant advantages, including faculty connections to major resources, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, the Kepler Mission, Transiting Earth Survey Satellite, the James Webb Space Telescope, and other facilities sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation.
ERAU graduated more students in Astronomy and Astrophysics than 85% of other undergraduate astronomy programs in the U.S., according to the American Institute of Physics.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 7 percent increase in physics and astronomy jobs between 2019 and 2029. The current median annual wage for Ph.D. astronomers is $119,730. The American Astronomical Society provides additional resources and information. Learn more about careers enabled by an astronomy degree.
DETAILS
About Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus
The B.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics at the Daytona Beach Campus has a strong fundamental basis in mathematics and physics. Housed in the Department of Physical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, the program is a member of the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) and has been appointed the consortium’s lead administrative institution by its Board of Directors.
The Department’s observatory facilities include an instrumented 1-meter telescope (the largest university research telescope in the southeastern U.S.). This and other high-caliber technologies are used in the laboratory components of the program. Two new spectrographs, fed by light from the 1-meter telescope, enable students to determine the temperatures, compositions, rotation rates, and speeds of stars, planets, nebulae and extragalactic objects.
As the lead member of the SARA, a group of 12 U.S. universities with similar goals for education and research in astronomy and astrophysics, students have remote access to telescopes around the globe. Through this partnership, ERAU faculty and students will have almost continuous access to nearly 90 percent of the sky.
Astronomy & Astrophysics students have access to dynamic labs on campus, including the Laboratory for Exosphere and Near Space Environment Studies (LENSES). LENSES houses computer workstations, two- and three-etalon Fabry-Perot interferometers, and optical calibrations sources with which to conduct optical observations of earth's exosphere, the moon, and stars.
Students are eligible to participate in study abroad programs.
General Education Requirements
For a full description of Embry-Riddle General Education guidelines, please see the General Education section of this catalog. These minimum requirements are applicable to all degree programs.
| Communication Theory & Skills | 9 | |
| Humanities - Lower level | 3 | |
| Social Sciences - Lower level | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences - Lower or Upper level | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences - Upper level | 3 | |
| Computer Science (EGR 115) | 3 | |
| Mathematics (MA 241, MA 242) | 8 | |
| Physical and Life Sciences - one course must include a lab (PS 226, PS 227) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Core Requirements
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | ||
| AA 101 | Current Topics in Astrophysics | 1 |
| AA 316 | Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics I | 3 |
| AA 317 | Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics II | 3 |
| AA 318 | Introductory Astrophysics Laboratory | 1 |
| AA 345 | Astrophysics and Space Science Seminar | 2 |
| AA 401 | Stellar Astrophysics | 3 |
| AA 425 | Observational Astronomy | 3 |
| AA 492 | Senior Astrophysics Project (or Technical Elective) | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| AA 402 | Interstellar Medium and Galaxies | 3 |
| AA 403 | Cosmology and the Structure of the Universe | 3 |
| AA 420 | Planetary Interiors, Surfaces, and Atmospheres | 3 |
| AA 422 | Solar System Dynamics | 3 |
| AA 430 | Astronomical Optics and Instrumentation Laboratory | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| MA 441 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics I | 3 |
| MA 442 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics II | 3 |
| Physical Science | ||
| CHM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| PS 226L | Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 228 | Physics III | 3 |
| PS 228L | Physics III Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 303 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PS 305 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 320 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PS 405 | Atomic Nuclear Physics | 3 |
| Engineering | ||
| EP 320 | Electro-Optical Engineering | 3 |
| EP 400 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| EP 440 | Engineering Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| EP 455 | Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| Technical Elective (300-400 Level) 1 | 6 | |
| Open Electives | 6 | |
| Total Degree Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Technical Electives: AA/AE/CEC/CIV/CS/EE/EGR/EL/EP/ES/MA/PS/SE 300-400 level (approved by Program Coordinator)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| AA 101 | Current Topics in Astrophysics | 1 |
| MA 241 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry I | 4 |
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| Lower-level social science (SS/EC/GCS/PSY) 1 | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| MA 242 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry II | 4 |
| PS 226 | Physics I | 3 |
| PS 226L | Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| Lower-level humanities (HU) 1 | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 14.0 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| PS 227 | Physics II | 3 |
| EGR 115 | Introduction to Computing for Engineers | 3 |
or CS 223
|
Scientific Programming in C | |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing 1 | 3 |
| AA 316 | Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics I | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 16.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| PS 228 | Physics III | 3 |
| PS 228L | Physics III Laboratory | 1 |
| AA 317 | Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics II | 3 |
| AA 318 | Introductory Astrophysics Laboratory | 1 |
| Lower-level humanities or social science (HU/SS/EC/PSY/GCS) 1 | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| MA 441 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics I | 3 |
| PS 303 | Modern Physics | 3 |
| PS 305 | Modern Physics Laboratory | 1 |
| AA 401 | Stellar Astrophysics | 3 |
| Upper-level humanities or social science (HU/EC/GCS/HSI/PSY) * | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 16.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| MA 442 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics II | 3 |
| PS 320 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| EP 400 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| AA 345 | Astrophysics and Space Science Seminar | 2 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 14.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| EP 440 | Engineering Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| EP 455 | Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| EP 320 | Electro-Optical Engineering | 3 |
| Upper-level Astrophysics Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| PS 405 | Atomic Nuclear Physics | 3 |
| AA 492 | Senior Astrophysics Project 3 | 3 |
| AA 425 | Observational Astronomy | 3 |
| Upper-level Astrophysics Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 120.0 | |
- 1
See this list of all approved General Education courses.
- 2
Technical Electives: AA/AE/CEC/CIV/CS/DS/EE/EGR/EL/EP/ES/MA/PS/SE 300-400 levels (approved by Program Coordinator)
- 3
Students not eligible for AA 492 will take an additional Technical Elective. Eligible students have finished EP 440 and MA 442 and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater OR a grade of B or better in all required 300-level EP/PS courses.
- 4
Choose from: AA 402, AA 403, AA 420, AA 422, AA 430
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Summary
120 Credits
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