Program Overview
AstronomyPhysics, BS
Astronomy, the oldest of the sciences, originated in the human urge to understand the mysterious lights we see in the sky above us: the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the stars. Over the centuries, new tools have become available to study these cosmic icons, such as telescopes that allow us to see farther, detectors that are sensitive to electromagnetic signals at nonvisible wavelengths, and satellites that can observe from outside the confines of the Earths atmosphere. These tools have answered many questions, and raised even more. How did the Universe begin, and how did the stars and galaxies within it form? How will it end? Are there habitable planets around other starsand has life emerged on these planets?
Choose the AstronomyPhysics major because:
- Its fascinating: Astronomy speaks directly to our natural desire to better understand our place in the cosmos.
- Its challenging: Astronomy studies objects that are distant beyond simple conception.
- Its adaptable: Astronomy develops a broad set of transferable skills, from a foundation in logical and quantitative reasoning through to data analysis, programming, and visualization.
The AstronomyPhysics program builds on a foundation of classical and modern physics, allowing for a comprehensive study of the observable Universe at scales extending from planets and stars, through to galaxies and the cosmic web.
Related Programs
- L&S Physics major in the Guide
- Medical Physics: A suggested curriculum for students interested in graduate study in Medical Physics is available on the Department of Medical Physics webpage.
How to Get in
Requirements
- No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare.
- Courses required to get in: None
- GPA requirements to get in: None
- Credits required to get in: None
- Other: None
Students declared in the Physics certificate may not be declared in the Astronomy-Physics major at the same time. Students who do wish to declare this major must first cancel their declaration in the Physics certificate.
Astronomy-Physics Majors should get started on one of the Introductory Physics sequences as early as possible. Context that informs a student's selection of an appropriate Introductory Physics sequence is available on the major's Advising and Careers page. Students can also consult with the major's advisor before enrolling in one of these sequences.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below.
- BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
- BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
- BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
- Communication Part A & Part B
- Ethnic Studies
- Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
- Mathematics: Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects. A maximum of one course in each of COMP SCI and STAT subjects counts toward this requirement.
- Language: Complete the third unit of a language other than English.
- L&S Breadth: Complete:
- 12 credits of Humanities, which must include at least 6 credits of Literature; and
- 12 credits of Social Science; and
- 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include 6 credits of Biological Science and 6 credits of Physical Science.
- Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits.
- Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework: Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level.
- Major: Declare and complete at least one major.
- Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits.
- UW-Madison Experience: Complete both:
- 30 credits in residence, overall, and
- 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
- Quality of Work:
- 2.000 in all coursework at UWMadison
- 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison
NonL&S students pursuing an L&S major
NonL&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
The major requires a minimum of 39 credits in the field of specialization, with at least 12 of these credits in ASTRON and at least 25 credits in PHYSICS.
Course requirements for the major are:
- Introductory Course 1:
- ASTRON 200: The Physical Universe (3 credits)
- Complete at least three of the following:
- ASTRON 310: Stellar Astrophysics
- ASTRON 320: The Interstellar Medium
- ASTRON 330: Galaxies
- ASTRON 335: Cosmology
- ASTRON 340: Solar System Astrophysics
- ASTRON 500: Techniques of Modern Observational Astrophysics
- ASTRON 540: Exoplanets
- ASTRON 620: Seminar in Astrophysical Topics
- Physics:
- First Introductory Course (complete one):
- PHYSICS 247: A Modern Introduction to Physics (recommended) (5 credits)
- PHYSICS 201: General Physics
- PHYSICS 207: General Physics
- E M A 201 & E M A 202: Statics and Dynamics
- Second Introductory Course (complete one):
- PHYSICS 248: A Modern Introduction to Physics (recommended) (5 credits)
- PHYSICS 202: General Physics
- PHYSICS 208: General Physics
- Third Introductory Course (complete one):
- PHYSICS 249: A Modern Introduction to Physics (recommended) (3-4 credits)
- PHYSICS 205: Modern Physics for Engineers
- PHYSICS/E C E 235: Introduction to Solid State Electronics
- PHYSICS 241: Introduction to Modern Physics
- First Introductory Course (complete one):
- Mechanics, Electromagnetic Fields, & Thermal Physics (complete all):
- PHYSICS 311: Mechanics (3 credits)
- PHYSICS 322: Electromagnetic Fields (3 credits)
- PHYSICS 415: Thermal Physics (3 credits)
- Atomic & Quantum Physics (complete either):
- PHYSICS 448: Atomic and Quantum Physics (3 credits)
- or PHYSICS 531: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- Complete one laboratory course:
- ASTRON 465: Observational Astronomy and Data Analysis (2-3 credits)
- PHYSICS 307: Intermediate Laboratory-Mechanics and Modern Physics (2-3 credits)
- Total Credits: 39
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all ASTRON, all PHYSICS, and all major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits in residence
- 15 credits in ASTRON and PHYSICS, taken on campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the AstronomyPhysics undergraduate advisor(s). Please plan your Senior Honors Thesis research project a year in advance.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.500 GPA for all ASTRON and PHYSICS courses, and all courses accepted in the major, at the 300 level or higher.
- Complete the following coursework:
- Four 300-level or higher ASTRON courses, with a 3.500 GPA (not including ASTRON 681 and ASTRON 682)
- A two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in ASTRON 681 and ASTRON 682, with a grade of AB or better (for a total of 6 credits).
Learning Outcomes
- Learn how astronomical observations are made and data are analyzed.
- Become familiar with theories and observations of planets, stars, interstellar gas, galaxies, and structure of the Universe (cosmology).
- Learn how to read and critically evaluate scientific literature.
- Learn the basics of oral and written scientific communication.
- Be trained in principles and standards of professional and ethical conduct.
- Develop the skills to carry out a small independent research project. Learn to define the scope of the project, conduct an effective literature search, perform computations, and analyze data.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests.
First Year
- Fall:
- MATH 221 (QR-B) (5 credits)
- COMP SCI 220 (4 credits)
- Communication A (2 credits)
- Foreign Language (if needed) (4 credits)
- Spring:
- MATH 222 (4 credits)
- Biological Science Breadth (3 credits)
- Humanities Breadth (3 credits)
- Foreign Language (if needed) (4 credits)
Second Year
- Fall:
- PHYSICS 247 (5 credits)
- MATH 234 (4 credits)
- ASTRON 200 (3 credits)
- Foreign Language (if needed) (4 credits)
- Spring:
- PHYSICS 248 (5 credits)
- PHYSICS 301 (1 credit)
- MATH 319 (3 credits)
- MATH 340 (3 credits)
Third Year
- Fall:
- ASTRON 300+ Course (3 credits)
- PHYSICS 249 (4 credits)
- PHYSICS 311 (3 credits)
- Biological Science Breadth (3 credits)
- Spring:
- ASTRON 300+ Course (3 credits)
- PHYSICS 322 (3 credits)
- MATH 321 (3 credits)
- Literature Breadth (3 credits)
Fourth Year
- Fall:
- ASTRON 465 (3 credits)
- PHYSICS 448 (3 credits)
- PHYSICS 415 (3 credits)
- Social Science Breadth (3 credits)
- Spring:
- ASTRON 300+ Course (3 credits)
- MATH 322 (3 credits)
- Social Science Breadth (3 credits)
- Humanities Breadth (3 credits)
Total Credits: 121
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel The Major
Follow the process described in the Department of Astronomy website.
We encourage students to meet major advisors as early as possible. The undergraduate advisor can assist students with curriculum and course scheduling, career planning, academic concerns, and overall performance and strategies.
Astronomy-Physics Majors should begin an Introductory Physics sequence as early as possible. See the majors Requirements section for the options. The sequence of PHYSICS 247 + PHYSICS 248 + PHYSICS 249 is recommended.
Advising for Admitted Students
Assistance choosing courses is available for students enrolling during Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).
Undergraduate Research
If you are declared in the Astronomy-Physics major and are interested in pursuing a research position with a faculty member or scientist, please schedule an appointment with the undergraduate advisor.
Career Exploration
A good starting point for exploring careers is PHYSICS 301 Physics Today. This course, offered in Spring semesters, includes a weekly talk where a research topic is discussed by one of the Physics or Astronomy faculty.
Recommended Additional Courses
Astronomy
Students are required to take ASTRON 200 The Physical Universe for the major. This course serves as a good introduction for all areas of astronomy.
Mathematics
Please consult with the Astronomy academic advisor before choosing your Mathematics courses.
Specific math courses are requisites for the majors Physics and Astronomy courses. We also recommend additional math courses to best prepare you for upper-level coursework.
A typical math sequence is: MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1, MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2, MATH 234 Calculus--Functions of Several Variables, MATH 340 Elementary Matrix and Linear Algebra, MATH 319 Techniques in Ordinary Differential Equations, MATH 321 Applied Mathematical Analysis 1: Vector and Complex Calculus, MATH 322 Applied Mathematical Analysis 2: Partial Differential Equations.
Computer and Data Science
Computers are fundamental to astronomical research. The most useful language is Python, followed by C or C++.
Chemistry
A college course in physical or organic chemistry is useful for Astronomy students. Physical chemistry is particularly valuable for those interested in the interstellar medium, comets, and planets.
Statistics
A background in statistics is valuable, particularly for students interested in observational astronomy.
What You Learn in This Major Will:
- prepare you for graduate studies for masters or doctoral degrees in experimental or theoretical astronomy, astrophysics, or physics;
- prepare you for employment in industrial or governmental laboratories;
- provide a broad background for further work in other sciences, such as materials sciences, aerospace, computer science, geophysics, meteorology, radiology, medicine, biophysics, engineering, and environmental studies;
- provide a science-oriented education, useful in some areas of business administration, public policy, law, or other fields where a basic knowledge of science is useful; and
- provide part of the preparation you need to teach astronomy or physics.
Students who intend to continue astronomy in a graduate program are strongly encouraged to get involved in research early.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Wisconsin Experience
The Astronomy Club
The Astronomy Club is a student organization for people interested in astronomy and related fields.
In addition to social events, the club organizes a research symposium, Research Experiences for Undergraduates and internship information sessions, and trips to observatories and labs. Club members can also help you start doing some of your own astronomy research.
By joining the Astronomy Club, you will meet people who are just as enthusiastic as you are about the universe! Astronomy Club is a great way to find a community of people who can help you navigate through your time at UWMadison.