Program Overview

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Astrophysics, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in astrophysics develops creative scholarship in students and prepares them for professional careers in astrophysics, astronomy, or related fields.

Program Description

Students in this program take graduate-level courses in stars and interstellar media, galaxies and cosmology; obtain quantitative skills through analysis and modeling; may have observing opportunities through regional and international telescope observatories; and conduct independent, fundamental astrophysical research. Graduate students work closely with a research advisor on a wide variety of topics, including theoretical physics, cosmology, galaxy dynamics, stellar evolution, exoplanets, and the development and building of instrumentation.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• A written comprehensive exam
• An oral comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation

Required Core

• SES 502 Exploring SESE Research (1 credit hour)

Electives or Research

• 53 credit hours
• Other Requirements:
  • Astrophysics Sequence (9 credit hours)
    • AST 521 Stars and Interstellar Medium I (3)
    • AST 522 Stars and Interstellar Medium II (3)
    • AST 591 Seminar: Astrophysics (2)
    • SES 501 SESE Colloquium (1)
  • Galaxies and Cosmology Sequence (3 credit hours)
    • AST 531 Galaxies and Cosmology I (3)
    • AST 532 Galaxies and Cosmology II (3)
    • AST 533 Galaxies and Cosmology III (3)
  • Exoplanets and Planetary Science Sequence (3 credit hours)
    • AST 598 Topic: Exploring Exoplanets (3)
    • AST 598 Topic: Origins of Solar Systems (3)
    • SES 598 Topic: Water in the Solar System (3)
  • Instrumentation and Techniques Sequence (3 credit hours)
    • AST 552 Astronomical Instrumentation and Data Analysis (3)
    • SES 598 Topic: An Introduction to Astro-statistics (3)
    • SES 598 Topic: Introductory Radio Astronomy (3)
    • SES 598 Topic: Spectroscopy for Astrophysics (3)

Culminating Experience

• SES 799 Dissertation (12 credit hours)

Additional Curriculum Information

Students select one course from each other requirement category. Substitutions may be made per department approval. When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree in a related field to be used for this degree.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Statement of purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

Tuition information can be found on the university's website.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: December 1 (Priority)
• Spring: October 1 (Priority)

Program Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate literature and current research in the field of astrophysics as it relates to their own original research
• Conduct independent, original scientific research, drawing scientific conclusions that advance knowledge in astrophysics
• Effectively communicate complex astrophysics concepts, research findings, and their implications to diverse audiences, including scientific peers, industry professionals, and the public

Career Opportunities

Professionals with expertise in astrophysics are in high demand across all sectors and industries, including remote sensing, data science, instrument building, computational science, defense industries, and scientific research. Career examples include:

• Astrophysics professor
• Data scientist
• Instrument builder
• Project manager
• Research astronomer
• Telescope operator

Research Areas

The program's world-class faculty have research expertise across the full breadth of astrophysics, including the solar system, stars and galaxies from the Milky Way to the most distant galaxies in the universe. Current ASU research applies both computational and observational approaches to the exploration of a variety of topics, such as fundamental cosmology and whether there is life on exoplanets. Students work with world-class faculty, including theorists, observers, and instrumentalists, to discover new planets, trace the evolution of stars and galaxies, explore the origin and development of the universe, build spaceflight hardware, and design instruments for telescopes and satellites.