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Twin Cities Courses
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Future effective dates indicate the first term the
course may be available.
Find out when a particular course is offered using the
Class Schedule.
Register
for classes online.
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ASTRONOMY (AST)
College of Science and Engineering
Astrophysics, Minnesota Institute for
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AST
1001
- Exploring the Universe
(PHYS, ENV)
(4.0 cr; =[AST 1005, AST 1011H]; fall, spring, summer, every year)
The human place in the Universe. Study of Earth, other planets, sun, stars, galaxies. Background and fragility of life on Earth. Scale, origin, history of universe and our relationship to it.
AST
1005
- Descriptive Astronomy
(3.0 cr; =[AST 1011H, AST 1001]; Prereq-non-science major; fall, spring, summer, every year)
Twentieth century astrophysics, current frontiers of astrophysical research.
AST
1011H
- Exploring the Universe, Honors
(PHYS, ENV)
(4.0 cr; =[AST 1005, AST 1001]; Prereq-High school trigonometry, [high school physics or chemistry]; A-F only, fall, spring, every year)
Human place in universe. Earth, other planets, sun, stars, galaxies. Background/fragility of life on Earth. Scale, origin, history of universe, our relationship to it. Honors version of 1001.
AST
1901
- Freshman Seminar
(1.0 - 3.0 cr [max 3.0 cr]; Prereq-freshman; fall, every year)
Topics vary. See Class Schedule.
AST
1905
- Freshman Seminar
(2.0 cr; Prereq-freshman; OPT No Aud, fall, spring, every year)
Topics vary. See Class Schedule.
AST
1910W
- Freshman Seminar, Writing Intensive
(WI)
(1.0 - 3.0 cr [max 3.0 cr]; Prereq-freshman; fall, every year)
Topics vary. See Class Schedule.
AST
2001
- Introduction to Astrophysics
(4.0 cr; Prereq-[One yr calculus, PHYS 1302] or #; fall, spring, every year)
Physical principles and study of solar system, stars, galaxy, and universe. How observations/conclusions are made.
AST
2990
- Directed Studies
(1.0 - 5.0 cr [max 5.0 cr]; Prereq-1 yr calculus, Phys 1302, #; fall, spring, every year)
Independent, directed study in observational and theoretical astrophysics. Arranged with faculty member.
AST
4001
- Astrophysics I
(4.0 cr; Prereq-2001, Phys 2601; A-F or Aud)
Astrophysics of stars and stellar populations. Stellar formation, evolution, interiors/atmospheres. Stellar populations, galactic distribution of stars.
AST
4002
- Astrophysics II
(4.0 cr; Prereq-2001, Phys 2601; A-F or Aud)
Astrophysics of galaxies and the universe. Diffuse matter, galactic structure, and evolution. Clusters of galaxies. Introductory cosmology, evolution of the universe.
AST
4101
- Computational Methods in the Physical Sciences
(4.0 cr; Prereq-Upper div or grad student or #; fall, spring, offered periodically)
Introduction to using computer programs to solve problems in physical sciences. Selected numerical methods, mapping problems onto computational algorithms. Arranged lab.
AST
4299H
- Senior Honors Astrophysics Research Seminar
(1.0 cr; Prereq-upper div honors student in IT or CLA, inst consent; fall, spring, every year)
Based on department's research seminar.
AST
4990
- Directed Studies
(1.0 - 5.0 cr [max 5.0 cr]; Prereq-2001, #; fall, spring, every year)
Independent, directed study in observational and theoretical astrophysics. Arranged with faculty member.
AST
4994W
- Directed Research
(WI)
(3.0 - 5.0 cr [max 5.0 cr]; Prereq-#; fall, spring, every year)
Independent research in observational or theoretical astrophysics. Senior Thesis for undergraduate astrophysics majors. Arranged with faculty member.
AST
5001
- Galactic Astronomy
(3.0 cr; Prereq-2001 or grad student; A-F only, fall, odd years)
Structure of the Milky Way galaxy. Stellar populations including, open and globular clusters and the solar neighborhood, and the formation/evolution of its structure. Stellar distances/motions.
AST
5012
- The Interstellar Medium
(4.0 cr; Prereq-2001, Phys 2601 or #)
Survey of physical processes in the interstellar medium. Dynamic processes, excitation processes, emission and absorption by gas and dust. Hot bubbles, HII regions, molecular clouds.
AST
5022
- Relativity, Cosmology, and the Universe
(4.0 cr; =[PHYS 5022]; Prereq-[2001, Phys 2601] or #; fall, spring, offered periodically)
Large-scale structure/history of universe. Introduction to Newtonian/relativistic world models. Physics of early universe, cosmological tests, formation of galaxies.
AST
5201
- Methods of Experimental Astrophysics
(4.0 cr; Prereq-Upper div CSE or grad or #; spring, odd years)
Contemporary astronomical techniques and instrumentation. Emphasizes data reduction and analysis, including image processing. Students make astronomical observations at O'Brien Observatory and use department's computing facilities for data analysis. Image processing packages include IRAF, AIPS, IDL, MIRA.
AST
8001
- Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Introduction to classical/quantum physics of electromagnetic radiation as it applies to astro-physics. Emphasizes radiative processes (e.g., emission, absorption, scattering) in astrophysical contexts (e.g., ordinary stars, ISM, neutron stars, active galaxies).
AST
8011
- High Energy Astrophysics
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Energetic phenomena in the universe. Radiative processes in high energy regimes; supernovae, pulsars, and X-ray binaries; radio galaxies, quasars, and active galactic nuclei.
AST
8021
- Stellar Astrophysics
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Stellar structure, evolution, and star formation. Emphasizes contemporary research.
AST
8031
- Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#; fall, offered periodically)
Introduction to physics of ideal/non-ideal fluids with application to problems of astrophysical interest. Steady/unsteady flows, instabilities, turbulence. Conducting fluid flows. Magnetohydrodynamics.
AST
8041
- Comparative Planetology
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Overview of current knowledge of the solar system. Formation history of protostellar nebula, physical properties of major planetary bodies/moons. Sun and fossils of epoch of planetary system formation: comets, asteroids, minor bodies.
AST
8051
- Galactic Astronomy
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Content, structure, evolution, and dynamics of Milky Way Galaxy. Emphasizes recent observations from space-/ground-based telescopes.
AST
8061
- Radio Astronomy
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Techniques/applications of radio astronomy. Basics of signal-to-noise ratios. Sensitivities/applications of Fourier transform and power spectra. Aperture synthesis, single dish applications. Observing of continuum emission and spectral line emission/absorption, astrophysical examples.
AST
8071
- Infrared Astronomy
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Techniques/applications of infrared astronomy. Basics of signal-to-noise ratios/sensitivities, challenges of developing infrared instrumentation. Observations of continuum emission (blackbody, free-free, synchrotron). Spectral line emission/absorption, infrared polarization. Astrophysical examples.
AST
8081
- Cosmology
(4.0 cr; Prereq-#)
Role of gravity in cosmology. Background, recent research advances.
AST
8110
- Topics in Astrophysics
(2.0 - 4.0 cr [max 4.0 cr]; Prereq-#; fall, spring, offered periodically)
Current topics in Astrophysics.
AST
8120
- Topics in Astrophysics
(2.0 - 4.0 cr [max 4.0 cr]; Prereq-#)
AST
8200
- Astrophysics Seminar
(1.0 - 3.0 cr [max 3.0 cr]; Prereq-#; fall, spring, every year)
TBD
AST
8333
- FTE: Master's
(1.0 cr; Prereq-Master's student, adviser and DGS consent; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
AST
8444
- FTE: Doctoral
(1.0 cr; Prereq-Doctoral student, adviser and DGS consent; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
AST
8666
- Doctoral Pre-Thesis Credits
(1.0 - 6.0 cr [max 12.0 cr]; Prereq-Doctoral student who has not passed prelim oral; no required consent for 1st/2nd registrations, up to 12 combined cr; % for 3rd/4th registrations, up to 24 combined cr; doctoral student admitted before summer 2007 may register up to four times, up to 60 combined cr; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
TBD
AST
8777
- Thesis Credits: Master's
(1.0 - 18.0 cr [max 50.0 cr]; Prereq-Max 18 cr per semester or summer; 10 cr total required [Plan A only]; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
AST
8888
- Thesis Credit: Doctoral
(1.0 - 24.0 cr [max 100.0 cr]; Prereq-Max 18 cr per semester or summer; 24 cr required; No Grade, fall, spring, summer, every year)
(No description)
AST
8990
- Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics
(1.0 - 4.0 cr [max 4.0 cr]; Prereq-#; fall, spring, every year)
Research under supervision of a graduate faculty member.
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