Minor in Astronomy
Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Astronomy
Upon completing the minor in Astronomy, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of basic astronomical or solar system topics.
- Acquire and demonstrate knowledge in several advanced topics of their choosing.
Requirements for the Minor in Astronomy
Students pursuing the minor in Astronomy must complete:
- A minimum of 27 credit hours to satisfy minor requirements.
- A maximum of 1 course (3 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this minor. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the minor’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the Program Director. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the minor's Official Certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor in Astronomy | Minimum of 27 | |
Minor Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Prerequisites 1 | ||
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I 2 | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II 2 | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| Select 1 from the following: 3 | 4 | |
| MECHANICS (WITH LAB) and MECHANICS DISCUSSION | ||
| HONORS MECHANICS (WITH LAB) | ||
| Select 1 from the following: 4 | 4 | |
| ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB) and ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM DISCUSSION | ||
| HONORS ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM (WITH LAB) | ||
| Additional Required Prerequisites 1 | ||
| Core Requirement | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| STARS, GALAXIES, AND THE UNIVERSE | ||
| EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM | ||
| Elective Requirements 1 | ||
| Select 3 courses from the following: | 9 | |
| ASTRONOMY LAB | ||
| LIVING WITH A STAR: THE PHYSICS OF THE SUN-EARTH CONNECTION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS-STARS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ASTROPHYSICS-GALAXY AND COSMO | ||
| STATISTICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY | ||
| INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY 5 | ||
| Seminar Requirement | ||
| ASTR 400 | UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours | Minimum of 27 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | Depending on the courses selected as Elective Requirements, a variety of required prerequisites (5-13 credit hours) in MATH, PHYS, and/or COMP may be required in addition to the chosen Elective courses and the required prerequisites listed above, resulting in more than the minimum of 27 credit hours required for the minor. Students need to have their proposed plan-of-study approved by the Minor Official Certifier for the course to qualify for the minor. |
| 2 | Students without credit for basic calculus (e.g. MATH 101/MATH 105 and/or MATH 102/MATH 106) must either enroll in the relevant course(s) or substitute more advanced MATH or CMOR coursework, with prior approval by the Physics and Astronomy department's Undergraduate Program Committee, to earn the required credit. |
| 3 | The Physics department has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 141 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I is not eligible for meeting the requirements of the Astronomy minor. |
| 4 | The Physics department has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 142 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS II is not eligible for meeting the requirements of the Astronomy minor. |
| 5 | ASTR 461 Independent Research in Astronomy is a variable credit hour course and will only fulfill Elective Requirements when taken for at least 3 credit hours. |
Policies for the Minor in Astronomy
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the minor in Astronomy should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, i.) students may declare their intent to pursue a minor only after they have first declared a major, and ii.) students may not major and minor in the same subject.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the minor in Astronomy should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guideline:
- No more than 1 course (3 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the minor.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Physics and Astronomy website: https://physics.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the Minor in Astronomy
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Physics and Astronomy website: https://physics.rice.edu/.