Minor in Astronomy

Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Astronomy 

Upon completing the minor in Astronomy, students will be able to:  

  1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of basic astronomical or solar system topics.
  2. 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

Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor in Astronomy Minimum of 27

Minor Requirements

Required Prerequisites 1
MATH 101SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I 23
or MATH 105 AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I
MATH 102SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II 23
or MATH 106 AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II
Select 1 from the following: 34
MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
and MECHANICS DISCUSSION
HONORS MECHANICS (WITH LAB)
Select 1 from the following: 44
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 400UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SEMINAR1
Total Credit HoursMinimum of 27

Footnotes and Additional Information 

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/.