The astronomy and astrophysics program can be completed in four years or eight semesters. This does not include dual enrollment or any transfer credit which you may have earned in high school or at other universities.
BS Four-Year Degree Plan: Astronomy/Astrophysics Track
It is recommended that students in the astronomy and astrophysics program do not finish all of their general education courses before beginning to take courses in astronomy. Some astronomy courses require prerequisites, so it is important to meet with an advisor in the program before you schedule your first semester or as soon as you think you might be interested in this program.
Sample schedule
This is only a sample schedule, and an advisor will be able to customize the best plan for you.
Check out the course rotation before scheduling your classes.
The following degree plan is based on the 2018-19 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.
First semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| MTH 261 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| GEP 101 First-Year Foundations | 2 |
| COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| PHY 110 Big Ideas in Physics | 2 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Second semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 152 Introductory Circuits-Survey of Electronics | 3 |
| PHY 203 Foundations of Physics I | 5 |
| MTH 280 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 5 |
| ENG 110 Writing I | 3 |
| Total hours | 16 |
Third semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 204 Foundations of Physics II | 5 |
| AST 115 Basic Astronomy | 4 |
| MTH 302 Multivariate Calculus | 3 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fourth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 291 Introduction to Computational Physics | 3 |
| MTH 303 Differential Equations | 3 |
| ENG 321 Writing II: Beginning Technical Writing | 3 |
| PHY 324 Instrumental/Computer Interfacing | 4 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 16 |
Fifth semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| AST 311 Astronomical Techniques | 3 |
| PHY 333 Intermediate Mechanics | 3 |
| PHY 375 Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHY 353 Electricity and Magnetism | 3 |
| PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Sixth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PHY 385 Experiments in Modern Physics | 2 |
| AST 317 Our Universe, the Final Frontier | 3 |
| PHY 391 Mathematics for Science and Engineering I | 3 |
|
HST 121 Survey of the History of the United States to 1877 or HST 122 Survey of the History of the United States since 1877 | 3 |
| General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Degree plan last reviewed 09-10-2018.