Modified+Proposals

Two options from the meeting on 10/7


 * Option I: Menu**

Four required "physics" courses:

Dynamics Quantum Mechanics Radiation I (taught every year) Radiation II

In addition, students must take: Stars^1 EITHER Galaxies OR Cosmology

In addition, students must take two courses chosen from amongst: Cosmology Exoplanets Galaxies High-Energy Astrophysics The Interstellar Medium^2

Optional electives include all of the above plus: Instrumentation and Observational Techniques Numerical and Statistical Methods Order of Magnitude Astrophysics Special Topics Seminars

Total required courses: 8 + 2nd year project (Should we increase the requirement to 11 to match the current system?)

Total teaching load: 7 quarters/year + special topics seminars (assuming OOMA is once/two years)

^1In the meeting, we discussed having this be "Stars OR Planets," but on further reflection I think everyone needs a stars course! ^2Note that the old proposal put fluid mechanics here, so it now becomes possible for students to miss that area. We may need to move it back to the physics component.

//**Option II: Compressed Core**//

Four required "physics" courses:

Dynamics Quantum Mechanics Radiation I (taught every year) Radiation II

Four quarters of required astrophysics:*

Stars Interstellar Medium Exoplanets (five weeks) Galaxies & Cosmology (fifteen weeks) Note: We need to cover the basics of high-energy astrophysics in here as well; presumably compact objects with Stars and AGN with Galaxies.

Two optional advanced courses, each five weeks and taught immediately after their required counterparts (so that an instructor is essentially teaching a ten-week course, but some students drop out in the middle; these would have to be fairly carefully defined to cover the important material): Advanced Exoplanets Advanced Galaxies & Cosmology

Optional electives: High-Energy Astrophysics Instrumentation and Observational Techniques Numerical and Statistical Methods Order of Magnitude Astrophysics Special Topics Seminars

Total required quarters: 9 + 2nd year project (Should we increase the requirement to 11 to match the current system?)

Total teaching load: 7 quarters/year + special topics seminars (assuming OOMA is once/two years)