Astronomy Major
www.PhysicsAndAstronomy.Pitt.edu/Undergraduate/Degree-Programs
Revised: 05/2019
The University of Pittsburgh's internationally recognized Department of Physics and Astronomy has been an important leader at the
frontier of science and, with 500 PhD alumni, has launched many distinguished careers. Now, at the onset of the 21st Century, the
department is maintaining its traditions of excellence and innovation while leading the field in breakthroughs that promise an ever-
deeper understanding of the universe. From sub-nuclear particles to the unimaginably large, from the birth of the universe to the edge
of technology – and at the intersection of quantum and classical physics – our faculty and students explore the fundamental laws of
nature. Students may expect to pursue research that influences many fields, including biology, mathematics, medicine, chemistry,
engineering, and computer science.
Required courses for the Astronomy major Science electives; choose at least six credits *
The BA in astronomy requires the completion of 39 credits in ____ BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1
physics and astronomy and six credits in communication and ____ BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 2
history and philosophy of science, distributed as follows. ____ BIOE 1070 Introduction to Cell Biology 1
____ BIOE 1071 Introduction to Cell Biology 2
Introductory Physics courses ____ CHEM 0110 General Chemistry 1 or CHEM 0710 Honors
General Chemistry 1
____ CHEM 0120 General Chemistry 2 or CHEM 0720 Honors
Select one group General Chemistry 2
____ PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering 1 ____ CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry 1 or CHEM 0730 Honors
____ PHYS 0175 Basic Physics, Science and Engineering 2 Organic Chemistry 1
____ CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 2 or CHEM 0740 Honors
____ PHYS 0475 Intro to Physics, Science and Engineering 1 Organic Chemistry 2
____ PHYS 0476 Intro to Physics, Science and Engineering 2 ____ CHEM 1410 Physical Chemistry 1
____ CHEM 1420 Physical Chemistry 2
Introductory Astronomy course ____ CS 0401 Intermediate Programming using Java
____ ASTRON 0113 Introduction to Astronomy ____ CS 0445 Data Structures
____ GEOL 0040 Physical Geology
Intermediate and advanced Physics courses ____ GEOL 1410 Exploration Geophysics
____ PHYS 0477 Introduction to Thermodynamics, Relativity, and ____ GEOL 1701 Geology of the Planets **
Quantum Theory ____ MATH 0280 or MATH 1180 or MATH 1185 Linear Algebra
____ PHYS 0481 Applications of Modern Physics ____ MATH 1470 Partial Differential Equations
____ PHYS 1310 Undergraduate Seminar ____ MATH 1550 Vector Analysis and Applications
____ PHYS 1331 Mechanics ____ MATH 1560 Complex Variables and Applications
____ PHYS 1321 Computational Methods in Physics
Laboratory courses ____ PHYS 1341 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
____ PHYS 0219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering ____ PHYS 1351 Intermediate Electricity/Magnetism
(2 cr.) or PHYS 0520 Modern Physical Measurements (3 cr.) ____ PHYS 1370 Quantum Mechanics 1
____ ASTRON 1263 Techniques of Astronomy (3 cr.) ____ PHYS 1378 Introduction to Nuclear/Particle Physics
____ STAT 1151 Introduction to Probability
Intermediate and advanced Astronomy courses; ____ STAT 1152 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics
choose at least six credits
* Some of these courses have prerequisites
____ ASTRON 1120 Stars: Stellar Structure and Evolution
** If this course is taken as a science elective, it cannot be used to
____ ASTRON 1121 Galaxies and Cosmology
satisfy the requirement for nine credits of intermediate and
____ ASTRON 1122 The Solar System and Exoplanets *
advanced courses.
* GEOL 1701 Geology of the Planets may be substituted
Course in the history and philosophy of science or
Prerequisite Mathematics courses science policy/management; choose at least three
____ MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 credits
____ MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 ____ BUSERV 1915 Introduction to Management
____ MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 ____ PHYS 0086 Physics and Public Policy
____ MATH 0290 or MATH 1270 Differential Equations ____ PHYS 0087 Nuclear Science and Society
____ PUBSRV 1315 Managing Projects and Contracts
____ Any course in the Department of History and Philosophy of
Science (HPS)
Writing or communication courses; choose at least Reduced physics requirements
three credits ____ PHYS 0481 Applications of Modern Physics *
____ COMMRC 0320 Mass Communication Process
____ COMMRC 0520 Public Speaking * PHYS 0481 may be used for the Physics minor
____ COMMRC 1105 Television and Society
____ ENGCMP 0400 Written Professional Communication Reduced writing requirements
____ ENGCMP 1101 Language of Science & Technology The three-credit writing or communication requirement is waived
____ ENGCMP 1400 Grant and Proposal Writing for students pursuing this concentration.
____ ENGWRT 1330 Intermediate Nonfiction
____ ENGWRT 1340 Advanced Nonfiction Added science requirements; choose two of the three
____ ENGWRT 1394 Science Writing tracks, totaling at least 16 credits
____ LING 1000 Introduction to Linguistics
____ CHEM 0110 General Chemistry 1 or CHEM 0710 Honors
Grade requirements General Chemistry 1
A minimum GPA of 2.0 in departmental courses is required for ____ CHEM 0120 General Chemistry 2 or CHEM 0720 Honors
graduation. General Chemistry 2
Satisfactory/No Credit option ____ BIOSC 0057 Foundations of Biology Research Lab 1
____ BIOSC 0067 Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2
No PHYS or ASTRON courses beyond the introductory level may
____ BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1
be taken on an S/NC basis.
____ BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 2
Writing (W) requirement or
Students must complete at least one W-course in the major. ____ BIOSC 0057 Foundations of Biology Research Lab 1
____ BIOSC 0067 Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2
Honors major requirements ____ BIOE 1070 Introduction to Cell Biology 1
Honors in astronomy is granted if in addition to fulfilling all ____ BIOE 1071 Introduction to Cell Biology 2
requirements for the major, the student maintains a GPA of 3.2 or
higher in the major, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, completes ____ GEOL 0040 Physical Geology
ASTRON 1903 or PHYS 1903 Directed Research, submits a ____ GEOL 0050 Physical Geology
paper detailing the research within the department, and presents ____ GEOL 0890 Physical Oceanography
the research in a public forum (i.e. at the University’s Science
Symposium, the undergraduate poster fair hosted by the Added science electives; choose one of the three
University Honors College). tracks totaling at least six credits
____ CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry 1 or CHEM 0730 Honors
Science Communication concentration Organic Chemistry 1
This concentration replaces the three-credit writing or ____ CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 2 or CHEM 0740 Honors
communication course with a three-credit writing course and 12 Organic Chemistry 2
credits of communication courses. Students pursuing this ____ CHEM 0330 Organic Chemistry 1 Lab
concentration may replace the six credits of science electives with ____ CHEM 0340 Organic Chemistry 2 Lab or 0750 Honors
the communication course requirements. Organic Chemistry 2 Lab
Required writing course ____ CS 0401 Intermediate Programming using Java
____ ENGCMP 0400 Written Professional Communication ____ CS 0445 Data Structures
Communication courses; choose at least 12 credits Two advanced courses in Biological Sciences (BIOSC),
Bioengineering (BIOE), Chemistry (CHEM), Computer
____ ENGCMP 1101 Language of Science & Technology
Science (CS), or Geology (GEOL).
____ ENGCMP 1400 Grant and Proposal Writing
____ COMMRC 0320 Mass Communication Process
____ COMMRC 0520 Public Speaking Advising
____ COMMRC 1105 Television and Society Russell Clark
____ ENGWRT 0610 Introduction to Journalism and Non-fiction Undergraduate Major Advisor
____ ENGWRT 1330 Intermediate Nonfiction OEH 404
____ ENGWRT 1340 Advanced Nonfiction 412-624-9204
____ ENGWRT 1394 Science Writing RUC2@Pitt.edu
____ LING 1000 Introduction to Linguistics
Michael Wood-Vasey
Science Breadth concentration Director of Undergraduate Programs
308 Allen Hall
This concentration provides broader exposure to other sciences in
412-624-2751
comparison to the standard Astronomy BA, while going into
WMWV@Pitt.edu
greater depth in physics and astronomy than a more generic
Natural Sciences major. With proper selection of courses, this
concentration provides the necessary requirements to apply for
admission to medical school while roughly matching the credit
requirements of the Astronomy BA.
