Dear Astronomy Major:

This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed below each year are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. A sample schedule is provided as a general guideline to help you build a schedule each term. Your courses must be selected with your advisor to satisfy all core curriculum and state, lab science, and multicultural requirements. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for the most current curriculum.

FYSE (3 hr) can substitute for 3 hours of PERS. The 4th hour of PERS is waived (a student does not have to take any PERS courses), but because USG requires 120 hours to earn a bachelor’s degree, that 1 hour is moved to general electives.

Year 1

Fall Hrs.
ENGL 1101 3
MATH 1113 3
ASTR 1010K 4
POLS 1101 3
PERS 2XXX 2
Total hours 15
Spring Hrs.
ENGL 1102 3
MATH 2261 4
ASTR 1020K 4
ASTR 2010 1
HIST 2111 or 2112 3
Total hours 15

Milestones: ≥ 2.0 GPA. Complete introductory astronomy sequence. Note that all 3000- and 4000- level courses in physics and astronomy are taught on a rotating two-year scheduled. The above schedule is designed for students entering VSU as freshmen during the fall of an odd-numbered year. For students entering during the fall of an even-numbered year, the curricula for years three and four would be interchanged

Year 2

Fall Hrs.
MATH 2262 4
PHYS 2211K 4
ENGL 2111, 2112, or 2113 3
Foreign language 3
Total hours 14
Spring Hrs.
MATH 2263 4
PHYS 2212K 4
MATH 2150 3
Foreign language 3
PERS 2XXX 2
Total hours 16

Milestones: ≥ 2.0 GPA. Complete introductory calculus and physics sequences and language requirement.

Year 3

Fall Hrs.
PHYS 2700 1
PHYS 4111 3
PHYS 4411 3
PHYS 3820 4
ASTR 4101 4
Total hours 15
Spring Hrs.
PHYS 4112 3
PHYS 4412 3
ASTR 4400 3
MATH 3340 3
Guided elective 3
Total hours 15

Milestones: ≥ 2.0 GPA. Complete upper-level sequences in theoretical mechanics and quantum mechanics or in electromagnetism.

Year 4

Fall Hrs.
PHYS 4211 3
PHYS 3810 3
Lab elective 4
Area E elective 3
Guided elective 3
Total hours 16
Spring Hrs.
PHYS 4212 3
Area C elective 3
Area E elective 3
Guided elective 3
Guided elective 3
Total hours 15

Milestones: ≥ 2.0 GPA. Apply to graduate schools in accordance with your career plan; contact professors to write letters of reference. Apply for graduation at least one semester prior to the anticipated graduation date.