The Ph.D. degree in Astronomy is a research degree. The Ph.D. program is designed to train students to be able to originate and perform research in astronomy, yet be flexible in their future occupations, whether in scientific, industrial, or academic environments. Admission to Ph.D. candidacy is made only after a student has shown a satisfactory grasp of basic physics and astrophysics, a breadth of knowledge in astronomy, and the ability to do research with some degree of independence. Decision on Ph.D. candidacy is based on grades in the base and core courses as well as the results of two short research projects each followed by an oral exam.

Graduate students will be advised by the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) until they form a thesis committee. At least once each year, progress toward completion of the requirements will be reviewed and meetings held with students under the GPC's aegis. Likewise, advanced students are expected to meet with their thesis committee at least once each semester, and the committee chairperson is expected to submit a brief report on the progress of the student to the GPC. The GPC may also elect to meet with an advanced student and chairperson when it is aware that good progress toward completing degree or program requirements is not being made.

Students who plan an interdisciplinary degree, e.g. in Planetary Physics, shared between Astronomy and Geosciences, should prepare a written alternate curriculum plan in keeping with the basic philosophy of these requirements, while meeting their own special requirements. This alternative plan must be reviewed and approved by the GPC. Any other exceptions to the listed requirements may be made by the GPC after the student or thesis committee chairperson makes a written petition.

Course Requirements

The courses normally taken by graduate students fall into three broad categories: a required suite of four base courses taken in the students' first year, a required core of four astronomy courses, and two elective courses. In addition, students are required to enroll in "Review of Current Literature" (otherwise known as Journal Club) every semester they are a student in residence. It is planned that the base courses will be offered every year, and the core courses will be offered in alternate years.

Base Courses

There are four required base courses. These courses are designed to build a solid foundation of physics, computational techniques, and statistical knowledge in the graduate students’ first year. The base courses are as follows:

Astron 732: Computation Methods for Physical Science
Astron 645: Astrophysical Dynamics
Astron 644: Radiation Processes in Astrophysics
Physics 606: Classical Electrodynamics

Core Courses

Four core courses are required, and are structured to provide students with a broad overview of astronomy at the graduate level. The four core courses are the following:

Astron 650: Extragalactic Astronomy
Astron 643: Stellar Structure and Evolution
Astron 741: The Interstellar Medium
Astron 748: Cosmology and General Relativity

Elective Courses

The two required elective courses are normally taken from among the following graduate astronomy courses, which will be taught one per year and rotate in a regular fashion. The two electives can be taken at any time before graduation. Students may also satisfy the elective course requirement by taking graduate courses in physics, geosciences, electrical engineering, mathematics and statistics and computer science with the approval of the GPC.

Astron 731: Radio Astronomy Astron 850A: Advanced Topics in Astronomy: Galactic Dynamics Astron 850B: Advanced Topics in Astronomy: Galaxy Formation Astron 850C: Advanced Topics in Astronomy: High Energy Astrophysics

Journal Club

The Journal Club (Astron 791A/792A) is the primary means for students to learn how to make oral presentations. It must be taken every semester until graduation.

Grade Requirements

The grade point average of each student is recorded and figures into the decision to admit to Ph.D. candidacy. Students are expected to maintain an average of at least B (3.0) in the base and core courses, and in their graduate work overall. A grade of C in graduate school is considered a failing mark, representing an unacceptable level of work for a graduate student. Students may be required to retake courses which they fail.

Students are expected to complete all courses by the normal conclusion of each semester, unless (according to University guidelines) they "are unable to complete course requirements within the allotted time because of severe medical or personal problems." Sometimes astronomy research (e.g. observing runs) may interfere with the timely completion of a course, in these cases all course work must be completed within one month of the scheduled final exam date. Students who do not complete their course work within this time will be given a grade based on the material turned in to that point or a failing grade if the work is insufficient.

A student admitted into the program with a deficient background in physics, and thus unable to immediately take graduate level classes, will be given an extra year in which to remedy this situation. Such students must be designated as needing additional undergraduate physics, after consultation with the GPC, at the beginning of their study.

Students who enter the Department of Astronomy from other graduate departments may be able to count previously taken graduate courses as part of our course requirements. Such courses must be reasonable substitutes for those offered here, and grades of B or better obtained. Subsequent courses taken at the University must not duplicate any of those transferred.

Research Projects

The ability to perform astronomical research is evaluated by means of two independent research projects. The topics of these research projects must be in different research areas and with different advisors. Each research project will consist of a written summary of the research, an oral presentation to the department, and an oral exam.

First year students are assigned a supervisior for their first year project when they arrive in their first year and start their project immediately. They present their results, both as a written paper and in an oral presentation, in early September of second year and have a small oral exam based on the project after the presentation.

Second year students find a supervisor for their second year project, different than their first year project supervisor, by the end of December in their second year, present a written paper in late November or early December of third year and give an oral presentation in place of their journal club talk. They then have a combined oral exam on the project and an oral comprehensive general exam at the end of January of their third year.

Time Table for Courses

The course schedule is designed so students will get the basics (physics and computational techniques) in the first year so they can build on this knowledge in future courses. Students should adhere to the following schedule for classes:

Admission to Candidacy

When a student has completed the required courses and the two research projects, the Astronomy Faculty will have the following items for evaluation of each student:
- grades in base and core courses
- results of oral and written presentations of the research projects
- results of oral exams

The GPC will make a recommendation to the full faculty regarding admission to Ph.D. candidacy that will depend on an evaluation of the student's performance in all of the above. Students should be aware that the ultimate decision to admit to candidacy is not based upon a simple averaging of the above results. In general, good work in all areas or outstanding work in some areas is expected for a student to be admitted to candidacy. The abilities that one hopes to see in doctoral candidates - insight, originality of thought, persistence, etc. - are also factored into this decision.

In the event a student does not satisfy all the requirements at the time of the candidacy review, the faculty may, at its discretion, conditionally admit a student to candidacy. This action permits the student to register for Astron 899, the Doctoral Dissertation while, for example, finishing the course requirement, retaking a failed course, or bringing up a grade point average to the required level. Actual admission to candidacy is made after the student fulfills the stated conditions within the specified time limit.

Requirements of Ph.D. Candidates

After admission to candidacy (even when the admission is conditional) a student must begin forming a suitable thesis project and thesis committee. The committee normally consists of at least three astronomy graduate faculty and at least one outside faculty member from another program within the University. The committee must be established and a thesis proposal presented and approved by no later than the end of the sixth semester of study.

The Thesis Proposal consists of a written document describing the intended plan of research for your Ph.D. The thesis proposal must be signed by the committee members (in conformance with the University's format), and it must be filed with the University at least seven months in advance of the actual thesis defense. The development of a thesis proposal provides an opportunity for the committee to provide feedback on the strong and weak points of your proposed research, and the final signed proposal represents, in effect, a contract with the committee as to what they believe will constitute the necessary and sufficient work to receive your Ph.D.

Progress in Graduate School

Since timely completion of the graduate program requirements is necessary in order to make rapid progress in graduate school, we provide the goals for each year. The following sequence of events is an example of what constitutes "good standing" for a student in the Department of Astronomy. Students in good standing will be the first to be awarded teaching and research assistantships within the department. Students not in good standing run the risk of losing financial support, and if the situation persists may be removed from the Ph.D. program.

FIRST YEAR:
4 base courses
2 semesters of Journal Club
1st research project

SECOND YEAR:
2 core courses
1 elective course
2 semesters of Journal Club
2nd research project

THIRD YEAR:
2 core courses
1 elective course
2 semesters of Journal Club
2nd research topic paper, presentation, and oral exam by the end of January

Decision made on admission to candidacy; Ph.D. thesis proposal due by end of Spring semester

FOURTH YEAR:
Ph.D. Research
2 semesters of Journal Club

FIFTH YEAR:
Ph.D. research
2 semesters of Journal Club

SIXTH YEAR (if needed):
Ph.D. research
defense of Ph.D. thesis required by end of this year
2 semesters of Journal Club