What are Astronomy classes like in college?

[RonMaverick]

just wondering. I was considering UVA.&nbsp; What are the classes like?&nbsp; Do you have to know A LOT of math?&nbsp; What should I study before entering the class?&nbsp; Is the first year easy at first typically or what?&nbsp; I would like to know what typical astronomy classes are like by people that have been in one.&nbsp; I've read a few curriculums but obviously it does not tell an entire story of how well it fits in and is tought <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[michaelmozina]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>just wondering. I was considering UVA.&nbsp; What are the classes like?&nbsp; Do you have to know A LOT of math? </DIV></p><p>If you intend to pursue a career in astronomy, you can be sure you'll know a lot of math by the time you have a paying job. </p><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>What should I study before entering the class? </DIV></p><p>Math, physics and general relativity seem to be the primary focus of most astronomy oriented classes.&nbsp; Your mileage my vary from there depending on what you choose to specialize in.</p><p>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Is the first year easy at first typically or what? </DIV></p><p>I would not characterize it as "easy" per se, but it's enjoyable in the sense that it describes the universe in terms of mathematics and physics and starts to help one make some sense of the universe around us. &nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p> Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I would like to know what typical astronomy classes are like by people that have been in one.&nbsp; I've read a few curriculums but obviously it does not tell an entire story of how well it fits in and is tought <br /> Posted by RonMaverick</DIV></p><p>I didn't get that far down the road into astronomy since my first love was computers, and software engineering.&nbsp; I did however enjoy the classes I took and I found them to be very rewarding.&nbsp; I can't say that of every class I took in college., &nbsp; I think you should be prepared to be at least willing to become proficient mathematically over time because most of your early classes will be oriented around mathematics and how to apply mathematical models to the physical universe.&nbsp;&nbsp; I would personally tend to argue that it's *too* focused only on the gravitational aspects of physics, but gravity does certainly play a vital and profound role in astronomical events.&nbsp;&nbsp; I would suggest you consider augmenting your education in astronomy with some electrical theory and ultimately some exposure to MHD theory and the work of Hannes Alfven.&nbsp; Those kinds of topics also tend to involve applied mathematics.&nbsp; If you like applied mathematics, you'll probably love astronomy.&nbsp; If applied math isn't your thing, it might seem a little math heavy. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> It seems to be a natural consequence of our points of view to assume that the whole of space is filled with electrons and flying electric ions of all kinds. - Kristian Birkeland </div>

 

[aphh]

<p>I can also recommend taking astronomy, if possible. Space is hard, but enjoyable.</p><p>It's all about math and physics in every step of the way, but atleast you're calculating distances and relations of the forces and materials of the universe, so you'll truly get the big picture of things.</p><p>You need to make a commitment to the math, but that's why you study in the first place. If it's easy, you are not studying very hard (or are very talented).</p><p>A few of the subjects that are covered are trigonometry (unit circle, unit ball, law of sines), coordinate systems, Newton's and Kepler's laws, mass and gravity, behavior of light and energy and radiation just to name a few. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

 

[UFmbutler]

It depends on where you start out really.&nbsp; If you start by taking the intro astronomy classes designed for non-astronomy majors, then your first year will be very easy(I know, I'm teaching one this semester and it's ridiculously simple).&nbsp; If you jump right in to astronomy major courses you'll probably find them to be a little more challenging, but the math isn't really that bad.&nbsp; A lot of it is more understanding why the equations work rather than how to use them, because most of the equations you will learn at first will be simplified to an ideal case, i.e. the hydrostatic equilibrium equations for stellar structure.&nbsp; Later on you will have to know how to do things like partial diff. eq. to some extent but by then you will already have had courses on it.&nbsp; Don't let the math scare you away from astronomy, it's really not that bad.&nbsp; Also, referring to mozina's post, I can't speak for UVA but here you don't really specialize until grad school, so everyone has to take(roughly) the same classes, covering things ranging from solar system astrophysics to stellar structure to cosmology to observational techniques.&nbsp; I think all are important for an undergrad to experience.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[weeman]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>just wondering. I was considering UVA.&nbsp; What are the classes like?&nbsp; Do you have to know A LOT of math?&nbsp; What should I study before entering the class?&nbsp; Is the first year easy at first typically or what?&nbsp; I would like to know what typical astronomy classes are like by people that have been in one.&nbsp; I've read a few curriculums but obviously it does not tell an entire story of how well it fits in and is tought <br />Posted by RonMaverick</DIV><br /><br />I took Intro to Astronomy and nothing else. Intro was a fun class, very little math, and a lot of exercises to help get the basics down! I'm at Metro State in Denver and I don't know if they offer an Astronomy major. They also have a class called&nbsp;General Astronomy which I believe gets more into the equations. Obviously if you're going for an Astronomy concentration in college it will start with the basic Astronomy courses, then get into all the math. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>