2009 - 10

For the incoming class of 2009-10, The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics has implemented revisions to the Ph.D. requirements with the intent to improve upon:

• Time students take to complete the program
• Stronger student records at graduation
• Students who will be more competitive in the job market

Students matriculating in a given graduate program will select the UCSC General Catalog they will follow to meet their requirements to be either the one published the year they enter the program, or any subsequent catalog published prior to the year they are awarded the sought degree. Specific details on "Catalog Rights" and how this policy affects you may be found at the UCSC General Catalog. Please click here for the 2008-09 Official Degree Requirements.

Graduate instruction is built upon a two-year cycle of 11 one-quarter courses in astronomy and physics that are required of all students.

Seven courses are specifically required:

Astronomy 202, Radiative Processes
Astronomy 204, Astrophysical Flows
Astronomy 205, Introduction to Astronomical Research
Astronomy 212, Dynamical Astronomy
Astronomy 220A, Stellar Structure and Evolution
Astronomy 230, Diffuse Matter in Space
Astronomy 233, Physical Cosmology

and four additional courses are chosen from the list of electives given below.  In addition, students must fulfill the following requirements:

Students must meet at least quarterly with an assigned advisor.

Each student must also be a teaching assistant for at least one quarter.

By the end of their second year, students must:

Complete one quarter of independent study with a faculty member and give a department talk on that work.

Pass a written Preliminary Examination based on course material, relevant physics, and general astronomical knowledge.

Submit one lead-author paper to a refereed journal that is based on research conducted at UCSC. A one-year probation & extension will be allowed by department faculty vote at the Board Review meeting at the end of the second year but such extension will not be considered unless a reasonable first draft is submitted at the Board Review and accompanied by a proposed completion strategy which has been approved by the student’s advisor.

By the end of the third year, students must complete a Qualifying Exam that presents and defends a proposed thesis topic. 

After passing the Board Review based on the above-mentioned requirements and the Qualifying Exam, students pursue independent research leading to the doctoral dissertation. Upon completion of the Ph.D. dissertation, students must pass an oral Dissertation Defense. A completed draft of the thesis must be submitted to the dissertation committee at least two weeks before the date of the defense, and the defense itself must occur at least two weeks before the campus deadline for thesis submissions in that quarter.  Exceptions to this policy will be granted only under exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the Department Chair, Associate Chair, and the Department Graduate Advising Committee.

 The Department has established five years as the normative time to degree. Normative time is the elapsed calendar time in years that under normal circumstances will be needed to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. A one year extension may be granted if funding is available. Funding support will not in general be provided beyond six years. Exceptions for extensions beyond six years will be granted only for exceptional extenuating circumstances and will be decided upon by the Department Chair, Associate Chair, and the Department Graduate Advising Committee.

Electives (four required) may be drawn from this list:

Astronomy 207, Future Directions/Future Missions
Astronomy 214, Special Topics in Cosmology
Astronomy 220B, Star Formation
Astronomy 220C, Advanced Stages of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis
Astronomy 222, Planetary Formation and Evolution
Astronomy 223, Planetary Physics
Astronomy 225, High Energy Astrophysics
Astronomy 231, Diffuse Gas in and Between Galaxies
Astronomy 235, Numerical Techniques
Astronomy 237, Accretion Processes
Astronomy 240A, Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Astronomy 240B, High Redshift Galaxies
Astronomy 257, Modern Astronomical Techniques
Astronomy 260, Instrumentation for Astronomy
Astronomy 289, Adaptive Optics and Its Applications


Physics / Astronomy 224, Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Physics / Astronomy 226, General Relativity

Earth Sciences 275, Magnetohydrodynamics

Engineering 206, Bayesian Statistics
Engineering 214, Applied Dynamical Systems
Engineering 217, Introduction to Fluid Dynamics

Physics 210, Classical Mechanics
Physics 215, Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 216, Advanced Topics in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 217, Quantum Field Theory I
Physics 218, Quantum Field Theory II
Physics 227, Advanced Fluid Dynamics

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2008 - 09

(Prior year requirements)

Graduate instruction is built upon a two-year cycle of 13, one-quarter courses in astronomy and physics that are required of all students.

Six courses are specifically required:

Astonomy 202, Electromagnetism and Plasma Physics
Astonomy 204A, Physics of Astrophysics I
Astonomy 204B, Physics of Astrophysics II
Astonomy 205, Introduction to Astronomical Research
Astonomy 220A, Stella Structure and Evolution
Astonomy 240A, Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems

Seven courses are chosen from the list of electives given below.

Students must meet at least quarterly with an assigned adviser.

Each student must also be a teaching assistant for at least one quarter.

By the end of their second year, students must complete one quarter of independent study with a faculty member and give a department talk on that work. Also toward the end of their second year, students must pass a written examination based on course material, relevant physics, and general astronomical knowledge.

After passing a board review based on the above-mentioned requirements and a qualifying exam based on a proposed thesis topic (expected to be taken before the end of the third year), students pursue independent research leading to the doctoral dissertation. Upon completion of the Ph.D. dissertation, students must pass an oral dissertation defense.

Students are encouraged to engage in research projects under the supervision of the faculty during the early part of their graduate career. Exceptions are rare and are granted on a case-by-case basis to individual students.

Electives may be drawn from this list:

Galaxies and Cosmology (at least two):

Astonomy 214, Structure Formation in the Universe
Astonomy 224, Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Astonomy 230, Low-Density Astrophysics
Astonomy 233, Physical Cosmology
Astonomy 240B, Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Astonomy 240C, Galactic and Extragalactic Stellar Systems
Astonomy 253, Stellar Dynamics

Stars and Planets (at least two):

Astonomy 212, Dynamical Astronomy
Astonomy 220B, Star and Planet Formation
Astonomy 220C, Advanced Stages of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis
Astonomy 222, Planetary Science
Astonomy 225, Physics of Compact Objects
Astonomy 237, Accretion of Early and Late Stages of Stellar Evolution

Other:

Astonomy 207, Future Directions/Future Missions
Astonomy 226, General Relativity
Astonomy 231, Astrophysical Gas Dynamics
Astonomy 235, Numerical Techniques
Astonomy 257, Modern Observational Techniques
Astonomy 260, Instrumentation for Astronomy
Astonomy 275, Radio Astronomy
Astonomy 289C, Adaptive Optics and Its Applications
Earth Sciences 275, Magnetohydrodynamics
Education 286, Research and Practice in Science Training for Research
Engineering 206, Bayesian Statistics
Physics 210, Classical Mechanics
Physics 215, Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 216, Advanced Topics in Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics
Physics 217, Quantum Field Theory I
Physics 218, Quantum Field Theory II

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