The Master of Science program in astronomy requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. It is offered either with or without thesis. The M.S. may be a terminal degree or a step toward a Ph.D. in physics with specialization and a dissertation in astronomy or astrophysics. In either case the final examination is oral, conducted by a committee of three faculty members.

Students in the thesis program earn the required 30 s.h. in courses numbered 170 (4000) or above, with at least 15 s.h. at the 200 (5000 or above) level. They must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. The 30 s.h. must include at least 12 s.h. chosen from the following list of courses:  

In addition, each student must complete at least 6 s.h. selected from the following core graduate level physics courses:

Students may earn a maximum of 6 s.h. in PHYS:7992 Individual Critical Study and ASTR:7991 Research: Astronomy. Seminars do not count for credit toward the 30 s.h. requirement. Up to one-third of the course work may be in graduate courses in related fields, such as meteorology, geology, and electrical engineering; selection of such courses is encouraged.

Students in the nonthesis program earn the required 30 s.h. in courses numbered 170 (4000) or above, with at least 15 s.h. at the 200 (5000 or above) level. They must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. The 30 s.h. must include at least 12 s.h. chosen from ASTR:6870 Radiative Processes in Astrophysics; ASTR:6785 The Interstellar Medium; ASTR:6790 Stellar Astrophysics; ASTR:6880 High Energy Astrophysics; ASTR:6781 Galactic Astronomy; ASTR:6782 Extragalactic Astronomy. Students may earn a maximum of 4 s.h. in PHYS:7992 Individual Critical Study and ASTR:7991 Research: Astronomy. Seminars do not count toward the required 30 s.h. Up to one-third of the course work may be in graduate courses in related fields, such as meteorology, geology, and electrical engineering; selection of such courses is encouraged.