Astrobiology Major

Major Code: 7137

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science

Delivery Mode(s): Classroom

Age Restriction: No

Admission Status: Undergraduate

Location(s): Main Campus - Melbourne

Bachelor of Science in Space Sciences–Astrobiology

The space sciences undergraduate program is designed for students interested in pursuing a broad range of space-related careers, either upon completion of the bachelor’s degree program in one of the three specific areas listed below or after completing graduate studies. Emphasis in the curriculum is on achieving a broad yet rigorous education in the basic physical, mathematical and engineering sciences as a foundation for successful entry into any of the many subfields of modern space science activity. Because basic physics and introductory space sciences courses form a critically important foundation for all advanced coursework in the space sciences program, the minimum grade for satisfying the prerequisite requirements for a space sciences major is a grade of C for each of the following courses: PHY 1001, PHY 2002, PHY 2003, PHY 2091, PHY 2092, SPS 1010, SPS 1020.

This program is interdisciplinary and designed to meet the needs of students intending to pursue graduate education in astrobiology, astrophysics, planetary sciences or biology.

Freshman Year

FALL		CREDITS
ASC 1000	University Experience	1
CHM 1101	Chemistry 1	4
COM 1101	Composition and Rhetoric	3
MTH 1001	Calculus 1*	4
PHY 1050	Physics and Space Science Seminar	1
SPS 1020	Introduction to Space Sciences*	3
		16

SPRING		CREDITS
CHM 1102	Chemistry 2	4
MTH 1002	Calculus 2	4
PHY 1001	Physics 1	4
PHY 2091	Physics Lab 1	1
SPS 1010	Introduction to Astronomy	3
		16

Sophomore Year

FALL		CREDITS
BIO 1010	Biological Discovery 1	4
COM 1102	Writing about Literature	3
MTH 2001	Calculus 3	4
PHY 2002	Physics 2	4
PHY 2092	Physics Lab 2	1
		16

SPRING		CREDITS
BIO 1020	Biological Discovery 2	4
COM 2223	Scientific and Technical Communication	3
MTH 2201	Differential Equations / Linear Algebra	4
PHY 2003	Modern Physics	3
	Restricted Elective (CSE 15xx)	3
		17

Junior Year

FALL		CREDITS
CHM 2001	Organic Chemistry 1	3
HUM 2051	Civilization 1	3
PHY 3011	Physical Mechanics	4
PHY 3060	Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory and Statistical Mechanics**	4
	Humanities Elective	3
		17

SPRING		CREDITS
BIO 2010	Microbiology	4
CHM 2002	Organic Chemistry 2	3
PHY 3035	Quantum Mechanics**	4
PHY 3440	Electromagnetic Theory	3
SPS 4039	Astrobiology	3
		17

Senior Year

FALL		CREDITS
BIO 2110	General Genetics	4
BIO 4010	Biochemistry 1	4
SPS 4010	Astrophysics 1	3
SPS 4200	Senior Seminar 1 (Q)	1
	Humanities Core Course***	3
		17

SPRING		CREDITS
BIO 4101	Molecular Biology	3
BIO 4110	Biochemistry 2	4
SPS 4030	Physics of the Atmosphere	3
SPS 4035	Comparative Planetology	3
SPS 4210	Senior Seminar 2 (Q)	1
	Social Science Elective	3
		17

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 131

*Students will be block registered into Introduction to Space Sciences (SPS 1020). If a student places into Calculus 2 (MTH 1002), the student is encouraged to take Physics 1 (PHY 1001) in the first semester and SPS 1020 later in the program.

**Students may elect to substitute the 8 credit hours from Physical Chemistry 1 and 2 (CHM 3001, CHM 3002), and Organic Chemistry Lab (CHM 2011) for Quantum Mechanics (PHY 3035) and Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory and Statistical Mechanics (PHY 3060).

***Humanities Core Courses
HUM 2052	Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern
HUM 2142	World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial
HUM 2212	British and American Literature 1
HUM 2213	British and American Literature 2
HUM 2331	American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era
HUM 2332	American History: From Reconstruction to the Present