Courses
The timeline of the courses can be in flux, but we work to be sure that all students can take the coursework in a timely manner. So if a course description below indicates a frequency, it is still wise to check UCF’s course schedule!
Note that further info about courses is on our PhD program page, and on the Graduate Catalog page.
AST 5038 Astrobiology
This course covers the physics, chemistry, and biology of life on Earth as they relate to astrophysical concepts. Offered occasionally. Usually taught by Prof. Bennett.
AST 5145 Asteroids Comets Meteors
This course covers the physical, compositional, and structural properties of solar system small bodies, and their interrelationships. Usually offered in odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Campins or Prof. Donaldson Hanna.
AST 5151 Physics of Planetary Processes
This course covers several specific electrodynamics and quantum mechanics topics that are directly related to planetary science. Usually offered in odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Bennett.
AST 5154 Advanced Planetary Geophysics
This course covers the physics of planetary evolution, of planetary interiors, and of planetary surface processes. Usually offered in odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Britt or Prof. Donaldson Hanna.
AST 5263 Advanced Observational Astronomy
This course covers experimental designs and experimental techniques, spherical astronomy, and the physics of telescopes and of common astronomical detectors. Usually offered in even springs. Usually taught by Prof. Fernandez or Prof. Donaldson Hanna.
AST 5334 Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs
This course covers the physics of substellar-mass objects, their formation, evolution, dynamics, detection, and environments. Offered odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Karalidi.
AST 5765 Advanced Astronomical Data Analysis
This course covers concepts on advanced astronomical data formation and acquisition, detector physics, measurement extraction, error analysis, modeling, computer programming, statistics, interpretation, and written and oral presentation of results. Usually offered every fall. Usually taught by Prof. Harrington or Prof. Fernandez.
This course covers the observations and properties of extrasolar planets and circumstellar disks through physics of disk evolution and planet formation. It also covers the dynamical evolution of planetary systems. Usually offered in odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Colwell, Prof. Dove, or Prof. Fernandez.
AST 6156 Current Topics in Planetary Science
A seminar style course, but with significant student participation. The topic is usually a current NASA mission and its destination, or a deep-dive into a particular technological, scientific, and engineering aspect of space exploration. Previous versions of this course have covered the following topics: • Spring 2014: Pluto, Charon, and the New Horizons mission. • Fall 2015: Phobos, Deimos, and possible missions. • Spring 2017: in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) in space. • Spring 2018: sample return from a near-Earth asteroid with OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa-2. • Spring 2020: the economic geology of lunar and asteroid resources. • Spring 2021: science in planetary radar, in Earth’s atmosphere, and in astrophysics at Arecibo Observatory. Offered occasionally, and can be repeated for credit. Taught by several faculty.
AST 6165 Planetary Atmospheres
This course covers the basics of atmospheric physics and chemistry, and applies it to planets (including Earth) and satellites in our solar system as well as those orbiting other stars. Usually offered in even springs. Usually taught by Prof. Harrington or Prof. Ramirez.
AST 6938 Special Topics
A seminar style course, but with significant student participation. The topic is usually a current NASA mission and its destination, or a deep-dive into a particular subset of planetary science. Previous versions of this course have covered the following topics: • Spring 2013: Vesta, Mercury, the Dawn mission, and the MESSENGER mission. • Spring 2021: physics of comets, asteroids, and dust. • Spring 2023: ices in the Solar system. Offered occasionally, and can be repeated for credit. Taught by several faculty.
AST 2002 Astronomy
General education, covers all of astronomy and planetary sciences at the introductory level. This course satisfies one of the GEP requirements. Offered every fall and every spring. Taught by many faculty. Offered in person, online, in Honors sections, and even as a video game!
AST 2037 Life in the Universe
Introductory material on astrobiology. Thought provoking journey through solar system environments and extrasolar planets to establish the probability of life on other planets in our solar system and beyond. Offered occasionally.
AST 3043 Practice of Historical Astronomy
The study of analytical methods that led to our first understanding of our Solar System and Universe in the pre-telescopic and pre-modern eras. Offered occasionally. Usually taught by Prof. Fernandez; see his webpage for more info.
AST 3110 Solar System Astronomy
Interdisciplinary approach to the dynamics of the Solar System through application of Physics, Atmospheric Science, Chemistry and Geology. Usually offered in springs. Usually taught by Prof. Dove or Prof. Jerousek or Prof. Dove.
AST 3114 Space Weather in the Solar System
How the solar weather forms and solar weather effects on the solar system, including geomagnetic storms, aurorae, and impacts to electronics/GPS systems. Offered occasionally.
AST 3211 Stellar Astrophysics
The physics and dynamics of stars, including star formation and stellar formation. Usually offered even springs. Usually taught by Prof. Cooney or Prof. Jerousek.
AST 3402 Galaxies and Cosmology
Study of the different types of galaxies, their evolution, their relationship to active galaxies and quasars, and the evolution of the Universe. Usually offered odd falls. Usually taught by Prof. Cooney.
AST 4142 Asteroids Comets and Meteorites
Asteroids, comets, and meteorites and their role in the origin and evolution of our solar system. Usualy offered even falls. Usually taught by Prof. Campins or Prof. Donaldson Hanna.
AST 4152 Planetary Geophysics
Physics of planetary evolution, planetary interiors, and planetary surface processes. Usually offered odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Britt or Prof. Donaldson Hanna.
AST 4700 Experimental Methods in Astronomy
This course covers important concepts regarding the actual planning of telescopic experiments in astronomy. Students gain a more detailed and more elaborate understanding of how our rotating platform of Earth constrains what we can see in the Universe at any given time. Students also learn the physics behind telescopes, detectors, and other astronomical equipment. Usually offered odd springs. Usually taught by Prof. Fernández or Dr. Schambeau.
This course covers astronomical data formation and acquisition, detector physics, measurement extraction, error analysis, modeling, computer programming, statistics, interpretation, and written and oral presentation of results. It meets with AST 5765 but has a project and homework appropriate for the undergraduate level. Satisfies a lab requirement, by petition. PREREQ: Ability to program a computer. Students unprepared in programming often find this course overwhelming! PHZ 3150 was developed to satisfy this requirement. See the web site, above, for more. Usually offered every fall. Usually taught by Prof. Harrington or Prof. Fernandez.
An introduction to the history, physics, and dynamics of the Earth’s climate. There are no prerequisites for this course. Offered occasionally. Usually taught by Prof. Britt.
To be a STEM researcher, you have to be able to program a computer to process and simulate data. This introduction for first-time programmers uses Python, the most popular free language used for data analysis in the physical sciences. Students learn on their own computers, so they will have access to programming after the course is over. Topics also include the Unix shell, shell scripting, revision control, planning and debugging, object-oriented programming, and a selection of numerical topics including Monte Carlo simulation, integration and differentiation, interpolation, and 2D and 3D visualization. Satisfies the programming prerequisite for AST 4762/5765. Taught by Prof. Harrington or Prof. Karalidi.
Forthcoming Course Schedule
See our PhD program page for info on the course frequency and the cycle of course offerings.