Florida Colleges for a Minor in Astronomy

University of Central Florida

• The University of Central Florida offers a Bachelor's of Science in Physics with the opportunity to minor in astronomy. The minor allows students to specialize their degree path and focus more intensely in one particular area of physics study. For instance, a student may choose to make his major degree specialization General Physics but choose astronomy as the minor, allowing him to gain a wide range of experience in his major with an opportunity to examine astronomy more closely. The astronomy minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours in the field. The minor is optional, but students are urged to declare their minor as soon as possible after enrollment. Some of the possible courses involved in the minor are Observational Astronomy, Galaxies and Cosmology and Solar System Astronomy.

  University of Central Florida

  College of Sciences

  4000 Central Florida Blvd

  Orlando, FL 32816

  407-823-2325

  physics.cos.ucf.edu

University of Florida

• The University of Florida offers both a major and minor in astronomy. The minor allows students to get a taste of what astronomy is all about without having to commit to the field as their major focus. However, having a minor in astronomy can also open up future graduate school opportunities for students considering the pursuit of astronomy as a career. The requirements for the minor are 15 credits of coursework including three introductory courses in basic observational and theoretical astrophysics and astronomy. The final two courses required can be any two upper-division courses.

  University of Florida

  Department of Astronomy

  College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

  211 Bryant Space Science Center

  Gainesville, FL 3261

  352-392-2052

  astro.ufl.edu/education/undergraduate/minors.html

Astronomy Minor Benefits

• A minor in astronomy can allow students who have an interest, but who are not yet sure if they wish to pursue astronomy full time, to get a feel for what is required in astronomy courses. However, for students more certain about their goals, it can also pave the way for their graduate careers. A student can gear his final research project as a physics major toward astronomy, and it is often that project that guides a student toward the more in-depth research required at the graduate level of study. Though not always, a minor in astronomy can be the beginning of a young student's larger career path.