Sub-Links within our "Graduate Program" section: About Our Program | Course Information | Survival Information | Having a Life | Admissions Information | Current Courses | Current Course Webpages

A Tradition of Excellence

The Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) at the University of Colorado (CU) has a reputation of excellence, both nationally and internationally. Consistently ranked among the top programs in the country, the Department enjoys a diversity of research interests with 22 rostered faculty, 50 research and affiliated faculty, and 47 graduate students.

The program successfully integrates astrophysics, planetary science, solar physics, and space instrumentation, with strong observational and theoretical components. These assets facilitate interaction and collaboration between the disciplines and enable students to explore a wide variety of research areas. In addition, the Sommers-Bausch Observatory on campus provides excellent hands-on experience with telescopes and observing, and the Department supports the world-class Fiske Planetarium which offers a unique opportunity for public outreach. These campus resources are complemented by other affiliated research organizations in Boulder.

At-a-Glance Information:

• APS Graduate Alumni Database: Includes thesis titles, first post-docs, and current locations.
• 92% of the last 15 years' graduates are still doing astronomy, and 87% work in academic or research institutions.
• Survival Information for current students, including Comps Rules.
• Department Brochure (February 2006)
• AIP Report (2007-2008)
• United Government of Graduate Students (UGGS)

Academics & Coursework Schedule

The APS department offers an M.S. and Ph.D. degree, as well as an undergraduate minor and major; however, only students planing to earn their Ph.D. will be considered for admission. Graduate students generally specialize in areas of astrophysics or planetary science. The outline below illustrates the recommended schedule of coursework and departmental requirements towards completing a Ph.D. All students are required to take the five required core courses.

This outline is color-coded for astrophysics, planetary, space physics, and general courses for all graduate students. For more information about planetary astronomy at CU, visit the Planetary Program's website . For more detailed information on examination timelines, see the Survival Information page.

• Year 1
  • Fall
    • Coursework
      • Core: Atomic & Molecular Processes, Math Methods.
      • Planetary Elective: Origins (even years), or Surfaces and Interiors (odd years).
      • Astrophysics Elective: Origins or Cosmology (even years), or ISM/Star Formation or Astrophysical Plasmas (odd years).
      • Space Physics Elective: Fluids 2 (even years), or Astrophysical Plasmas (odd years).
    • Support
      • Teaching (TA) or Research (RA) Assistantship -- Usually TA
    • Requirements & Main Activities
      • Planetary Geology Fieldtrip (optional)
  • Spring
    • Coursework
      • Core: Fluids; Observations, Data Analysis, & Statistics
      • Planetary Elective: Atmospheres (even years), or Special Topics (odd years).
      • Astrophysics Elective: Galaxies or Stellar Astrophysics (even years), or High Energy or Instrumentation (odd years).
      • Space Physics Elective: Magnetospheres (even years), or Solar/Stellar Magnetism (odd years).
    • Support
      • Teaching (TA) or Research (RA) Assistantship -- Usually TA
    • Requirements & Main Activities
      • Scout research groups for summer support
  • Summer
    • Support: RA
• Year 2
  • Fall
    • Coursework
      • Core: Radiative & Dynamical Processes.
      • Planetary Elective: Origins (even years), or Surfaces and Interiors (odd years).
      • Astrophysics Elective: Origins or Cosmology (even years), or ISM/Star Formation or Astrophysical Plasmas (odd years).
      • Space Physics Elective: Fluids 2 (even years), or Astrophysical Plasmas (odd years).
    • Support
      • Teaching (TA) or Research (RA) Assistantship -- Usually RA
    • Requirements & Main Activities
      • Planetary Geology Fieldtrip (optional)
      • Evaluate research interests.
      • Comprehensive Exam 1 ("Comps 1") -- Taken Between Fall and Spring Semesters
  • Spring
    • Coursework
      • Electives
    • Support
      • Teaching (TA) or Research (RA) Assistantship -- Usually RA
    • Requirements & Main Activities
      • Work on Comprehensive Exam 2 ("Comps 2")
  • Summer
    • Support: RA
    • Requirements & Main Activities: Work on Comprehensive Exam 2 ("Comps 2")
• Year 3
  • Fall
    • Requirements & Main Activities: Take Comprehensive Exam 2 ("Comps 2")
• Subsequent Years
  • Coursework: Coursework is usually completed after 5 semesters in our department.
  • Support: Support is usually through an RA, though many graduate students will occasionally TA in later years for additional experience or salary.
  • Terminal Masters: A graduate student can choose to complete their Comps 1 and 2 and then exit the program with a M.S. degree.
  • Thesis: Thesis work usually begins immediately following the Comps 2 examination. It is encouraged to be on a different project with a different advisor. Average time to completion is 5.5 years.
  • At least once a year, students, with their advisor, are expected to arrange a meeting with 3-4 of their thesis committee members.

The APS Faculty have established a standard syllabus for each of the 5 core required classes:

• Atomic and Molecular Processes
• Fluids
• Mathematical Methods
• Observations, Data Analysis, and Statistics
• Radiative and Dynamical Processes

Course Information

Our department offers a variety of courses, both elective and required. Please see the Course Information page for more details.

Additional Planetary Science Information

Graduate study in Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado consists of interdisciplinary coursework, frontier research opportunities and involvement in active and future spacecraft missions. For more information on the program and associated faculty, click here .

APS is also associated with the geophysics program at CU and several of our graduate students are pursuing this program with a concentration in planetary geophysics. Please see the geophysics program page for details. Also, a certificate is offered.

Masters Program

Students are only admitted with the stated intention of pursuing the Ph.D. However, sometimes a student chooses to leave the program after completing the work for a masters degree. The requirements for the M.S. are:

Requirements

• 30 semester hours of work, of which at least 24 are APS courses numbered 5000 or above, including 4 seminars.
• Master's examination: A successfully completed Ph.D. comprehensive examination can count as a maste'rs examination.

Teaching & TAs

The APS department strongly encourages the development of good teaching skills. Most students are supported on a teaching assistantship (TA) for their first year at CU, and many students choose to supplement their research with teaching later in their graduate career. However, the APS department has no TA requirement.

Integral parts of the teaching resources at Colorado are the Sommers-Bausch Observatory (SBO) and Fiske Planetarium , both on campus. SBO houses computer-controlled 16", 18", and 24" telescopes. The observatory is extensively used for undergraduate classes, and public open houses run by graduate students are held every Friday evening. The science-grade 24" reflector is used for graduate education, and graduate students have nearly unlimited access to it for research purposes. The Fiske Planetarium, one of the major planetaria in the country, is used both for teaching undergraduate classes in and for hosting a wide range of public shows and astronomy talks. APS lecturer Doug Duncan is Director of Fiske Planetarium and coordinates education and outreach programs.

APS is one of about 40 departments on campus which has a Lead Graduate Teacher. The Lead Graduate Teacher arranges workshops, provides advice and serves as a liaison between the TAs and the faculty, as well as between the department and the Graduate Teacher Program at CU .

The APS department is also very active in astronomy education and outreach in the community. Graduate and undergraduate students are involved with producing and operating shows at Fiske. Students also regularly work with and visit local school classrooms, develop curricular material in coordination with the Boulder Valley school district, and coordinate and present at regional educator workshops.

Research & RAs

The purpose of the APS graduate program is to teach the techniques for outstanding research. Graduate students are generally supported on Research Assistantships (RAs) after their first year. As an RA, a student works on independent research under the guidance of an advisor, and often several projects leading to publication are completed before beginning thesis work. All students complete the Comps 2, an independent project of about 8 months duration that typically results in publication.

Students work on research not only with APS professors, but also with many of the associated institutions in Boulder.

Detailed information on research, research groups, and graduate student involvement can be found on the APS Research page.

We have an active Women in Astronomy group that helps women to find resources for jobs in the research world.

Having a Life

Check out our page on "Having a Life as a Graduate Student" to see how being in Boulder isn't all coursework and research requirements.

Additional Information

For further information concerning graduate studies, contact:

Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences
UCB 391
University of Colorado, Boulder
Boulder, CO 80309-0391
303-492-8914

Or, you can send e-mail to the Graduate Admissions Chair, .