The Minor in Astronomy and Planetary Science requires a minimum of 18 units of upper-division physics courses. It is only available to students enrolled in the College of Letters and Science and College of Creative Studies.

Download Astro Minor Sheet [PDF]

Preparation for the Minor

• Math 3ABC - Calculus with applications
• Math 5ABC - Calculus with applications
• Physics 1-2-3-4-5 (or 20-21-22-23-24-25), 3L-4L-5L - Basic or General Physics, with labs

Recommended

• Chemistry 1ABC, Geology 2. These courses are prerequisites to several of the upper-division elective choices below.

Upper-Division Minor

18 units of upper division physics courses distributed as follows:

• Physics 132 (4 units): Stellar Structure and Evolution
• Physics 133 (4 units): Galaxies and Cosmology
• Ten units chosen from the following: Physics 131, 134, 141, 145L, 198*, 199*; Geology 123, 124G, 159AB, 198*, 199*
  
  *Project must be approved by the advisor for Astronomy and Planetary Science. In addition, no more than 5 units from Physics 198, 199 and Geology 198, 199 will be accepted toward the minor.

Regulations for Minor Degree Candidates

Students must consult the College Catalog for prerequisites to required courses.

The following conditions must also be met for official recognition for the minor:

• The sponsoring department reports completion of the minor prior to the posting of the degree.
• At lest 18 upper-division quarter units are completed for the minor (Waivers cannot reduce the requirement below this number).
• At least 12 of the upper-division units for the minor are completed while in residence at UCSB.
• The UC grade-point average in pertinent upper-division courses is 2.0 or higher.
• No more than 5 upper-division units overlap between this minor and the upper-division portion of the major(s) or the other minor(s). If overlap is greater with the major(s), completion of the minor will not be formally recognized; if overlap is with other minor(s) is greater, only the first minor reported will be recognized.

No reference will be made to the minor on any progress checks or degree clearance forms.

All courses to be applied to the minor must be completed on a letter-grade basis, with the exception of up to 5 units from the following: Physics 13AH-BH-CH, 142L, 143L, 145L, 198, 199, 199RA.

GPA requirement: Students must earn a minimum 2.0 GPA for the total of the entire minor and the total of all letter-graded, upper-division courses for the minor.