Astronomy, A.S.

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The astronomer is concerned with the Earth and its position in the solar system and the universe. Employment opportunities include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), air traffic control, and weather forecasting and monitoring. In the typical four-year curriculum, the first two years are spent studying the basic sciences, including mathematics and physics. The last two years emphasize advanced mathematics and science courses. Prairie State College offers courses comparable to the first two years of the curriculum required for a major in astronomy and will grant the Associate in Science degree to successful students.

Suggested Curriculum

I. General Education Core (39-40)

Area A: Communication (9 credits)

ENG 101 Composition I 3 hrs transfer credit - with a grade of C or better
ENG 102 Composition II 3 hrs transfer credit - with a grade of C or better
COMM 101 Principles of Communication 3 hrs transfer credit

Area B: Humanities and Fine Arts (6 credits)

Select two courses from the list for Area B with one course from humanities and one course from fine arts.

Area C: Mathematics (5 credits)

MATH 171 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 5 hrs transfer credit

Area D: Physical and Life Sciences (7-8 credits)

ASTRO 104 The Solar System and Beyond 4 hrs transfer credit
Life Science Elective (3-4)

Area E: Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)

Select two courses in two different disciplines from the list for Area E .

II. Area of Concentration/Major Field (17)

Select one MATH course and one ASTRO, BIOL, CHEM, ENGR, GEOG (not GEOG 101), GEOLO, METEO, PHYSC or PHYSI course from the list for Courses Approved for Transfer to qualify for an A.S. degree. Each course must be 3 credits or more. The courses below are recommended to meet this requirement as they are typically taken by freshmen and sophomores at universities for this specific major.

MATH 172 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 5 hrs transfer credit
PHYSI 210 University Physics I 4 hrs transfer credit
PHYSI 220 University Physics II 4 hrs transfer credit
PHYSI 230 University Physics III 4 hrs transfer credit

III. Electives (11-12)

Select additional science, calculus, and foreign language courses or contact the universities you are considering.

Required A.S. Degree Program Total: 62 credits

Each college and university has its own major requirements and transfer policies. Consult the schools you are considering and a PSC advisor to discuss courses and their transferability.