Honors in Astronomy (“Honors in the Major“) is an opportunity for senior undergraduates in the Department of Astronomy to conduct in‐depth research in the discipline and to be more fully involved in the intellectual life of the Department. It is one of the most stimulating intellectual enterprises in which an undergraduate can engage, demanding dedication and the ability to exercise independent judgment.
Students in either of the majors in the Astronomy department can apply to the program.
Application Deadline
- No later than the spring semester of the junior year.
Requirements
To graduate with Honors in Astronomy, a student must:
- author a well-written thesis,
- give a public presentation based on the thesis, and
- take an oral examination about the thesis with a committee of the Astronomy faculty
In addition, the student must:
- regularly attend and participate in one of the following (for at least one semester):
- the Space Physics Seminar Series
- the Astrophysics Seminar Series
- the Space Physics Journal Club
- the Astrophysics Journal Club
- be registered for CAS AS 401 (Fall) and AS 402 (Spring), both entitled “Honors Work in Astronomy,” and receive a grade of B+ or better in both semesters
The Astronomy faculty committee will consider the quality of the written thesis, the quality of the presentation, the result of the oral examination, and the participation of the student in the Seminar or Journal Club series to determine whether the student will be awarded Honors in Astronomy.
GPA Requirement and Evaluation Semesters
- Minimum grade point averages of 3.40 overall and also in the courses comprising one of the Astronomy Department’s majors are required for students seeking to pursue Honors in Astronomy.
- This evaluation takes place after the Fall semester of the student’s Junior year. In exceptional cases, evaluation may take place after the Spring semester of the Junior year, at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in consultation with the Department Chair.
- Students interested in the honors program should first ascertain that their GPA (overall and in the major) meets the standard listed above.
Honors Project Faculty Advisor
- Honors projects are completed in consultation with an Astronomy faculty project advisor.
- The faculty advisor must be a full‐time CAS Astronomy faculty member and that faculty member must agree to serve as the student’s project advisor.
Honors Project Application Process and Proposal Submission
To apply to do honors work, students should:
- Complete the Application for Honors in Astronomy Form, in consultation with the faculty project advisor.
- Forward the blank Faculty Reference Form to the faculty project advisor, who should complete the form to evaluate the student’s potential success in the project.
- The faculty advisor should return this form to the student in a signed and sealed envelope.
- Ensure the application form is signed by both the student and the faculty advisor before submitting.
- Submit the Application form and the Faculty Reference Form to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for initial approval. The form will then be sent on to the Department Chair for final approval.
Each applicant will be notified of acceptance or rejection by email.
If approved:
- The applicable CAS AS 401/402 course(s) will be added to the student’s schedule by the Department Administrative Coordinator.
- The Astronomy Department will retain the original Application and Faculty Reference forms and will return copies of the Application to the student and to the faculty advisor.
