Astronomy and astrophysics is the study of planets, stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole, including how these originate and how they evolve in time. The principal pursuits of the astronomer are to extend our understanding of the physical nature of the universe and to convey this understanding to students and the general public.

Program objectives:

• Provide students with the opportunity to master the fundamental physics at the heart of modern astrophysics: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics and thermodynamics.
• Help students to develop problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze physical systems within the framework of theoretical physics.
• Provide students with an overview of research topics in contemporary astronomy.
• Provide students with a basic mastery of data analysis and statistics.
• Teach students to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Provide students with the opportunity to develop a basic knowledge of and facility with computing.