Program Quick Facts
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Astronomy provides students the opportunity to perform forefront research in the major areas of the field, under the supervision of world-leading faculty at the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy. Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: astronomical instrumentation, theoretical and observational cosmology, galaxy evolution, supermassive black holes, resolved stellar populations, and the extragalactic distance scale.
The program offers tracks for specialization in Astrophysics or Astrostatistics. In both cases, the degree will include six core Astronomy courses: ASTR 601/PHYS 641, ASTR 602/PHYS 642, ASTR 603/PHYS 643, ASTR 604/PHYS 644, ASTR 605/PHYS 645 and ASTR 606/PHYS 646. In addition to the six core courses, students specializing in Astrophysics will also take PHYS 615 and one of the following: PHYS 601, PHYS 603, PHYS 606 or PHYS 607. In addition to the six core classes, students specializing in Astrostatistics will take STAT 630 and one of the following: STAT 624, STAT 636, STAT 638, STAT 639 or STAT 654.
The program offers tracks for specialization in Astrophysics or Astrostatistics. In both cases, the degree will include six core Astronomy courses: ASTR 601/PHYS 641, ASTR 602/PHYS 642, ASTR 603/PHYS 643, ASTR 604/PHYS 644, ASTR 605/PHYS 645 and ASTR 606/PHYS 646. In addition to the six core courses, students specializing in Astrophysics will also take PHYS 615 and one of the following: PHYS 601, PHYS 603, PHYS 606 or PHYS 607. In addition to the six core classes, students specializing in Astrostatistics will take STAT 630 and one of the following: STAT 624, STAT 636, STAT 638, STAT 639 or STAT 654.