Undergraduate Astronomy Courses

Several undergraduate courses in astronomy are offered through the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UH Manoa. Astronomy 110 is the popular general introductions to the subject; several sections are offered every semester. A newly introduced laboratory course, Astronomy 110L offers students the chance to gain some hands-on experience in night-time and laboratory astronomy.

Astronomy 120 (Origins) and Astronomy 130 (Introduction to archaeoastronomy) are alternative introductory courses; the former focuses on the evolution of the cosmos since the Big Bang, while the latter takes a look at observational astronomy in different cultures. It is planned to teach these courses every other semester.

Astronomy 240 covers the same introductory ground as Astronomy 110 but is designed for science students and includes more mathematics than astronomy 110.  At the current time this course is not being regularly scheduled.

Students interested in learning more about astronomy than is covered in the introductory courses can take Astronomy 280 and Astronomy 281 to explore the selected portions of the subject matter in a deeper, although mostly qualitative, manner.  The 200-level courses can be used fulfill science concentration requirements for students in the College of Education concentrating in the Earth & Space Sciences.

Students with a serious interest in astronomy should consider either the laboratory course Astronomy 399 or the advanced courses Astronomy 427 (Cosmology) or Astronomy 430 (Solar System)

For more information contact Dr. Joshua Barnes, 956-8138, the chair of the astronomy graduate program