Getting Started

College: CNS

Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

Social World/Diversity courses are recommended. Note that College requirements include proficiency in a foreign language for the B.A.

Suggested Major & Pre-Requisite Courses

Required prerequisites, including recommended sequence:

for the B.S.:		for the B.A.:
MATH 131-132, MATH 233		MATH 131-132
PHYSICS 181-182 (or 151-152)		PHYSICS 151-152
ASTRON 191A (First-Year Seminar, 1 cr.)		ASTRON 191A (First-Year Seminar, 1 cr.)
ASTRON 228 (Spring only)		ASTRON 228 (Spring only)

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current and admitted students: This major is unrestricted which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting. See the Chief Undergraduate Advisor to declare the major as soon as possible.

Students achieving less than a "B" in the Math or Physics sequences will have difficulty completing upper level courses.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more about Astrophysics B.S.; Space Sciences B.S.; or the Astronomy B.A.

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
Yes - A minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

For further information, contact:
Professor Houjun Mo
536 Lederle GRT-C; 577-0394
hjmo@astro.umass.edu