ASTR 120 - Galaxies, The Universe and Cosmology

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 4
LAB hours per week: 2
This course, which includes a lab, examines current ideas concerning the nature of galaxies and the universe as a whole. This course is intended for the student interested in astronomy to fulfill the general education lab science requirements. Topics include general relativity and curved space-time, black holes, quasars, and The Big Bang model of cosmology. These topics are studied in a descriptive, predominately non-mathematical manner.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 046 with a P or appropriate placement; ENGL 087 or AENG 100 with a grade of C or higher or appropriate placement; or permission of the Science Division Chair or designee.
Recommended: READ 088 or higher.
Course Outcomes:

Predict the behavior of spaces and times as informed by Einstein’s Theories of Special and General Relativity.
Identify the size and components of the Milky Way galaxy.
Describe the diversity of galactic types in the Universe.
Analyze the Expanding Universe via Hubble’s Law.
Explain the Big Bang model of cosmic evolution.
Prediction of the ultimate fates of the Universe.
Describe how the scientific method is used in the acquisition and application of “scientific knowledge”

Course Topics:

Basics of astronomical studies- the scientific methods, laws of nature, and appropriate units of measure
Brief overview of stars: types, physical characteristics, and life cycles
Structure and evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy
Survey of the diversity of galaxies in both time and space
Cosmology- the evolution and structure of the Universe
Possibility of extraterrestrial life and intelligence

Course Attribute(s): Natural Science