|
Astronomy
College of Natural
Sciences
Watanabe 416
2505 Correa Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7087
Fax: (808) 956-7107
E-mail: grad-chair@ifa.hawaii.edu
Web: www.ifa.hawaii.edu/gradprog
Faculty
*C. G. Wynn-Williams (Graduate Chair),
PhD-infrared astronomy
*J. Barnes, PhD-astrophysical theory
*A. M. Boesgaard, PhD-stellar spectroscopy
*K. Chambers, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*A. S. Cowie, PhD-interstellar matter
*L. L. Cowie, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*D. N. B. Hall, PhD-infrared astronomy
*J. N. Heasley, PhD-stellar photometry
*J. P. Henry, PhD-x-ray astronomy, instrumentation
*G. H. Herbig, PhD-stellar spectroscopy
*K. Hodapp, PhD-infrared astronomy
*E. M. Hu, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*D. C. Jewitt, PhD-planetary astronomy
*R. Joseph, PhD-infrared astronomy
*N. Kaiser, PhD-theoretical astronomy
*J. R. Kuhn, PhD-solar astrophysics
*B. J. LaBonte, PhD-solar physics
*G. Luppino, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*R. McLaren, PhD-infrared astronomy
*K. Meech, PhD-planetary astronomy
*D. Mickey, PhD-solar physics
*M. Northcott, PhD-adaptive optics
*T. Owen, PhD-solar system astronomy
*A. J. Pickles, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*J. T. Rayner, PhD-infrared astronomy
*C. Roddier, PhD-adaptive optics
*F. Roddier, DSc-adaptive optics
*D. B. Sanders, PhD-infrared and millimeter astronomy
*T. Simon, PhD-stellar spectroscopy
*A. N. Stockton, PhD-extragalactic spectroscopy
*D. Tholen, PhD-planetary science
*A. T. Tokunaga, PhD-infrared astronomy
*J. Tonry, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*R. B. Tully, PhD-galaxies and cosmology
*W. D. Vacca, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*R. Wainscoat, PhD-extragalactic astronomy
*Graduate Faculty
Degrees Offered:
MS in astronomy, PhD in astronomy
The Academic Program
Astronomy (ASTR) is the
branch of science that studies the structure and development of the
physical world beyond Earth. It includes the study of planets and other
objects of the solar system; the sun and stars and their evolution; the
interstellar medium; the nature and dynamics of star clusters, galaxies,
and clusters of galaxies; and the study of the nature and history of the
universe itself-of the physical world taken in its largest extent in
space and time.
Incomparable facilities
for ground-based observational astronomy in the optical, infrared, and
submillimeter regions of the spectrum reside in Hawai'i. The University
of Hawai'i's facilities are located on Haleakala on the island of Maui
at an elevation of 3,000 meters and on Mauna Kea on the Big Island of
Hawai'i at an elevation of 4,200 meters. The summit of Mauna Kea is
internationally recognized as the best observing site in the world. As a
consequence, the major telescopes of 11 nations are located there, and
the University of Hawai'i is guaranteed access to them. The Institute
for Astronomy of the University of Hawai'i has major programs in the
study of galaxies and cosmology, stellar and interstellar astronomy,
solar astronomy, infrared and submillimeter astronomy, and planetary
astronomy.
Graduate Study
Undergraduate
preparation for admission to the graduate program in astronomy includes
a minimum of 35 undergraduate credit hours in physics or astronomy, some
of which must be in atomic and nuclear physics, electromagnetism,
mechanics, optics, and thermodynamics. An undergraduate course in
introductory astronomy is recommended. Courses in mathematics through
differential equations are also required. Official scores of the General
Test and the physics subject test of the GRE must be submitted prior to
admission. The deadline for submission of applications is February 1.
The deadline for international students is January 15.
The graduate program is
directed toward producing research scientists at the PhD level. The MS
degree is also offered. Areas of concentration emphasize the use of the
University's observatories for the solution of problems in solar
physics, planetary astronomy (atmospheres and surfaces), stellar
astronomy, extragalactic systems, and cosmology.
Master's Degree
Graduates with a
terminal MS degree have found employment in space-related industries and
teaching positions in high schools and two-year colleges. Such teaching
positions may require additional courses in education.
Requirements
Course requirements for
the MS Plan B degree (which must be earned en route to the PhD) are a
minimum of 30 credit hours, which would normally include ASTR 633, five
additional 600-level astronomy courses, 3 credit hours of ASTR 734, 735,
or 736, and 9 credit hours of ASTR 699. Exceptions to these requirements
can be made in special cases.
Doctoral Degree
Graduates with the PhD
have found employment primarily on college and university faculties, in
government laboratories, and in space-related industry.
Requirements
Additional courses are
not necessarily required for the PhD, but the student's program of
courses must be judged by the faculty to provide both adequate general
background and specialized preparation for research. Normally, students
will be expected to be familiar with the content of all the 600-level
astronomy courses.
Students must pass the
qualifying examination (which also serves as the final examination for
the MS Plan B) and the oral comprehensive examination before admission
to candidacy for the PhD. They must write an acceptable dissertation
based on original research and defend it in a pubic final examination
before being awarded the PhD degree. |
