AA/AS in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy students study the universe through an introductory course with its lab, a calculus sequence, and calculus-based physics. The required courses are completed together with the broader general education coursework for the associate degree. The degree pairs the major courses with a general education pattern, either the college's own requirements or the Cal-GETC transfer curriculum, and the combined program must reach a minimum unit total. Counselors can advise on how the coursework fits transfer or employment plans. Learners should review the listed course requirements and the stated program outcomes before enrolling, since individual classes may carry their own prerequisites and the catalog is the reference for the exact sequence. Learners practice describing how models of the universe change with new observations and interpreting observational data, using the physical principles that govern planets, stars, and galaxies. Details such as course lists, unit totals, and program learning outcomes are maintained in the college catalog, which students can consult while planning their schedules each term.