As of Fall Semester 2013, after the new major (and minor) were approved by the Board

of Trustees, much of the information in this document became live on the Penn State
Undergraduate Bulletin:
http://bulletins.psu.edu/undergrad/programs/baccalaureate/P/PASTR
Students can now officially declare the Planetary Science and Astronomy major and perform a
degree audit in eLion.
Below is the slightly amended information that was presented to the faculty senate for approval
and can be used as an advising resource until the undergraduate handbook is updated.
Program Statement:
Planetary Science and Astronomy majors will study the Earth system in the context of the Solar
System and the universe as a whole. Students will apply methods and knowledge from
mathematics, geosciences, chemistry, biology, astronomy and physics, and through laboratory
experiences and coursework they will both learn to explore the Earth and to use telescopes to
obtain astronomical data. They will study planetary systems around other stars and explore the
possibility of their harboring life. Communication of these topics, both oral and written, to the
public and to their peers will be emphasized, as will logic and general problem-solving skills.
Upon graduation students will be prepared to enter a graduate program in education to obtain
teaching certification, to work in an informal science venue or planetarium, or to enter a variety
of industry, environmental, or defense professions.
In order to be eligible for entrance to the Planetary Science and Astronomy major, a student
must have: 1) Attained at least a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average; 2) Completed Math 140
with a grade of C or better; 3) Completed at least four of the following courses, Astro 120, Astro
130, Astro 140, Bio 110, Chem 110, Earth 002, Geosci 001, Geosci 020, or Stat 200 with a grade
of C or better
A minimum of 122 credits is required to earn the degree.
General Education: 45 credits
(18 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in front of the Bulletin)
First-Year Seminar:
(Included in General Education course selection) *Note: we prefer and will advise incoming UP
students to take Astro 20S, but we have to expect that all students who transfer from a
commonwealth campus or who change majors from another discipline will not have taken Astro
20, so we have to allow for that possibility here.
United States Cultures and International Cultures:
(Included in General Education course selection)
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy
Writing Across the Curriculum:
(Included in General Education course selection or REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
Requirements for the Major: 93 credits
(This includes 18 credits of General Education courses: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ
courses; 3 credits of GWS courses)
Prescribed Courses:
BIOL 110 GN(4)[1], CHEM 110 GN(3)[1], CHEM 111 GN(1), CHEM 112 GN(3)[1], CHEM 113
GN(1), ENGL 202C GWS(3), MATH 140(4)[1], MATH 141(4) (Sem: 1 - 4)
ASTRO 401(4)[1], ASTRO 402(3)[1], GEOSC/BIOL 474(3)[1], STAT 200 GQ(4)[1] (Sem: 5 - 8)
Additional Courses:
ASTRO 001 GN(3), ASTRO 005 GN(3), ASTRO 006 GN(3), or ASTRO 291 GN(3) (Sem: 1 - 4)
CMPSC 101 GQ(3), CMPSC 121 GQ(3), CMPSC 201 GQ(3), CMPSC 202 GQ(3), or CMPSC 203
GQ(4) (Sem: 1 - 6)
PHYS 211 GN(4) or PHYS 250 GN(4) (Sem: 3 - 6)
PHYS 212 GN(4) or PHYS 251 GN(4) (Sem: 3 - 6)
Select 9 credits from ASTRO 120 GN(3), ASTRO 130 GN(3), ASTRO 140 GN(3), and ASTRO 292
GN(3) (Sem: 1 - 6)
Select 3 credits from GEOSC 001(3), GEOSC 020 GN(3), and EARTH 002 GN(3) (Sem: 1 - 4)
Select 12 credits from EARTH 100 GN(3), EARTH 103 GN(3), EARTH 106 GN(3), EARTH 150
GN(3), EARTH 202 (3), GEOG 160 GS(3), GEOSC 201 (4), GEOSC 202 (4), GEOSC 203 (4),
GEOSC 204 (4), METEO 101 GN(3), and METEO 201 (3) (Sem: 3 - 8)
Supporting Courses and Related Areas:
At least 6 credits from the below categories must be at the 400 level
Select 9-12 credits from program list of advanced electives (Sem: 3 - 8)
Select 11* credits (see below) in consultation with adviser from department list (Sem: 1 - 8)
[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate
Policy 82-44
* On the bulletin website and in early drafts of the checklist, this said 9 credits, not 11.
However, we want students who start at UP to take Astro 20S, which is a 2 credit seminar that
should count towards the supporting courses, so we had to adjust this to say Select 11 credits
so that Astro 20S would count for something in the major.
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy
Advanced Elective List:
Recommended for all students (continued)
GEOSC 310 (4) ASTRO 410 (3)
GEOSC 320 (3) ASTRO 414 (3)
GEOSC 340 (3) ASTRO 440 (3)
GEOSC 402Y IL(3) ASTRO 451 (3)
GEOSC 416 (3) ASTRO 480 (3)
GEOSC 419 (3) ASTRO 485 (3)
GEOSC 422 (3) PHYS 213 GN(2)
GEOSC 424 (3) PHYS 214 GN(2)
GEOSC 434 (3) PHYS 237 (3)
GEOSC 440 (3) GEOG 362 (3)
GEOSC 454 (3) GEOG 363 (3)
GEOSC 489 (4) GEOG 364 (3)
Students who specifically
want the astrobiology minor
(continued)
ASTRO 420W (3) BIOL 405 (3)
ASTRO 475W (3) BIOL 427 (3)
METEO 466 (3) B M B 401 (3)
BIOL 220W GN(3) B M B 402 (3)
BIOL 230W GN(3) MICRB 201 (3)
Students who want to pursue
teaching certification
SCI ED 411 (3)
SCI ED 412 (3)
PSYCH 412 (3)
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy
Supporting Courses:
Several unspecified elective or supporting courses make up 9 credits in the requirements for the
major. Some students fill their electives with courses in a related field in order to earn a minor
or double major. Some take a sequence of courses in a distant field. Other students take a wide
range of courses, giving themselves the cultural breadth they desire for later in life. The one rule
that students should follow is that choice of electives (as with their entire academic program)
should be discussed regularly with their advisors.
Courses not accepted by the University for supporting courses:
CAS 126, ENGL 004, ENGL 005, ESL 004, LL ED 005, LL ED 010
Courses not accepted by the Department for supporting courses:
BI SC 001, BI SC 002, BI SC 003, BI SC 004, CHEM 001, CHEM 003, CHEM 101, CHEM 108,
CMPSC 100, PHYS 001, PHYS 150, PHYS 151, MATH courses lower than MATH 140, KINES
0XX
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy
Recommended Academic Plan for B.S. in Planetary Science and Astronomy
Semester 1 Credits Semester 2 Credits
Astro 20S 2 Chem 110 3
Math 140 or 140G 4 Chem 111 1
Astro 001, 005, or 006 3 Math 141 or 141G 4
Geosc 001 3 Astro 120 or 130 3
GA / GH / GS 3 English 015 3
Total Credits: 15 Total Credits: 14
Semester 3 Credits Semester 4 Credits
Bio 110 4 CAS 100 3
Chem 112 3 Cmpsc 201 3
Chem 113 1 Advanced Elective 3 - 4
Phys 211 or 250 4 Earth 103 3
Astro 140 3 GA / GH / GS (IL) 3
Total Credits: 15 Total Credits: 15 - 16
Semester 5 Credits Semester 6 Credits
Astro 401 4 Astro 402 3
English 202C 3 Advanced Elective 3
Earth 202 3 Phys 212 or 251 4
Geog 160 3 Stat 200 4
Advanced Elective 3 GHA 1.5
Total Credits: 16 Total Credits: 15.5
Semester 7 Credits Semester 8 Credits
Astro 120 or 130 3 Supporting Course 3
Supporting Course 3 Supporting Course 3
Bio / Geo 474 3 Meteo 101 3
GA / GH / GS 3 GA / GH / GS 3
GA / GH / GS 3 GA / GH / GS 3
GHA 1.5
Total Credits: 16.5 Total Credits: 15
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy
Recommended Academic Plan for B.S. in Planetary Science and Astronomy for a
student wishing to later pursue teaching certification
Semester 1 Credits Semester 2 Credits
Astro 20S 2 Chem 110 3
Math 140 or 140G 4 Chem 111 1
Astro 001, 005, or 006 3 Math 141 or 141G 4
Geosc 001 3 Astro 120 or 130 3
Psych 100 (GS) 3 English 015 3
Total Credits: 15 Total Credits: 14
Semester 3 Credits Semester 4 Credits
Bio 110 4 CAS 100 3
Chem 112 3 Cmpsc 203 4
Chem 113 1 Meteo 101 3
Phys 211 or 250 4 Earth 103 3
Astro 140 3 GA / GH / GS (IL) 3
Total Credits: 15 Total Credits: 16
Semester 5 Credits Semester 6 Credits
Astro 401 4 Astro 402 3
Psych 412 (Supporting Course) 3 Astro 120 or 130 3
Phys 212 or 251 4 Edpsy 14 (Supporting Course) 3
GA / GH / GS 3 CI 295 (Advanced Elective) 3
GHA 1.5 GA / GH / GS 3
Total Credits: 15.5 Total Credits: 15
Semester 7 Credits Semester 8 Credits
Bio / Geo 474 3 Sci Ed 412 (Advanced Elective) 3
Sci Ed 411 (Advanced Elective) 3 Supporting Course 3
Stat 200 4 Earth 150 3
English 202C 3 Earth 202 3
GA / GH / GS 3 GA / GH / GS 3
GHA 1.5
Total Credits: 16 Total Credits: 16.5
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy
Goals:
!
To enable students to acquire qualitative reasoning skills and quantitative problem solving
skills in the fields of astronomy and Earth systems science, and to be able to effectively
communicate these scientific concepts to their peers and to non-experts.
!
To provide students with theoretical background knowledge and practical hands-on
experience necessary to obtain a scientific or technical job and to advance in their chosen
career.
Objectives:
!
Students should understand the foundational concepts that underlie all of their science
coursework in disciplines like astronomy, biology, chemistry, geosciences, and physics.
!
Students should be able to write and give oral presentations on advanced concepts in their
discipline, and they should also be able to convey their knowledge and enthusiasm for these
subjects to non-experts in informal educational settings.
!
Students should demonstrate their ability to solve quantitative problems given as homework
and on exams.
!
Students should understand the need for ethical conduct in their work and should maintain
the highest standards of academic integrity.
!
Students should have knowledge of multiple career options and should feel prepared to enter
their chosen career. Students interested in pursuing certification for teaching at the K-12
level should be prepared to enter a masters program and to obtain teaching certification.
Draft Advising document for Planetary Science and Astronomy