Do you think space is cool? Are you fascinated with life on Earth? Do you like pondering the possibility of life on other planets? Or humans traveling to other planets? Do you need a science class to graduate and want to take one that is out of the ordinary?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then go ahead sign up for this class!
This class will explore various topics in astronomy, biology, astrobiology, the search for extraterrestrial life, the process of science and skeptical inquiry, and spaceflight. Although ASTR 1210 and/or ASTR 1220 are listed as a pre-requisite in the University catalog, I will introduce basic astronomy terms and concepts as we get to them, and I strongly encourage students to ask me to explain unfamiliar terms in class or after class. Therefore, it is not necessary that you have taken one of those courses in order to do well in this class.
This is a 3000-level class, so it is primarily targeted to 3rd and 4th year students. 1st and 2nd year students, however, are welcome. It can be taken by astronomy majors, minors, or those with a passing interest. There will be a term paper, some quizzes, and lots of class participation and discussion. I will be relying on material from the textbook Life in the Universe. I strongly recommend at least sharing a copy with another student or buying your own. They are available in the bookstore, but, having been a college student not too long ago, I'm a big fan of buying used online. 1st edition is okay as long as you can find the right sections.
If you would like to brush up on basic astronomy concepts, you can do so before taking this class, but it is not required. If you have a friend who has taken introductory astronomy, go ahead and flip though their textbook. At the University of Virginia, we use Cosmic Perspective, which is a great book. You can browse the lecture notes of past classes, like here or here or various ones on Collab. You may also browse astronomy websites such as Science World, David Darling, or About.com. As you will soon learn, I'm a bit of a "new media" junkie, so I would also recommend listening to astronomy-themed podcasts to brush up on your terminology or basic concepts. My favorites include Astronomy Cast and 365 Days of Astronomy.
Again, none of these are required, but they may be helpful resources.
Some students will take this course because they already read science and technology news stories or popular literature. If you are not, then I encourage you to check out what is going on in the world of astronomy in places like Universe Today, Portal to the Universe, major news outlets like the NY Times, or any of the great bloggers who participate in the Carnival of Space.
I will also confess that this is my first time teaching this course. I am excited to be working with this material! Feedback is appreciated. If you would like to see how Professor Rood, the usual instructor for this course, answers the pre-requisite question, click here. You can browse though his lecture notes as well, but keep in mind that I will cover topics a bit differently.
