Graduate Courses
Academic Year 2023-2024 Graduate Courses
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Preparatory and Elective Graduate Courses
Fall 2023
**The Department fall session graduate courses will start the week of September 11th.**
- AST1440H Radiation (Chris Matzner) M, TH 11-12:30
- AST 2050H Observational Techniques (Laurie Rousseau-Nepton & Keith Vanderlinde) M 1-3
- AST3101H Specialized Topics: Modular courses worth .25FCE
- Term F1: lec 0221: Black Holes and Neutron Stars 1: Gravity (Reed Essick & Maya Fishbach) F 2-4
- Term F2: lec 0222: Black Holes and Neutron Stars 2: Plasmas (Reed Essick & Bart Ripperda) F 2-4
Winter 2024
- AST1410H Stars (Maria Drout) TU 11-12, TH 11-1
- AST1420H Galactic Structure and Dynamics (Jo Bovy) M, F 1-2:30
- AST1430H Cosmology (Juan Mena-Parra) M 11-12, W 11:30-12:30
- AST3101H Specialized Topics: Modular courses worth .25FCE
- Term S1: lec 0124: Practical Skills for Astronomical Observation: from Proposal Writing to Observations (Ting Li) TU 2-4
- Terms S2: lec 0141: Ethics and Practice in Astronomy (Josh Speagle) F 10-12
Research Courses (for 1st year direct-entry PhD students)
- AST1501Y Introduction to Research (Jo Bovy) Fall Session: TU, TH 3-4 Winter Session: M 10-11, TH 3-4
- AST1500Y Directed Research (Jo Bovy)
Modular Courses (AST3101H Specialized Topics in Astronomy & Astrophysics)
Modular courses also known as “mini-courses” are weighted at half a standard graduate elective equivalent (0.25 FCE). The topics will vary year to year and give students the flexibility to examine a diverse range of subjects in a compressed format. The modules serve to address gaps in student research knowledge and/or practical skills acquisition in a timely manner. Compressed topics allow for a breadth of development in research competencies and skills.
The topics offered will be based on program needs and instructor availability within a particular area not included in other course offerings. Given that the topics will be adaptable and may be driven by student’s interests, some may be one-off offerings.
The modular courses are repeatable for credit if taken with a different topic (each carrying an individual subtitle and lecture code) to a maximum of four modules (1.0 FCE) to be counted toward fulfillment of the graduate electives requirement. Please note, however, that these compact courses are not designed to accompany the literature qualifying examination process.
Scheduling: the modular courses may be offered as non-standard with respect to start and end dates but should fall within one session (and not overlap sessions): either fall, winter or summer session.
Physics Department Graduate Courses
We have reciprocity with the Physics Department for enrollment in our respective graduate courses. The following affinity physics courses are approved toward the required graduate electives:
- PHY1483H: Relativity Theory I
- PHY1484H: Relativity Theory II
- PHY1489H: Introduction to High Energy Physics
- PHY1500H: Statistical Mechanics
- PHY 1510H: Electromagnetism
- PHY1520H: Quantum Mechanics
- PHY1530H: Fluid Mechanics
- PHY 1540Y: Mathematical Methods in Physics
- PHY1610H: Scientific Computing for Physicists
Enrollment in Graduate Courses in a Cognate Department
It may be possible to substitute a graduate course from a cognate department offered at the equivalent level toward your required electives with approval from the associate chair, graduate, Jo Bovy. To petition, please email grad.coord@astro.utoronto.ca with an overall course plan (this can be tentative) to provide context for justification for inclusion.
Graduate Students from Other Departments
In accord with our course reciprocity arrangement, enrollment slots are available for physics students in all of our courses with the exception of the AST1501/1500 directed research series which is restricted to our direct-entry PhD students.
Graduate students from other departments may take graduate courses offered by Astronomy and Astrophysics if they have a demonstrated background (i.e. upper-level undergraduate physics coursework along with strong mathematical preparation) and with permission from the both the course instructor and their home department.
AY2023-24 Courses
In terms of future planning, the intent is to offer the full AST preparatory course (1000 series) each year whenever possible.
Full List of Graduate Courses
Please note that not all courses listed are necessarily offered every year but may be offered in future years.
Preparatory Courses
- AST1410H Stars
- AST1420H Galactic Structure and Dynamics
- AST1430H Cosmology
- AST 1440H Radiation Processes and Gas Dynamics
- JAS1101H Topics in Astrostatistics
Research Courses
Elective Courses
- AST2030H The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation
- AST2040H Extragalactic Astronomy
- AST 2050H Observational Techniques
Specialized Courses
- AST3010H Advanced Topics in Stellar and Galactic Astronomy
- AST3020H Advanced Topics in Interstellar Matter and Star Formation I
- AST3021H Advanced Topics in Interstellar Matter and Star Formation II
- AST3040H Advanced Topics in Planetary Science
- AST3050H Theoretical Cosmology
- AST3100H Lecture Series in Specialized Topics
- AST3101H Specialized Topics in Astronomy & Astrophysics (Modular Course 0.25 FCE)