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Course	Title
NATS 101	Planet Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World (3) NATS 101 emphasizes our own planet and the special conditions that it provides for life. NATS 101 reviews how the evolution of primitive life dramatically changed the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, and it explores humanity’s role in further altering our planetary environment. NATS 101 is a Tier I Natural Science course in the University’s general education curriculum.
NATS 101H	Planet Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World (3) NATS 101 emphasizes our own planet and the special conditions that it provides for life. NATS 101 reviews how the evolution of primitive life dramatically changed the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, and it explores humanity’s role in further altering our planetary environment. NATS 101 is a Tier I Natural Science course in the University’s general education curriculum.
NATS 102	The Universe and Humanity: Origin and Destiny (3) The Universe And Humanity: Origin And Destiny places Earth and humanity in a broad cosmic context. Topics range from the Big Bang cosmology to human consciousness with emphasis on the events and evolutionary processes that define the physical universe and our place in it. NATS 102 is a Tier I Natural Science course in the University’s general education curriculum.
NATS 102H	The Universe and Humanity: Origin and Destiny (3) The Universe And Humanity: Origin And Destiny places Earth and humanity in a broad cosmic context. Topics range from the Big Bang cosmology to human consciousness with emphasis on the events and evolutionary processes that define the physical universe and our place in it. NATS 102 is a Tier I Natural Science course in the University’s general education curriculum.
PTYS 195A	First Year Colloquium (1) 195A CLQ Hubbard: Why Do We Have A Space Program? Humans have been exploring the solar system with manned and unmanned spacecraft for 50 years. In 2009, U.S. taxpayers will spend nearly $18 billion to support NASA. In this colloquium, we will do some of our own exploring: why are we doing this, and how does the U.S. government decide what to do in space? We will look at the history of the space enterprise and the role of scientists. We will critically examine the basic human drives and the assumptions, some perhaps mistaken, that motivate space exploation. 195A CLQ Lauretta: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorites. This seminar is designed to introduce students to the study of asteroids, comets, and meteorites and will cover many different aspects of the field. We will discuss the history of astronomical observations of small bodies in the Solar System and the evidence that finally convinced the scientific community that rocks actually do fall from the sky. Modern and historical meteorite collection will be explored including meteorite hunting expedition on the ice sheets of Antarctica. The course will include a discussion of the formation of the Solar System as recorded by the meteorite record and the impact hazard posed by asteroids and comets. Past, current, and future spacecraft missions to small bodies will also be discussed.
PTYS 206	The Golden Age of Planetary Exploration (3) PTYS 206 emphasizes the part of the universe that is within reach of direct human experience and exploration. We will review current understanding of the contents of our Solar System and emphasize the processes that unite all of the planets and smaller bodies, such as tectonics, weathering, cratering, differentiation, and the evolution of oceans and atmospheres. The course will build on this knowledge to understand humankind’s motivation to explore beyond our Solar System, especially to search for planets around distant stars and to look or listen for evidence of life elsewhere in the Universe. PTYS 206 is a Tier II Natural Science course in the University’s general education curriculum.
PTYS 209	Exploration and Discovery in Planetary Science (3) This text needs to be updated.
PTYS 212/212H	The Science and Politics of Global Warming (3) The course is devoted to the concepts and principles required for understanding the Greenhouse Effect. It will then cover the effects of global warming on our climate both for past warming and cooling episodes (ice ages) and future predicted effects on our lives and the environment. The last third will deal with the present and future political and commercial issues of global warming. A research paper and a class presentation on a selected topic of global warming will be required. PTYS 212/212H is a Tier II Natural Science course in the University’s general education curriculum.
PTYS 214	Astrobiology: A Planetary Perspective (3) We will explore questions about the origin, evolution, and future of life on Earth and the possibility of life arising independently elsewhere in the Universe. We will examine what it means for a planet to be habitable, both in terms of basic necessities for living organisms to function and environmental limits to their ability to survive. Finally, we will review different approaches for searching for life within the Solar System and beyond using direct and remote sensing techniques. PTYS 214 is a Tier II Natural Science course in the University general education curriculum.
PTYS 395A	Mercury: Open Questions and Data (1) This colloquium class will focus on reviewing the scientific literature on research of Mercury and discussion of new Messenger data in that context. All aspects of Mercury’s geology and geophysics are open for discussion, although the arrival of the Messenger data during the semester is expected to strongly affect what topics are given most weight.
PTYS 395B	Special Topics in Planetary Science (1) Global Warming: How serious is it?
PTYS 403	Physics of the Solar System (3) Survey of planetary physics, planetary motions, planetary interiors, geophysics, planetary atmospheres, asteroids, comets, origin of the solar system. Prerequisites: PHYS 142 or 251. PTYS 403 is a required course for the PTYS Minor. PTYS 403 is identical with ASTR 403 and GEOS 403.
PTYS 407	Chemistry of the Solar System (3) Abundance, origin, distribution, and chemical behavior of the chemical elements in the Solar System. Emphasis on applications of chemical equilibrium, photochemistry, and mineral phase equilibrium theory. Prerequisites: CHEM 103b, MATH 125b, and PHYS 132 or their equivalents. PTYS 407 is required for the PTYS Minor. PTYS 407 is identical with CHEM 407.
PTYS 411	Geology and Geophysics of the Solar System (4) Geologic processes and landforms on satellites and the terrestrial planets, their modification under various planetary environments, and methods of analysis. PTYS 411 is identical with GEOS 411. PTYS 411 is required for the PTYS Minor.
PTYS 416	Asteroids, Comets and Kuiper Belt Objects (3) This is an introduction to the "minor planets," the asteroids, comets and Kuiper Belt objects. The focus will be on origin and evolution (including current evolution), as well as techniques of study. It will include an evening at the telescope of an asteroid search program. Graduate-level requirement includes some original work or calculations in the paper/project submitted and to research one of the primary topics and lead the class discussion of it. PTYS 416 is identical with PTYS 516.
PTYS 418	Modern Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques (3) Radiant energy; signals and noise; detectors and techniques for imaging, photometry, polarimetry and spectroscopy. Examples from stellar and planetary astronomy in the x-ray, optical, infrared and radio. Identical to ASTR 418; ASTR is home department. May be convened with: PTYS 518.
PTYS 419	Physics of the Earth (3) Fundamentals of the physics of the solid earth, including thermodynamics, rheology, geomagnetism, gravity, and planet tectonics. Prerequisite(s): MATH 254. Identical to: GEOS 419; GEOS is home department. May be convened with: PTYS 519. Usually offered: Spring.
PTYS 430	The Chemical Evolution of Earth (3) Chemical differentiation and evolution of Earth’s mantle and crust according to major-element, trace-element and isotopic characteristics of neodymium, hafnium, strontium, lead and other isotopes. Prerequisite(s): GEOS 356 or equivalent undergraduate petrology. Identical to GEOS 430.
PTYS 441A	Dynamic Meteorology (3) Thermodynamics and its application to planetary atmospheres, hydrostatics, fundamental concepts and laws of dynamic meteorology. Prerequisite: PHYS 426 or consent of instructor. Identical to ATMO 441A.
PTYS 441B	Dynamic Meteorology (3) Thermodynamics and its application to planetary atmospheres, hydrostatics, fundamental concepts and laws of dynamic meteorology. Prerequisite(s): ATMO 300A, ATMO 300B, PHYS 426 or consent of instructor. Identical to ATMO 441B; ATMO is home department. Usually offered: Spring.
PTYS 442	Mars (3) In-depth class about the planet Mars, including origin and evolution, geophysics, geology, atmospheric science, climate change, the search for life, and the history and future of Mars exploration. There will be guest lectures from professors and research scientists with expertise about aspects of Mars. There will be lots of discussion of recent results and scientific controversies about Mars. Graduate-level requirements include the completion of a research project that will be presented in class as well as a report. The research project could be analysis of Mars datasets, a laboratory experiment, or new theoretical modeling. Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Prerequisite(s): PTYS 411, Geology of the Solar System is strongly recommended but not required. Identical to: ASTR 442, GEOS 442. May be convened with: PTYS 542.
PTYS 449	Image Processing for Scientific Discovery (3) Image processing as a tool for exploration, discovery and analysis in a wide range of subjects. Suitable for both science and non-science majors, as well as pre-service and in-service mathematics and technology teachers. May be convened with: PTYS 549. Usually offered: Spring.
PTYS 455	Teaching College-Level Astronomy & Planetary Science (1) Students will discuss their current or recent experiences as a student. They will also learn how to create productive learning environments by reviewing research on the nature of teaching and learning; setting course goals and objectives; using interactive lectures, peer instruction, engaging demonstrations, collaborative groups, tutorials, and ranking tasks; and observing other instructors. Students will conduct a collaborative research project of their choosing related to astronomy and space science. The course will culminate with students presenting mock lectures using these techniques. Prerequisite(s): Student must be Astronomy or Planetary Science undergraduate or graduate major. Consent of instructor. Typical structure: 1 hour lecture. May be repeated: for credit 3 times (maximum 4 enrollments). Identical to: ASTR 455. May be convened with: ASTR/PTYS 555. Usually offered: Spring.
PTYS 495A	Galilean Satellites of Jupiter (1) A colloquium on the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, four large worlds with complex orbital, tidal, and magnetospheric interactions. Each student will be expected to study and report on a relevant topic. Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Prerequisite(s): recommended to students majoring in one of the physical sciences, especially Geosciences, Astronomy, or Planetary Sciences. May be convened with: PTYS 595A. Usually offered: Spring.

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