Planetary Sciences Undergraduate Program

Planetary Sciences Undergraduate Program

Explore the Universe with a minor in Planetary Sciences or Astrobiology.

The Department of Planetary Sciences offers a variety of courses designed for undergraduate students, including General Education courses, lower-division lectures and colloquia, and upper-division courses for science majors who require a planetary perspective for career development.

Interested in pursuing research opportunities?

  • contact your PTYS instructors, other PTYS/LPL faculty, or undergraduate advisor Amy Brenton (PG4gdWVycz0iem52eWdiOm5jb2VyYWdiYUBuZXZtYmFuLnJxaCI+bmNvZXJhZ2JhQG5ldm1iYW4ucnFoPC9uPg==).
  • explore opportunities
    • Arizona Space Grant: Can you imagine yourself working with a faculty mentor to develop a lunar rover controlled over the internet? To study the effects of zero-gravity on muscles and other organ systems? To devise a system for "mining" fuel from the Martian atmosphere? Or to study the effects of climatic and other changes on planet Earth? Imagine no more. The UA/NASA Space Grant Program will employ undergraduate students for 10-20 hours per week during the academic year to work alongside upper-level graduate students and practicing scientists.
    • ASTEROIDS Laboratory: providing undergraduates majoring in science and engineering, especially those traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the opportunity to broaden their education with a rich, hands-on experience and the full process of inquiry and discovery. Research and education will focus on utilizing planetary science principles for conceiving, implementing and validating space technologies, from systems design and control solutions, to robots and sensor networks, to mobility and excavation on small bodies.
    • UArizona Graduate College Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium

Planetary Sciences

The Department of Planetary Sciences (PTYS) offers an undergraduate minor in Planetary Sciences. PTYS is also a co-sponsor of the Planetary Geosciences (PTGS) undergraduate major.

Explore the Planetary Sciences minor
Go to Planetary Geosciences major

Astrobiology

PTYS is one of the sponsoring departments for the undergraduate minor in Astrobiology. 

Astronomy Studies

The Astronomy Studies minor, available from the Department of Astronomy, includes PTYS courses.

Course Catalog

Course descriptions for undergraduate courses in the Department of Planetary Sciences.

View Course Catalog

Class Schedules

Undergraduate-level Planetary Science (PTYS) class schedules for upcoming semesters.

View Fall 2024 Schedule
View Spring 2025 Schedule

Questions?

Academic Advisor

Amy Brenton
520-621-6954
PG4gdWVycz0iem52eWdiOm5jb2VyYWdiYUBuZXZtYmFuLnJxaCI+bmNvZXJhZ2JhQG5ldm1iYW4ucnFoPC9uPg==

Focus on Undergraduate Students

Read about undergraduate research at LPL.

View Undergraduate Focus StoriesCurrent PTYS Minors