Fall 2022 Undergraduate Courses

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Alien Earths (3)

Thousands of planets have been discovered orbiting nearby stars. How many of these worlds can we expect to be Earth-like? We explore this question from the perspective of astronomers, geologists, and historians. We look back at Earth’s geologic history to periods when our planet itself would appear very alien to us today. We study the nearby planets Venus and Mars, which were once more Earth-like than today. We discuss not only the evolution of Earth, Venus, and Mars as habitable worlds but also how human understanding of these planets has evolved. Finally, we apply these perspectives to the search for alien Earths in our galaxy. This interdisciplinary treatment of Earth, its neighboring planets, and planets being discovered around nearby stars allows us to consider the potentially unique position of Earth as a habitable world not only in space but in time.

Course Level: GenEd: Building Connections, GenEd: Quantitative Reasoning, GenEd: Writing
Course Level Other: Tier I NATS

Universe and Humanity: Exploring Our Place in Space (3)

This course places the Earth and humanity in a broad cosmic context and seeks to answer fundamental questions about our surroundings. Where are we and where do we come from? What is matter made of and what processes created it? What are different types of stars like and where does our Sun fit in? What is the role of stars in shaping the cosmos and the planets orbiting them? How did the Sun, the Earth, and the other planets in the solar system form? What are the planets in the solar system like and are there other planetary systems like ours? In addition to exploring these questions, this course will help students to understand how we have arrived at our current view of the universe, with a focus on the scientific method and the history of astronomy.

Course Level: GenEd: Exploring Perspectives - Natural Scientist, GenEd: Quantitative Reasoning, GenEd: Writing
Course Level Other: Tier 1 NATS

Exploring Our Solar System (3)

Our Solar System is filled with an incredible diversity of objects. These include the sun and planets, of course, but also many hundreds of moons—some with exotic oceans, erupting volcanoes, or dynamic atmospheres. Billions of asteroids and comets inhabit the space between and beyond the planets. Each body is unique, and has followed its own evolutionary history. This class will explore our current understanding of the Solar System and emphasize similarities that unite the different bodies as well as the differences between them. We will develop an understanding of physical processes that occur on these bodies, including tectonics, impact cratering, volcanism, and processes operating in their interiors, oceans, and atmospheres. We will also discuss planets around nearby stars and the potential for life beyond Earth. Throughout the class, we will highlight the leading role that the University of Arizona has played in exploring our Solar System.

Course Objectives: Students who engage with this course will develop a broad understanding of many fundamental concepts in planetary science and gain an appreciation for the discoveries and reasoning that leads to this understanding. They will learn to collect their own data as well as gather relevant supporting information from a variety of outside sources. Throughout the semester students will be demonstrating their grasp of course material by composing written assignments at a level their peers outside of the class will understand (a.k.a., Students on the Street, or SOS). During the term project students will be assisted in working with telescopes to obtain astronomical images using their own smart phone cameras. Students will learn during in-class workshops how to use their own images to then construct a time-lapse animation. Expected Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to (1) access and use information and data from a variety of sources, including their own activities, (2) critically evaluate this information and data for reliability in supporting fundamental concepts, (3) effectively communicate an understanding of these concepts to their SOS peers by synthesizing the information and data they have gathered, (4) demonstrate practical skills with a variety of software, including Word, Excel, Keynote, PowerPoint, and image/video editing apps.

Course Level: GenEd: Exploring Perspectives - Natural Scientist, GenEd: Quantitative Reasoning, GenEd: Writing, PTYS Minor Elective
Course Level Other: Tier 2 NATS

The Science and Politics of Climate Change (3)

This course explores the science of climate change and the political and commercial issues related to global warming. The first part of the course focuses on the scientific basis of climate change. Students will investigate the concepts and principles required for understanding planetary climates. They will assess the observational evidence for climate change and quantify the relative roles of natural and human drivers in causing it. They will connect and compare recent changes to historical climate trends and examine predictions for the impact of future climate change on the environment and our lives. The second part of the course focuses on the political and commercial issues related to climate change mitigation. Students will analyze policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore their impacts from the perspectives of policymakers, commercial interests and the public.

Course Level: GenEd: Building Connections, GenEd: Quantitative Reasoning, GenEd: Writing, PTYS Minor Elective
Course Level Other: Tier 2 NATS

Life in the Cosmos (3)

This course explores key questions in astrobiology and planetary science about the origin and evolution of life on Earth and the possibility that such phenomena have arisen elsewhere in the Universe. We examine what it means for a planet to be alive at scales ranging from cellular processes up to global impacts of biological activity. We survey international space-exploration activities to search for life within the Solar System, throughout our Galaxy, and beyond.

Course Level: GenEd: Building Connections, GenEd: Quantitative Reasoning, GenEd: World Cultures & Societies, PTYS Minor Elective
Course Level Other: Tier 2 NATS
(002) Dante Lauretta | Syllabus

Section 002 is Honors Section.

Planetary Geoscience (3)

The course introduces to the students the formation and evolution of solar system with a focus on its major bodies—major body evolution and their landforms resulted by geological activities, impact cratering, planetary volcanisms, aeolian and fluvial processes, planetary volatile reservoirs and astrobiological perspectives. GEOS is home department. Enrollment requirement: GEOS 251.

(001) Moitra

Teaching Teams Professional Development Workshop (3)

Professional development for undergraduates of all disciplines in areas of peer instruction and mentoring, leadership, public speaking, group dynamics, and interview skills; also assists students with preceptorships.

Course Level Other: Undergraduate Workshop
(001) Steve Kortenkamp, Edwards | Syllabus

Teaching Teams Internship (3)

Internship for students who have completed PTYS 297A (formerly LASC 297A), with at least one semester as a preceptor of a university-level course) to continue their reaching team education. Course covers elements of learning environments, communication skills, providing feedback, performance evaluation, and cooperative learning strategies.

Course Level Other: Undergraduate Internship
(001) Steve Kortenkamp, Edwards | Syllabus
(002) Steve Kortenkamp, Edwards | Syllabus

Professional Development in a Digital Age (2-3)

Professional development in areas that are affected by transition to digital formats. Students will learn about elevator pitches, communication, utilizing professional technologies, resumes and curriculum vitaes, online resumes and portfolios, professionalism within social media, searching for jobs online, and interviewing.

Course Level Other: Undergraduate Workshop
(001) Steve Kortenkamp, Edwards | Syllabus

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 may be co-convened with PTYS 516.
 

Course Level: PTYS Minor Elective

Astronomical Instrumentation (2)

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. Equivalent to ASTR 418. ASTR is home department.

Course Level: PTYS Minor Elective
(001) Douglas

Moons (3)

We study the natural satellites (moons) of planets, starting with a survey of our own solar system, and introduce the principles and theories of their formation and evolution. How do Galilean satellites form? What causes Triton’s plumes? Is the Saturn system young? How old is the Moon? Why are binary asteroids and KBOs so common? Is Phobos falling apart? Then we will consider the science questions motivating current and planned missions of exploration, and the discovery of exomoons. The class will emphasize quantitative approaches and will therefore rely upon a common understanding of mechanics and calculus. Familiarity with geology is helpful but is not required. May be co-convened with PTYS 523.

Course Level: PTYS Minor Elective

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. ATMO is home department.

Course Level: PTYS Minor Elective
(001) Atallah

Advanced Teaching Teams Internship (3)

This advanced internship is for students who have completed PTYS 393. Course covers elements of learning environments, communication skills, providing feedback, performance evaluation, and cooperative learning strategies; it requires students to peer lead workshop sections within the Teaching Teams Program alongside a faculty/staff mentor.

Course Level Other: Undergraduate Internship
(001) Steve Kortenkamp, Edwards | Syllabus
(002) Steve Kortenkamp, Edwards | Syllabus