- 2018

Undergraduate

Minor / Major / Extended major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2018 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook.

Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the component of any bachelors double degrees.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Managing faculty

Faculty of Science

Offered by

School of Physics and Astronomy

Coordinator(s)

Dr Jasmina Lazendic-Galloway (Level one)
Associate Professor Duncan Galloway (Level two)
Associate Professor Michael Brown (Level three)

Location

Clayton

Astrophysics is the science that endeavours to understand the universe and its contents through observations and the applications of physical laws. The phenomena we seek to explain include the distribution of matter on the largest scales, and the nature and behaviour of celestial objects; these objects include galaxies and quasars, stars and planets, comets, pulsars and black holes. Astrophysics links the smallest and largest objects in the universe, from cosmic rays to super clusters of galaxies. The subject deals with big questions, such as the ultimate fate of the universeand the possibility of extra-terrestrial life. We address these questions by using theory, observations made with the largest telescopes and calculations done on the world's largest supercomputers. Astronomical observations are made using a multitude of different telescopes located around the globe and in space. These telescopes gather data from across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

Monash is home to world-leading experts in observational and theoretical astrophysics, whose expertise contributes directly to the content of the undergraduate astrophysics program. The program will introduce you to all of the skills and tools required in modern astronomy and astrophysics, from observing with sophisticated telescopes to the development of numerical codes for supercomputers. We are also developing new ways of teaching physics and astronomy. At first year this centres on the Physics and Astronomy Collaborative-learning Environment (PACE). First year classes are held in the PACE Studios which are custom-designed to encourage independent learning, and to promote the problem solving, effective communication and teamwork highly valued by employers. We are forging a community of students who are proactive learners, able to apply their knowledge and skills in creative ways.

Modern astrophysics draws heavily on physics, mathematics, computation and numerical analysis, and the Monash astrophysics program provides excellent training in both contemporary science and cutting-edge problem-solving. So our graduates find work in areas that require analytical people with highly developed problem-solving skills; this includes government, finance, business, private industry, science journalism and teaching, as well as research laboratories, universities and planetariums. For those who wish to pursue studies beyond their undergraduate degree, our postgraduate program can equip those who intend to pursue a professional career in astronomy or astrophysics.

Availability

Astrophysics is listed in S2000 Bachelor of Science, S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours) and S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours) at Clayton as a major, extended major or minor.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major and extended major will be able to:

  • explain how knowledge in astrophysics is constructed as part of continually evolving conceptual frameworks developed from observation, mathematical analysis and numerical modelling, and built around a core of unifying fundamental concepts
  • appreciate astrophysics as a creative, social endeavour which provides intellectual pleasure and contributes to society and its development through applications to past, current and future technologies
  • demonstrate the effective use of specialised astronomical equipment, including telescopes and their instrumentation
  • demonstrate experimental, numerical, computational, analytical, and problem solving skills required to gain employment in a wide variety of industries or to undertake further learning in astronomy and astrophysics related disciplines.

Units

Supporting studies

Except for some units at level 1, most astrophysics and physics units have mathematics prerequisites such as: MTH1020 (Analysis of change), MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling), MTH2010 (Multivariable calculus), or MTH2032 (Differential equations with modelling).

Note 1: Students in the double degree E3007 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science complete ENG1090 and/or ENG1005 instead of MTH1020 and/or MTH1030 and ENG2005 and MTH2040 instead of MTH2010 and MTH2032.

Minor requirements (24 points)

12 points at level 1 and 12 points at level 2.

Students complete:

  1. Two level 1 units (12 points) from the following:
    • ASP1010 Earth to cosmos - introductory astronomy or ASP1022 Life in the universe - astrobiology
    • PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity, or PHS1001 Foundation physics, or PHS1031 Physics for the living world
    • PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics, or PHS1002 Physics for engineering

    Note 2: ASP1010 and ASP1022 are descriptive and introductory and accessible to students without any specific background in science or mathematics and are particularly suitable as standalone electives.

    Note 3: Students who have achieved a study score of at least 25 in Year 12 Mathematical Methods and at least 30 in Physics or at least 40 in Specialist Mathematics (or equivalent) should take PHS1011; it extends students' existing knowledge and skills in physics. Students who don't satisfy these prerequisites should take PHS1001. Students with a specific interest in the relation of physics to biological systems can choose PHS1031.

  2. The following two level 2 units (12 points):

Major requirements (48 points)

12 points at level 1 and at least 18 points at level 3.

Students complete:

  1. The requirements for a minor (24 points) in astrophysics, which includes one of PHS1022 or PHS1002
  2. Three level 3 units (18 points) chosen from:
    • ASP3012 Stars and galaxies
    • ASP3051 Relativity and cosmology
    • ASP3162 Computational astrophysics and the extreme universe
    • ASP3231 Observational astronomy
  3. One additional unit (6 points) chosen from the list in b. above or from:
    • PHS2350 Physics and astronomy introductory research project 1 or PHS2360 Physics and astronomy introductory research project 2*
    • PHS3350 Physics and astronomy research project 1 or PHS3360 Physics and astronomy research project 2*

    * Enrolment in these units requires approval by the School for Physics and Astronomy level 2 or 3 coordinator.

Extended major requirements (72 points)

No more than 18 points at level 1 and at least 24 points at level 3.

Students complete:

  1. The requirements for a major in astrophysics (48 points)
  2. Four additional units (24 points) from lists b. and c. under the major or from the following, which includes all units from list b. under the major, and no more than one additional unit from list a. under the minor:
    • PHS2061 Quantum and thermal physics*
    • PHS2081 Atomic, nuclear and condensed matter physics*
    • PHS2062 Electromagnetism and optics*
    • PHS3031 Foundations of contemporary physics
    • PHS3042 Fundamentals of condensed matter physics
    • PHS3051 Photon physics
    • PHS3062 Fundamental particle physics
    • PHS3131 Theoretical physics
    • PHS3142 Theoretical physics 2
    • a level three mathematics unit approved by the School of Physics and Astronomy level 3 coordinator

    * Note that PHS1022 is a prerequisite for these units and needs to be one of the units taken at level 1.

Requirements for progressing to honours and other further studies

Students must meet the entry requirements for S3701 Bachelor of Science (Honours), M5021 Graduate Diploma of Health and Science Research or meet the progression requirements to the fourth year of S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours).

Students must also complete prerequisite study as per the intended discipline. Refer to the honours prerequisites table.

Relevant courses

Bachelors

Single degrees

Successful completion of this area of study can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degrees:*

  • S2000 Bachelor of Science
  • S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours)
  • S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours)

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives, however need to be aware that additional maths supporting units may also be required.

Double degrees

Successful completion of this area of study can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Science component in the following double degrees:*

  • B2023 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science
  • B2016 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Science
  • D3005 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • E3007 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • C2003 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science
  • L3007 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
  • S2007 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedical Science
  • S2004 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Computer Science
  • S2003 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies
  • S2005 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music

* Students cannot complete a minor, major or extended major in the same area of study.