{"678660":{"#nid":"678660","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College of Sciences Welcomes New Astrophysics Major, Minor","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E will launch the new B.S. in Astrophysics program in summer 2025. This new major is the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/college-sciences-announces-new-minors-phd-program-and-curriculum-additions\u0022\u003Elatest addition to the College of Sciences\u2019 academic offerings\u003C\/a\u003E and responds to increased student demand for courses and research opportunities in astrophysics. A minor in astrophysics will also be offered starting next summer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAccording to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/david-ballantyne\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Ballantyne\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate chair for Academic Programs and professor in the School of Physics, the new major is unique because it focuses on the future of astronomy and astrophysics, especially in the era of discoveries made by the James Webb Space Telescope and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe made a concerted effort when crafting this degree to make it modern and forward-facing,\u201d says Ballantyne. \u201cIt is very much focused on the next decade of astronomy and astrophysics, providing a strong emphasis on computational skills, data analysis, and big data.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe new degree includes coursework on the fundamental physical processes and laws that govern planetary systems, stars, galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. These core topics are complemented by training in computational and data analysis techniques that can be applied to a variety of disciplines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFor Ballantyne, the degree program should appeal to students who are interested in pursuing careers in space science research as well as those interested in non-research career paths.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThis program prepares students to solve complex problems in a very quantitative, rigorous way. Such problem solving and computational skills are highly marketable for a range of career paths,\u201d he adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe evolution of astrophysics at Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhile astronomy coursework and\u0026nbsp;outreach have long existed at the Institute, astrophysics officially began in 2008, when the School of Physics launched the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Relativistic Astrophysics\u003C\/a\u003E (CRA). Today, the Center boasts more than\u0026nbsp;a dozen faculty and research scientists, with expertise spanning\u0026nbsp;high-energy astrophysics, extrasolar planets, gravitational-wave astronomy, and astroparticle physics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs the CRA\u2019s faculty roster grew, the School expanded its offering of astrophysics courses. A concentration in astrophysics for physics majors was launched during the 2013-14 academic year. A short time later, the School introduced an astrophysics certificate for non-majors. The new astrophysics major and minor \u2014 which will replace the concentration and certificate, respectively \u2014 reflects a new chapter in the history of astrophysics education and research at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMost of our peer institutions have an astronomy or astrophysics degree so the creation of this program at Georgia Tech was a natural fit,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;Ballantyne. \u201cOur program fills a critical need considering that there are few options in the U.S. Southeast for students to obtain this type of training at an institution of Georgia Tech\u2019s caliber.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeclaring the astrophysics major and minor\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECurrent students\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECurrent students can declare the astrophysics major starting next semester, following the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/registrar.gatech.edu\/info\/change-major-form-undergraduate-students\u0022\u003Estandard major change process for undergraduates\u003C\/a\u003E. The astrophysics minor will be available to all Georgia Tech undergraduates starting summer 2025.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIncoming students\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAstrophysics will be added to the list of majors beginning with the admissions application for Summer 2025 (transfer students) and the 2026-27 academic year (first-year students).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn the interim, transfer students enrolling for the Spring 2025 semester should follow the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/registrar.gatech.edu\/info\/change-major-form-undergraduate-students\u0022\u003Estandard major change process for undergraduates\u003C\/a\u003E. Students applying to Georgia Tech for the 2025-26 academic year should select \u201cphysics\u201d as their major during the application process and choose \u201castrophysics\u201d once admitted, during the major confirmation process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;School of Physics will launch the new B.S. in Astrophysics program in summer 2025. This new major is the\u0026nbsp;latest addition to the College of Sciences\u2019 academic offerings and responds to increased student demand for courses and research opportunities in astrophysics. A minor in astrophysics will also be offered starting next summer.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The\u00a0School of Physics will launch the new B.S. in Astrophysics program in summer 2025. This new major is the\u00a0latest addition to the College of Sciences\u2019 academic offerings and responds to increased student demand for courses and research opportunities in "}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2024-11-26 16:16:19","changed_gmt":"2024-12-05 16:41:22","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675734":{"id":"675734","type":"image","title":"Astronomers using NASA\u0027s James Webb Space Telescope found candidates for the first brown dwarfs outside of our galaxy in a young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 602). (ESA\/Webb, NASA \u0026 CSA, P. Zeidler, E. Sabbi, A. Nota, M. Zamani)","body":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAstronomers using NASA\u0027s James Webb Space Telescope found candidates for the first brown dwarfs outside of our galaxy in a young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 602). (ESA\/Webb, NASA \u0026amp; CSA, P. Zeidler, E. Sabbi, A. Nota, M. Zamani)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1732637927","gmt_created":"2024-11-26 16:18:47","changed":"1732637927","gmt_changed":"2024-11-26 16:18:47","alt":"Astronomers using NASA\u0027s James Webb Space Telescope found candidates for the first brown dwarfs outside of our galaxy in a young star cluster in the Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 602). (ESA\/Webb, NASA \u0026 CSA, P. Zeidler, E. Sabbi, A. Nota, M. Zamani)","file":{"fid":"259395","name":"NGC 602 Star Cluster_James Webb Space Telescope.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/26\/NGC%20602%20Star%20Cluster_James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/26\/NGC%20602%20Star%20Cluster_James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope.png","mime":"image\/png","size":26843373,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/26\/NGC%20602%20Star%20Cluster_James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope.png?itok=6fyI44kX"}}},"media_ids":["675734"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/school-physics-announces-two-new-academic-programs","title":"School of Physics Announces Two New Academic Programs"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"166937","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"4079","name":"astrophysics"},{"id":"91741","name":"Center for Relativistic Astrophysics"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Communications\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}