The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Wayne State University offers a large array of courses designed to support its undergraduate and graduate academic programs. There are also courses designed for non physics or non science majors desiring to acquire some background in science literacy and/or wishing to satisfy the University General Education Requirements in Science. Note that most of these courses are taught by our experienced Faculty.
Browse the following links to learn more about our courses. Also free to contact us to request additional information.
Syllabi from prior years are available here: Winter 2012, Fall 2011 and Fall 2007 - Fall 2011
Current syllabi are available here: Winter 2013, Fall 2012
Astronomy - Fall 2013
AST 2010 - (PS) Descriptive Astronomy
Lecture course that introduces the concepts and methods of modern astronomy, the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology; recent discoveries about planets, moons, the sun, pulsars, quasars, and black holes. Credits
AST 2011 - Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory
Laboratory exercises and observations; includes two late evening viewing sessions. Satisfies General Education Laboratory requirement when taken concurrently with AST 2010. Credits
AST 5010 - Astrophysics and Stellar Astronomy
Electromagnetic radiation and matter; solar characteristics; stellar distances; magnitudes; spectral classification; celestial mechanics; binary stars; stellar motions, structure and evolution; compact and variable stars; Milky Way Galaxy and interstellar medium; galaxies and clusters of galaxies; quasars; Hubble's Law; cosmology. Credits