Course Listings with Dr. Tifft

These courses are available to UofA students through normal registration for credit. Grades are Superior/Pass/Fail unless enrolled for Honors credit. UofA students should enroll in Astronomy 299, 399, or 499 according to standing. The number of credit hours may vary and should be discussed with Dr. Tifft. Local non-UofA persons may contact Dr. Tifft directly concerning availability on a non-credit SASTPC fee basis, but the courses are not presently available on a remote self-study basis. Courses normally meet once weekly through standard Fall or Spring semesters. Unless there are multiple enrollees, meetings are on a one-on-one basis.

If you are interested in any of these options, please apply here.

1. Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology (3 credit hour nominal load)
   (Equivalent to Natural Science 201 course in Astronomy at UofA)
   Topics covered include (Outline notes are provided):
   
   The Nature of Science
   Basic Physics of Space, Time, Motion, Force, Matter and Energy
   Properties and Evolution of Stars
   The Discovery and Properties of Our Milky Way Galaxy
   The Discovery and Properties of External Galaxies and Galaxy Systems
   The Development of Classical Big-Bang Cosmology
   Conflicts and Problems, Alternative Cosmological Viewpoints
   
   
   
2. Galaxies and Cosmology (3 credit hour nominal load)
   (Equivalent to Physics 295 as given by Dr. Tifft at PCC in 1998, 1999)
   Topics covered as in option A above in more depth and detail.
   (Outline notes are provided)
   
   
   
3. Senior Astrophysics - Galaxies and Cosmology (3 credit hour nomial load)
   (Equivalent to Astronomy 400B as given by Dr. Tifft at UofA)
   Topics treated in detail with appropriate advanced mathematics as required
   Topics covered include (Outline notes are provided)
   
   Aspects of Light, Maxwell, Polarization, Scattering
   The Solar Motion and Classical Galactic Kinematics
   Classical Galactic Dynamics
   Stellar Statistics and Populations
   Aspects of the Interstellar Material
   Classification, Spectra and Photometric Properties of Galaxies
   Galaxy Motions and Dynamical Relationships
   The Cosmic Redshift, Properties and Controversies
   Properties of Active and Radio Galaxies
   Properties of Systems of Galaxies and Large Scale Structure
   Aspects of Extragalactic X-ray Astronomy
   Aspects of the Extragalactic Distance Scale
   Aspects of Special Relativity
   Classical Cosmology in Curved Spaces
   Aspects of the Early Universe
   Aspects of Alternative Cosmologies
   
   
   
4. Review of the Nature of the Cosmic Redshift (Variable units by agreement)
   (In depth review of the Seminar series given in 2000 by Dr. Tifft -
   see the Seminars list under activities and the transcripts under publications)
   
   
   
5. Individual special topics by direct arrangement (Variable units)
   (See Dr. Tifft directly to discuss possible areas of study)
   
   
   
6. Individual student research projects by direct arrangement (Variable units)
   (See Dr. Tifft directly to discuss possible projects)