About 12-16 credits for the major consist of unspecified elective or supporting courses. The department places no restriction on the choice of electives, because students have very individual goals for their education at Penn State. Some students fill their electives with physics or computer science courses to obtain a minor or double major in these allied departments. Some take a sequence of courses in a distant field; recent graduates have taken a minor in history or violin lessons plus orchestra performance credits. Other students take a wide range of courses giving themselves the cultural breadth they desire for later life. The accompanying table provides a list of courses that the department recommends for consideration when selecting electives. (Relevant courses in physics and computer science and engineering are listed on the major checklist rather than here.) Some courses may require a prerequisite beyond those provided by the Astronomy and Astrophysics program. These are courses that complement the Astronomy and Astrophysics academic program in some way. The one rule that students should follow is that choice of electives (as with their entire academic program) should be discussed regularly with their adviser. Note that up to 12 credits of electives may be earned with satisfactory/unsatisfactory (SA/UN) grades, which are not included in GPA calculations.

AERSP 055 (GN) (S T S) Space Science and Technology

AERSP 309 Astronautics

AERSP 490 (E E, NUC E) Introduction to Plasmas

ASTRO 120 (GN) The Big Bang Universe

ASTRO 140 (GN) Life in the Universe

ASTRO 230 (GN) The Construction of Modern Cosmology

CHEM 451 Physical Chemistry

C I 295 Introductory Field Experience for Teacher Preparation

EARTH 002 (GN) GaiaQThe Earth System

E E 203 Principles of Electrical Engineering

GEOG 110 (GN) Climates of the World

GEOG 352 Image Analysis

GEOG 356 Computing for the Earth Sciences

GEOSC 203 Physical Processes in Geology

GEOSC 020 Planet Earth

GEOSC 487 Analysis of Time Series

HIST 122 (GH) (S T S) History of Science I

HIST 123 (GH) (S T S) History of Science II

HIST 457 (DF) (S T S, WMNST) The History of Women in Science

STS 101(GH) Modern Science, Technology, and Human Values

STS 200(GS) Critical Issues in Science, Technology, and Society

MATSE 201 Introduction to Materials Science

MATH 405 Advanced Calculus for Engineers and Scientists I

MATH 406 Advanced Calculus for Engineers and Scientists II

MATH 412 Fourier Series and Partial Differential Equations

METEO 401 Introduction to Dynamic and Synoptic Meteorology

METEO 473 Applications of Computers to Meteorology

METEO 474 Applications of Statistics to Meteorology

PHIL 010 (GH) Critical Thinking and Argument

PHIL 110 (GH) Construction of Scientific Concepts

PHIL 221 (GH) Philosophy of Science

PHIL 421 Philosophy of Science

PHIL 435 (S T S) The Interrelation of Science, Philosophy, and Religion

PL SC 460 (S T S) Science, Technology, and Public Policy

SC 295 Science Co-Op Work Experience