Program Requirement

Program details

Catalog Year: 2026 - 2027 General Studies Gold

Degree: Bachelor of Science, BS

College/School: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Plan Code: LASESABS

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120

minimum credit hours

Upper division minimum
credit hours

Curriculum Checksheet

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Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours

Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours
Major Requirements
A minimum of 12 upper-division credit hours used toward the major requirements must be taken from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search.
Earth and Space Exploration Core Courses
SES 123 Earth, Solar System and Universe Laboratory (SCIT) 1 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	1
SES 121 Earth, Solar System and Universe (SCIT) 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
Astrophysics Concentration Courses
SES 126 Exploration of the Universe 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
SES 128 Exploration of the Universe Lab 1 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	1
SES 230 Coding for Exploration (QTRS) 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AST 321 Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AST 322 Introduction to Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AST 421 Astrophysics I 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AST 422 Astrophysics II 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
AST 498 Topic: Astrophysics Seminar OR AST 394 Topic: Astrophysics Research Seminar 1 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	1
PHY 314 Quantum Physics I 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
SES 410 Senior Exploration Project I 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
SES 411 Senior Exploration Project II 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
GLG 404 Fundamentals of Planetary Geology PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II PHY 310 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter I PHY 311 Classical Particles, Fields, and Matter II PHY 312 Mechanics and Electromagnetism PHY 315 Quantum Physics II PHY 361 Introductory Modern Physics PHY 441 Statistical and Thermal Physics SES 311 Essentials of Astrobiology: Exploration for Life in the Universe SES 350 Engineering Systems and Experimental Problem Solving (QTRS) SES 421 Foundations of Planetary Science Upper Division AST Elective Upper Division GLG Elective Upper Division MAT Elective Upper Division PHY Elective Upper Division SES Elective Upper Division Note: A minimum of one three-credit lecture or research course is required to fulfill this requirement. Students may not use multiple one-credit seminar/mentoring courses to meet the three credits needed to satisfy this requirement. 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3

The College Requirements
Mathematics Proficiency Requirement: All students are required to obtain a grade of "C" or higher in any course that satisfies the ASU General Studies MATH requirement.
Science and Society Requirement: All students pursuing a BS or BSP degree in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must complete two courses from the Science and Society list. At least one of the two courses must be upper division and students must earn a "C" or better in the courses. Both Science and Society courses (i.e., all six credits) may count towards any major, minor, related fields and ASU General Studies requirements.
Science and Society Elective 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
Upper Division Science and Society Elective 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3

Related Area Requirements
MAT 270 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (MATH) OR MAT 265 Calculus for Engineers I (MATH) 3 - 4 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3 - 4
MAT 271 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (MATH) OR MAT 266 Calculus for Engineers II (MATH) 3 - 4 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3 - 4
MAT 272 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (MATH) OR MAT 267 Calculus for Engineers III (MATH) 3 - 4 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3 - 4
MAT 275 Modern Differential Equations (MATH) OR PHY 302 Mathematical Methods in Physics II 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
PHY 150 Physics I (SCIT) OR PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics (SCIT) AND PHY 122 University Physics Laboratory I (SCIT) 4 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	4
PHY 151 Physics II (SCIT) OR PHY 131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism (SCIT) AND PHY 132 University Physics Laboratory II (SCIT) 4 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	4
PHY 201 Mathematical Methods in Physics I (MATH) 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
PHY 252 Physics III (SCIT) 4 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	4
Additional prerequisite math courses may be needed.
Faculty strongly recommend MAT 270, MAT 271 and MAT 272 as the preferred Calculus sequence for this major. Similarly, PHY 150 and PHY 151 are preferred over PHY 121/122 and PHY 131/132.

ASU 101 or College-Specific First-Year Seminar
ASU 101 or college-specific equivalent First-Year Seminar required of all first-year students.
ASU 101-LA The ASU Experience OR LIA 101 Student Success in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Campus immersion students enroll in LIA 101. ASU Online students enroll in ASU 101-LA. 1 Credit Hours		1
First-Year Composition
ENG 101 First-Year Composition AND ENG 102 First-Year Composition OR ENG 105 Advanced First-Year Composition OR ENG 107 First-Year Composition AND ENG 108 First-Year Composition 6 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	6

Notes

All baccalaureate degree students must fulfill university graduation requirements, including a minimum of 120 credit hours, with at least 45 credit hours in upper-division courses.
All undergraduate students must complete General Studies requirements.
Mathematics Placement Assessment score determines placement in first mathematics course.
Students should work with their academic advisor, and consider course prerequisites, in order to complete all degree requirements in four years.
Students are recommended to take SES 191 as a one credit hour elective.

Program Requirement

Earth and Space Exploration (Astrophysics), BS

Program details

Curriculum Checksheet