Undergraduate astronomy courses?

I'm seriously considering returing to college.
I'd be primerally interested in Physics but with an Astronomy twist.
I have not looked yet regarding courses but if anyone here has done
some or is in the undergraduate stage then maybe you'd let me know
what's the story where you are.
I can travel and I'm also open to full time so....
what's out there...?

Hi Frank, I know that there are lots of colleges in the uk that accomodate distance learning, and do undergraduate courses also as these are quite prominent in the sky at night magazine every month.

It's maybe not a bad alternative either, it could save on a lot of travelling for a start!

This month has the following:

University of Lancashire www.studyastronomy.com
Liverpool John Moores University www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/distance

There are a couple of others here, but they don't seem to offer distance learning.

Keith..

Also consider the Open University

www.open.ac.uk/science/physics/courses-a...d-qualifications.php ?

I was doing a couple of mathematics courses with them a few years back and their teaching materials are really very good.

For an example of some of their astronomy related material have a look at
openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=398644&direct=1

I think its that course (or closely related) that involves going to tenerife and doing some real hands-on spectroscopy.


Mark

I did physics with astronomy in DCU, but that might be a bit far for you to travel. It was a fairly good course, but very heavy with maths and I would have preferred more astronomy (i.e. there was only one or two astronomy subjects per semester). If there's anything specific you want to know, let me know. To be honest, I learned more astronomy in my masters (distance learning from Swinburne) than in my degree because it was a completely different approach, but that's just me.

Amanda

Hi Frank,

I got my astronomy Masters at one of the Australian distant learning courses. Swinburne, James Cook are still doing courses in astronomy. Found the course tutors really good and convenient and flexible. When finished, I was offered by them to study for a PhD, but turned it down because both universities specialise in astrophysics, my interest being primarily planetary science. Have been doing a PhD with Open University, whom have a planetary science department. Now finally writing thesis up. Found the supervisors
were excellent at OU. Also, there degree course are also good. They have telescopes and spectroscopes in Minorca for the practical side. Others have rated it a good course.

Eamonn A

www.kingslandobservatory.com

Thanks for the replies!
Lots to look over.
The course would have to be local (limerick)
evening part time or distance (on line)
The OU courses look interesting...