AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A NEW DEGREE
New degree proposals must undergo all internal university review and approval steps
including those at the unit, college, and university levels before final submission to the
Office of the Provost [Provost@nau.edu] for approval. Prior to implementing a new
degree plan, it must be included on the ABOR Academic Strategic Plan which is
submitted by the Provost, in the spring semester of each academic year (ref. Faculty
Handbook, Section 3.1.5.1). Please work with the Academic Dean and the Graduate
Dean (for graduate programs) in this process. A degree may not be implemented until
the Provost’s Office notifies the Dean that the program may be offered.
Level of Degree:
DEGREE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Undergraduate
Graduate
Proposed title of New Academic Plan: Ph.D. in Astronomy and Planetary Science
College/School: College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Term and year when proposal becomes effective (i.e., Fall 2008): Fall 2016
1. PURPOSE AND NATURE OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM
Brief program description (This is a catalog type description of no more than 250
words. Include the distinctive features of the program that make it unique.
Astronomy, planetary science, and space science are major players in the economy of
Arizona. The total investment in capital facilities in Arizona related to these fields exceeds $1
billion1. The annual grants and contracts awarded to institutions in Arizona related to these
sciences exceeds ~ $200 million, about as much as the grants and contracts awarded to
institutions in Arizona by the National Institutes of Health1. Institutions in Arizona employ
~2,000 people related to astronomy, planetary science, and space science with a payroll of
~$84 million1. In astronomy, Arizona accounts for 18% of all university research activities in
the United States1.
The new Ph.D. program in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences will leverage the state-of-theart astronomical resources found in Arizona, especially one of a kind facilities near Flagstaff,
and deliver a unique and distinct graduate education that cannot be found in Arizona’s other
state universities. Specifically, the Department of Physics and Astronomy will partner with
Lowell Observatory, United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center,
United States Naval Observatory, and the Naval Research Laboratory, as well as the
Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) and the Naval Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI),
all in or near Flagstaff. The new program will focus on the use of telescopes to study the
origin and evolution of planetary systems. NAU and its Flagstaff partners have a strong
presence in the use of telescopes to the study planetary systems. Astronomers at ASU and
UA largely use telescopes to study galaxies and cosmology, whereas planetary scientists at
these same schools use spacecraft to study objects in our Solar System. There is a real lack
of astronomers in Arizona who use telescopes to study planetary systems. In addition, the
new program will have another distinct feature − a strong curricular focus on developing
cutting-edge hardware and software skills that meet the needs of universities and companies
in Arizona and across the United States that work in astronomy, planetary science, and
space science research.
1Arizona
Arts, Sciences, and Technology Academy Report, 2008.
1
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
2. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT
A. List the knowledge, competencies, and skills students should have when they
graduate from the proposed degree program. Examples of program Learning
Outcomes can be found at
https://www4.nau.edu/assessment/resources/index.htm
Students will build skills and knowledge through formal class work and an original
research project. They will take ten core classes during their first two years in the
program. Five of the core classes will focus on the development of essential skills PhD
astronomers and planetary scientists need upon entering the workforce in an academic
or industrial setting (instrument design and fabrication, optical design, computational
physics, big data, and techniques of observational astronomy). Five classes will focus on
advanced topics in astronomy and planetary science that students need for a solid
foundation upon which to build their own postdoctoral research (formation and evolution
of solar systems, atmospheres, interiors, and surfaces of planetary bodies, astrochemistry, exoplanet science, and special topics). In addition, students will perform their
own original research, write a dissertation, and make an oral, public presentation of their
results. In the original research component, students will learn how to collect and analyze
data, write up their results, and communicate their results to others in a manner
consistent with professional standards in the astronomical and planetary science
communities.
B. Describe the plan and methods to assess whether students have achieved the
knowledge, competencies and skills identified in the Learning Outcomes.
The plan to assess whether a student achieved sufficient knowledge and skills to earn a
PhD from the program is as follows. For classwork, a student must obtain a grade point
average greater than or equal to 3.0 in core classes. A student may earn only one ‘C’ and
no ‘D’s or ‘F’s in the ten core classes. By the beginning of the fifth semester, each
student must submit a written prospectus and make an oral presentation of the original
research they propose to carry out. Each student must write and submit a dissertation to
a committee that approves of the content. Each student must present an oral, public
presentation of his or her final research findings that meets with the approval of the
committee.
3. CURRICULUM OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM
In this section, include general information on credit hours required, emphases,
concentrations and/or tracks.
Students will complete the ten core classes in the table below. Five of the classes focus on
skills essential for employment not only in an academic setting, but in an industrial or private
setting as well. Five classes focus on advanced topics essential for working in an academic,
private, or industrial setting. Each class is three credit hours for a total of 30 credit hours of
class work. Students will take six of the ten classes in their first two semesters in the
program. They will take the remaining four classes in their third and fourth semesters in the
program. Students will take Dissertation, AST 799, during their remaining semesters in the
program. Nominally, students will take five years to complete the program.
In the Table below, the column titled “Exists” describes whether the class is on the books at
NAU. The column titled “Faculty” describes whether the Department has a faculty member
with the expertise to teach the class. Only PHY 580, Techniques in Observational Astronomy
is offered every year. PHY 550, PHY 590, and PHY 595 are offered every other year.
2
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
Class No.
Title
Exists
Faculty
Skills
AST 520
PHY 540
PHY 550
PHY 560
PHY 580
Astro-informatics (Big Data in Astronomy)
Electronics and Instrumentation
Computational Physics
Applied Optics
Techniques in Observational Astronomy
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Theory
AST 510
AST 570
PHY 590
PHY 595
AST 530
Exoplanet Science
Astro-chemistry
Physics of the Solar System
Formation, Evolution of Planets
Special Topics
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
4. PROGRAM NEED: Explain why the university needs to offer this program (include
target audience and market; discuss local, regional and national need for the
program as well).
Target Audience: NAU’s location in Arizona will make for strong applicant pools in the new
PhD program. Students across the nation are aware of clear, dark skies and preponderance
of astronomical facilities in Arizona. Flagstaff is the first International Dark Sky city and that
attracts students to our area to study Astronomy. NAU’s unique location in Flagstaff enabled
the Department to build one of the largest undergraduate programs in Astronomy in the
United States. The American Institute of Physics routinely ranks NAU among the top five
institutions in B.S. degrees awarded in Astronomy2. Although ASU and UA undergraduate
programs are somewhat smaller than NAU’s undergraduate program, their PhD programs are
highly competitive and admit only a fraction of applicants. UA’s Lunar and Planetary Lab
(LPL) only admitted 13 of 61 applicants and UA’s Department of Astronomy only admitted 20
of 109 applicants in 2014. These numbers show that there is a strong demand to study
Astronomy and Planetary Science in Arizona. The new Ph.D. program will leverage NAU’s
unique location in Flagstaff, and recruit students with B.S. degrees in Astronomy, Planetary
Science, and Physics from across the nation. The new program will bring top-notch graduate
students to the NAU campus and raise the already high standard for our undergraduate
program.
2http://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/graduate/astrost12.pdf
University Need For The Program: The Department of Physics and Astronomy has strong
undergraduate (BS), graduate (MS), and research programs. Faculty members secure about
$1 million in external grants per year from NASA and NSF. They publish articles in
prestigious and high impact journals (e.g. Science and Nature). Their graduates go on to
work for aerospace companies (e.g. Raytheon and Lockheed-Martin), and study in prominent
PhD programs (e.g. Berkeley, Cornell, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, and Yale).
The Department has strong research collaborations with Lowell Observatory, the Naval
Observatory, and the United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center (USGS).
These institutions have world-renowned expertise in astronomy and planetary science as well
as state-of-the art observatories like the Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) and the Naval
Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI). NAU is a partner in the DCT. The new Ph.D.
program will leverage the extensive expertise and cutting-edge research facilities in and near
Flagstaff. The Directors of all three of these institutions have agreed to allow their faculty
3
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
members to mentor PhD students. Scientists at these institutions are already teaching
classes at NAU and mentoring students in the MS program in Applied Physics. In fact a
formal collaboration already exists between NAU, Lowell Observatory, USGS, and USNO to
enhance planetary science research in northern Arizona (Northern Arizona Planetary Science
Alliance, NAPSA).
NAU’s access to cutting edge astronomical facilities is among the best in the nation.
Besides local access to DCT and NPOI, NAU has access to an armada of telescopes run by
UA in the southern part of the state.
The new program will result in a dramatic increase in the number of publications as well as
the number of research dollars coming into NAU perhaps reaching as much as $4 million per
year. For reference, NSF and NIH each awarded NAU about $ 4 million across the entire
campus in 20133.
State Need For the Program: Arizona is home to numerous telescopes and the largest
collection of professional astronomers in the world. It is home to numerous optics and
aerospace companies. The new program will produce highly trained PhDs who will help meet
the state’s high-tech employment needs related to Astronomy, Planetary Science, and Space
Science.
National Need For the Program: A recent survey by the American Institute of Physics found
that 98% of graduates with PhD degrees in Astronomy across the nation and in the classes of
2007, 2008, and 2009 were employed and making maximum use of their degrees4. The
median starting salaries for Astronomy PhDs in academia and government were $50,000 and
$55,3004. The new program will help meet the high-tech employment needs of the nation.
3http://nau.edu/Research/_Forms/FY2013-Research-Enterprise-Annual-Report/
4http://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/employment/initialemp-a-09.pdf
5. IMPACT ON OTHER PROGRAMS. List other academic units that might be impacted
by the proposed program and describe the potential impact (e.g., how the
implementation of this program might affect student headcount/enrollment, student
recruitment, faculty participation, course content, etc. in other programs). Attach
letters of collaboration/support from impacted programs.
The new PhD program in Astronomy and Planetary Science will have a positive impact on the
SESES PhD program. In particular, the new program will offer elective classes of interest to
students in the SESES Earth and Planetary Science sub-plan. It should be noted that all
planetary science classes accepted by the interdisciplinary PhD program are currently only
offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
The new program will impact Lowell Observatory, the Naval Observatory, and USGS in a
good way. In particular, the new program will provide a source of graduate students for these
institutions. Lowell Observatory has a “pre-doc” program where astonomers at the
Observatory work with and financially support graduate students enrolled in PhD programs in
Astronomy at universities around the nation. Dr. Jeff Hall, the Director of Lowell Observatory,
and Dr. Lazlo Kestay, Chief Scientist of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, are
committed to having their staffs working with and supporting graduate students in the new
PhD program in Astronomy and Planetary Science at NAU. The Department already has an
established track record of having scientists at these institutions oversee graduate students.
In particular, scientists at these institutions supervise graduate students in the MS in Applied
Physics program. The new program will not only benefit these local Flagstaff institutions, but
also enable the Department to leverage expertise and time of the scientists at these
institutions to award more PhD degrees than possible with NAU faculty members alone.
4
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
6. EXISTING PROGRAMS AT OTHER CAMPUSES
1. For a non-duplicative program, provide a statement to the effect that there are no
existing programs at other Arizona public universities that duplicate the proposed
program.
2. Other Institutions – If this program is currently offered at the same academic level
by other Arizona public universities that duplicates the proposed program, list all
programs and indicate why NAU should establish such a program.
The new PhD program in Astronomy at NAU will be unique in Arizona. Specifically, our
program has two major focuses: (1) research that involves the use of telescopes to study
Solar System objects, and (2) a graduate curriculum that emphasizes hardware and
software skills relevant to optics and telescopes.
Research in Astronomy and Planetary Science in Arizona began in Flagstaff with the
founding of Lowell Observatory in 1894. Over the last 100+ years, Lowell Observatory,
the Naval Observatory, USGS, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at NAU
have been home to numerous astronomers that use telescopes to study the Solar
System. Their discoveries include Pluto, its moon Charon, and numerous Kuiper belt
objects. Researchers at LPL and the School of Earth and Space Science Exploration
(SESE) at ASU primarily use spacecraft, not telescopes, to study the Solar System, a
very different set of skills and approaches. Researchers at Steward
Observatory of UA do use telescopes in their highly productive PhD program in
Astronomy; however, their emphasis is on the formation and evolution of galaxies and the
Universe. The use of telescopes to explore the Solar System has a prominent place in
modern research. Both NSF and NASA have dedicated programs that support the use of
telescopes to study the Solar System. Professors Tegler and Trilling and a half-dozen
astronomers at Lowell Observatory have NASA and NSF grants to use telescopes to
study the Solar System.
The curriculum of the new program has equal emphasis on developing hardware and
software skills relevant to optics and telescopes as on fundamental scientific knowledge.
These skills classes will leverage the expertise of local astronomers and state-of-the-art
facilities like the DCT and NPOI. LPL and SESE do not have these skills classes in their
curricula. These classes will put graduates in the program well positioned for jobs at
observatories and optics companies in Arizona and across the nation.
7. PROJECTED ENROLLMENT. How many new students do you anticipate enrolling
in this program each year for the next five years? Please utilize the following tabular
format.
5-YEAR PROJECTED ANNUAL ENROLLMENT
1st yr.
2nd yr.
3rd yr.
4th yr.
5th yr.
New
5
5
5
5
5
Total
5
10
15
20
25
Grads
0
0
0
0
5
5
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
8. ACCREDITATION OR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS (IF APPLICABLE). Provide
the names of the external agencies for accreditation, professional licensing, etc. that
guide your curriculum for this program (if any). Describe requirements for
accreditation or licensing. If this new degree plans to seek NCATE designation, you
must include a letter from the NAU NCATE administrator prior to college curricular
submission.
N/A
9. FACULTY and STAFF
a. List the name, rank, highest degree, area of specialization/expertise, and
estimate of the level of involvement of all current faculty members who will teach
in the program.
N. Barlow
D. Koerner
C. Mann
S. Tegler
D. Trilling
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
PhD
UA
Caltech
USF
ASU
UA
Planetary Sci
Planetary Sci
Optics
Physics
Planetary Sci
Professor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Chair and Professor
Associate Professor
50%
30%
20%
40%
70%
b. Administration of the program. Explain how the program will be administered
for the purposes of admissions, advising, course offerings, etc. Discuss the
available staff support.
Admissions: The Graduate Committee consisting of the Graduate Program Coordinator
and two faculty members will screen applicants to the program for minimum qualifications
(B.S. degree in Physics, Astronomy, Planetary Science or a related field). The Committee
will use a matrix to rank applicants meeting minimum qualifications. The number of
applicants accepted to the program will be tied to the number of faculty grants capable of
supporting graduate students in their final three years in the program.
Advising: Each student in the program will be required to meet with their dissertation
committee members once per semester to ensure they are making satisfactory progress
in their classwork and research. A dissertation committee will consist of at least three
faculty members. The Graduate Coordinator will make sure the meetings occur and all
students are making satisfactory progress. If the student is not making satisfactory
progress, the Graduate Committee will be responsible for discussing options available to
the students In order to continue in the Program.
Course Offerings: Each student will take the ten classes listed in the core curriculum
above (see section 3). They will take six classes in their first year and four classes in their
second year. The remainder of the student’s credit hours will be AST 799; thereby
allowing the student to focus on dissertation research during their final three years in the
program.
Faculty and Staff Support: The faculty members listed above are already teaching five
of the ten core classes listed above. Specifically, Mann teaches PHY 550 and PHY 560,
Massey of Lowell Observatory and Tegler of NAU teach PHY 580, Barlow teaches PHY
590, and Koerner teaches PHY 595. Administrative Associate Jamie Housholder is
already managing 23 grants annually totaling about $1M in grant expenditures, most of
them for Astronomy and Planetary Science.
6
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
10. RESOURCES (necessary to launch and sustain the program)
a. Describe any new resources required for this program’s success such as new
faculty, support staff, new facilities, new library resources, new technology
resources, etc.
New Faculty Members: The new program will require 5.0 FTE tenure-track lines to
fulfill curricular needs, research opportunities, and grant support for graduate
students not met by current faculty members. Specifically, we require four faculty
members with expertise to teach PHY 540, AST 510, AST 520, and AST 570. All four
of these faculty members will carry out vigorous research programs and three of
them will use the DCT and UA telescopes. A fifth faculty member will primarily use
the DCT and UA telescopes for their research and teach at the undergraduate and
graduate level. Five new faculty members, the current five faculty members, and
scientists at local facilities will provide sufficient research and funding opportunities to
support the projected enrollment described in section seven above.
Support Staff: The Department requires an additional 0.5 FTE Administrative
Assistant. Five more faculty and twenty-five more graduate students will result in a
significant increase in grants and expenditures. Administrative Associate Jamie
Housholder will take on the additional grant management duties. A new 0.5 FTE
Administrative Assistant should be added to our current 0.5 FTE Administrative
Assistant, i.e. the position could change from 0.5 FTE to a 1.0 FTE Administrative
Assistant. The Administrative Assistant would manage the non-financial affairs of the
Department office while Jamie Housholder managed the financial affairs of the office.
Office Space: Five new faculty and twenty-five new graduate students will require
five new faculty offices and five new graduate student offices. The Department has
no vacant faculty office space. One current faculty member could give up space for
one new faculty member. There is no vacant graduate student office space. Graduate
students are already crowded in their offices.
Laboratory Space: Two of the new faculty members will require laboratory space,
i.e. the faculty members specializing in (1) electronics and instrumentation, and (2)
astro-chemistry. Dr. Mann is moving to the new Health Science Building. His
laboratory space is available; however, the Department is still one laboratory space
short.
Faculty Start Up Packages: The two faculty lines requiring laboratory space will
each require start up packages of about $200,000. The other three faculty members
working in exoplanets, astro-informatics, and using the DCT will require more modest
start up packages (~$50,000 each) as their work will involve only computers.
b. Explain where you will get the resources to support this program.
c. Complete the budget projection sheet (Appendix C) projecting the operating
budget for the proposed unit for the next five years (to be included for Provost
submission, not required for University Curriculum Committees).
7
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
Appendix A
Additional Information for New Graduate Academic Plans Only
1. Admission Requirements The requirements listed below are Graduate College
requirements. Please modify and/or expand if the proposed degree has additional admissions
requirements.
A. Degree. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) or a graduate degree from a
regionally accredited College or University of recognized standing in Physics,
Astronomy, Planetary Science, or a closely related field.
B. GPA. Minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA (scale is 4.0=A).
C. English Proficiency Requirement for International Applicants. TOEFL exam
minimum score must be 213 computer-based, 550 paper-based, or 80 Internet-based
or IELTS score of 7.0. (NAU Graduate College Requirements, Academic Catalog
2011-12)
D. Required Admission Examinations.
a.
GRE
GMAT
Required
Millers Analogies
None
2. Application Review Terms. Indicate all terms for which applications for admissions are
accepted and the corresponding application deadline dates, if any:
Fall
Deadline (month/year): Feb 1
Spring
Deadline (month/year):
Summer
Deadline (month/year):
3. Academic Plan Requirements. Below provide the curricular requirements for the proposed
plan.
A. Total credit hours (credit hrs) required for the academic plan: 96
(include supporting letters for courses to be completed in other units)
B. Core courses. List all required core courses and total credit hours for the core
(required courses other than internships, thesis, dissertation, capstone course, etc).
Total credit hours for required core courses: 30 (Skills classes in blue; Theory classes
in red)
Course
prefix &
number
Course title
AST 520
Astro-informatics (Big Data in Astronomy)
PHY 540
Electronics and Instrumentation
PHY 550
Computational Physics
PHY 560
Applied Optics
PHY 580
Techniques in Observational Astronomy
AST 510
Exoplanet Science
AST 570
Astro-chemistry
PHY 590
Physics of the Solar System
PHY 595
Formation and Evolution of Planets
AST 530
Special Topics
Credit
hours
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
New
course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
8
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
C. Elective Courses
Total credit hours for program electives: 0
Provide a sample list of elective courses:
Course
prefix &
number
Course title
Credit
hours
New
course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
D. 400-Level Courses. No more than 6 credit hours of 400-level coursework can be
included on graduate student program of study.
1. Are 400-level NAU only courses allowed on student program of study for this
degree?
.
Yes
No
2. If yes, how many credit hours (maximum 6 units allowed)? 0
E. Additional Requirements (if applicable). Provide a brief description of any
additional requirements (e.g. internships, clinicals, field study, etc.) N/A
Total credit hrs for other required courses (additional requirements): 0
List course information for any additional requirements (e.g. internships, clinicals, field study, etc.)
Course
prefix &
number
Course title
Credit
hours
New course?
Y
Y
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
F. Total credit hours required for research (if applicable): 66+
G. Culminating experience for the proposed plan (please check all that apply and
provide requested information):
Required?
Brief description of the applied project or
the capstone course, as applicable.
Course prefix
and number
Credit
hours
Thesis
(master’s only)
Applied Project
(master’s only)
Capstone course
(master’s only)
Dissertation
Dissertation based on original research
AST 799
66+
(doctoral only)
Other (specify)
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
9
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
H. Please specify whether this academic plan includes emphases or
concentrations ______________________
Note: Emphasis will be coded as sub plans in LOUIE and will appear on the
student’s transcript. It generally includes at least 12 units unique to the emphasis
area. Concentration are generally fewer than 12 units, though it may include on
occasion include more than 12 units.
1. Concentration/Emphasis name: N/A
Total credit hours for the courses required for the proposed
concentration/emphasis:
List concentration/emphasis courses:
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
Course
prefix &
number
Course title
Credit
hours
New
course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
2. Concentration/Emphasis name: N/A
Total credit hours for the courses required for the proposed concentration/emphasis:
Course
prefix &
number
List concentration/emphasis courses:
Course title
Credit
hours
New
course?
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
(Please expand table as needed. Right click in white space of last cell. Select “Insert Rows Below”)
You may add additional Concentrations/Emphasis if needed.
I.
Master’s program additional requirements(check all that apply): N/A
a.
Written comprehensive exam is required
b.
Oral comprehensive exam is required
c.
No oral comprehensive exam required
d.
No oral comprehensive exam required
e.
Thesis required. If checked, specify number of faculty on thesis committee:
10
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
J. Doctoral Program Requirements Only (indicate N/A if not required; see Academic
Catalog for requirements)
a. For Doctoral Degrees, indicate the Master’s Degree Credit Allowance: If approved
by the student’s supervisory committee, specify how many credit hours from a previously
awarded master’s degree to count towards the degree requirements for this doctoral
program?
Thirty credit hours of core classes from a MS degree could be applied toward the degree
requirements with the approval of the dissertation committee.
b. For PhD/EdD Degrees, written /oral comprehensive exams are required per
Graduate College policy. Please include any required timelines for successful
passing of the comprehensive exams.
The student’s dissertation committee must approve an oral and written prospectus before
the start of the student’s 5th semester.
c. For PhD/EdD Degrees, submission of a written dissertation prospectus and its oral
defense are required. Please describe requirements and include any required
timelines for successful defense of the prospectus. For clinical doctoral degrees,
describe research/final project or equivalent requirements.
The student’s dissertation committee must approve an oral and written prospectus before
the start of the student’s 5th semester.
d. Required Number of Dissertation Committee Members: 3
e. Foreign Language Exam/Alternative Requirement (PhD Programs only).
i. Foreign Language Examination(s) required?
Yes
No
If yes, list all foreign languages required:
ii. Describe Alternative Requirements (e.g., Research Competency):
4. Course Prefix(es) Provide the following information for the proposed academic plan.
a. Will a new course prefix(es) be required for this new academic plan?
Yes
No
b. If yes, specify new prefix (es).
11
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
5. New Courses Required for Proposed Academic Plan. Provide course prefix, number, title,
and credit hours and description for any new courses required for this degree program
(Include timeline for development). Program could begin as early as fall 2016.
Course
Prefix
Course
Number
Course Title
Credit
Hours
Brief Description of
Course
Timeline for
Development
AST
510
Exoplanet Science
3
AST
520
Astro-Informatics
3
Science of planets
beyond the Solar
System
Mining Big Data in
Astronomy
AST
530
Special Topics
3
AST
570
Astro-Chemistry
3
Development by
new faculty
member
Development by
new faculty
member
Development by
current and new
faculty member
Development
by new faculty
member
Topics in expertise of
current and visiting
faculty
Applications of
chemistry in
astrophysical
environments
12
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
APPENDIX B
NEW PROGRAM PLAN* INFORMATION FOR UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
(UCC/UGC/YCC)
1. Contact and Support Information:
i. Program Office Location (Building & Room): Bldg19, Room 209
ii. Program Telephone Number: 523-9382
iii. Program email address: Stephen.Tegler@nau.edu
iv. Program website address:
v. Program Director/Chair (Name): Stephen Tegler
vi. Program Graduate Coordinator (Name): David Trilling
vii. Program Support Staff (Name): Jamie Housholder
2. New Catalog Text: (Include all catalog text that pertains to the new plan,
including name of the academic plan; brief purpose and overview of the program
including intended audience and unique admission requirements; course
requirements for plans, and emphases/concentrations; other requirements (e.g.,
thesis/dissertation, internships, etc. This text will appear in the on-line academic
catalog)
The PhD program in Astronomy prepares a student to work as an academic, government,
or industrial researcher in astronomy or planetary science. Each student completes an
eight-course core curriculum and works on an original research project under the
direction of a faculty member. Research work culminates in an oral presentation and a
dissertation.
3. Keywords (List all keywords that could be used to search for this program. Keywords
should be specific to the proposed program.)
Astronomy, planetary science
4. At the unit level, who may be contacted regarding details of this proposal?
Stephen Tegler
* UCC/YCC plan or sub plan proposals must include an 8-term plan and UGC plan
must include a program of study.
Reviewed by:__________________________________________________________
Curriculum Process Associate
Date
Approvals
___________________________________________________________________
Department Chair/Unit Heat (if appropriate)
Date
___________________________________________________________________
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
13
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
___________________________________________________________________
Dean of College
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC/YCC Approval Date
14
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
Appendix C
NEW DEGREE BUDGET PROJECTIONS
The table provided below should be used for budget projections for proposed new
programs.
Instructions
1. Please submit an original copy of the budget.
2. Project the new program budget by indicating the initial base budget in
Column I and the incremental changes in each expenditure area for each of
the following two years (columns 2-3). Each column should include only new
costs for each year.
3. Do not include projections for inflationary or routine salary pay changes.
4. In the “total” columns, list separately the reallocated state appropriated funds
from the new state-appropriated funds. All reallocated funds are assumed to
be permanent reallocation unless otherwise indicated.
5. For local funds, attach a separate list showing the major sources of local
funds and a brief explanation of each source.
15
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
Appendix C
OFFICE OF THE PROVOST - NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
NEW DEGREE BUDGET PROJECTIONS
(Required for final submission to the Provost; Not required for University Curriculum Committee)
Name of New Academic Plan
Initial Base
Budget
EXPENDITURE ITEMS
Column 1
First Year
-
Annual Incremental Costs
Column 2
Second
Year -
Column 3
Third Year
-
Annual Cost
after 3 years
Column 4
Fourth Year
-
Total onetime costs
after 3 years
Column 5
Fourth Year
-
Continuing
Expenditures
Faculty
State
Local
Other
Other Personnel
State
Local
Other
Graduate
Assistantships
State
Local
Other
Operations (supplies
phones, etc.)
State
Local
Other
Other Items
(description)
State
Local
Other
One-Time
Expenditures
Construction or
Renovation
State
Local
Other
Start-up Equipment
State
Local
16
Document1
AA102
Rev. 9.2.11
Other
Replacement
Equipment
State
Local
Other
Library Resources
State
Local
Other
Other Items
(description)
State
Local
Other
TOTALS (Incremental)
State-Reallocated
Funds
-New Funds
Local Funds*
GRAND TOTALS
*Attach a separate list of major sources of local funds with a brief explanation of each source.
17
Document1