This program provides a positive experience of physics and encourages students to foster and maintain an intellectual curiosity in the discipline, specifically in the area of physics with astronomy and space science. We encourage/educate our students to become active, lifelong and autonomous learners with good prospects of employment in economic sectors requiring analytical skills or for further study of the subject. Our students will become well grounded in the fundamentals of physics with an appreciation of more specialised knowledge and the current frontiers of research. Our learning environment emphasises laboratory work at all stages, combining in-class, project and problem-solving work including data analysis and programming. Our students will be imbued with professional values including scientific integrity and ethical behaviour, and the ability to communicate complex information effectively. We deliver targeted modules throughout the degree complemented by specialised laboratories and field trips, to focus on all aspects of astronomy and space science. Assessment is based on individual work, group work, work in the laboratory, project work including student presentation and written report.

1 - On successful completion of the programme, students will have acquired a good understanding of the core of physics (as defined by the Institue of Physics degree accreditation document), and students will appreciate the current boundaries of scientific knowledge.
2 - Students will be able to tackle problems in physics and formulate an appropriate solution
3 - Students will be able to use mathematics to describe the physical world
4 - Students will be able to plan, execute and report the results of an experiment or investigation
5 - Students will be able to compare results critically with predictions from theory
6 - Students will also have acquired communications skills
7 - Students will have acquired analytical skills
8 - Students will have acquired IT skills
9 - Students will have acquired personal skills, the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, interact constructively with other people, and show leadership in their area of expertise.
10 - Students will have acquired ethical behaviour, including critical thinking, understanding of arguments and consequences, and scientific integrity
11 - Students will be flexible, able to adapt and contribute to the specific research and development in the space science sector.

Approved Additional Standards for Continuation in undergraduate degree programmes in Science (all majors):

Students who return failing grades in a semester amounting to 15 credits, or more, will be identified under the UCD Continuation and Readmission Policy. Students whose rate of progression and performance over two academic sessions (2 years) is deemed unacceptable will be referred to the Academic Council Committee on Student Conduct and Capacity for exclusion from the programme.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years, if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

This programme is particularly appealing if you are interested in exploring the universe through physics and pursuing a career in the space industry.

This is primarily a physics degree programme, with an emphasis on the applications of physics in astrophysics and space science. You will gain an understanding of how ground-based and space-based technologies are used to explore the universe and how modern science can be used to understand it.

The course contains modules in Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy and Space Science. Advanced topics include stellar and planetary formation and evolution, black holes, galaxies and cosmology. Related modules on Relativity, Elementary Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Quantum Mechanics provide a rigorous foundation in the science underpinning astronomy and astrophysics.

STAGES 1 & 2
There is a substantial emphasis on gaining hands-on experience in astronomical techniques, beginning in Stage 1. You will have access to data from UCD's robotic telescope in South Africa.

STAGE 3
In Stage 3, you will participate in either a week-long observational project at an international astronomical telescope or in a space mission design workshop, collaborating with students from international universities in the design of a gamma-ray astronomy satellite experiment.

STAGE 4
In Stage 4, you will undertake further advanced practical work in, for example, the analysis and interpretation of data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the ESA-Newton X-ray Multi-Mirror mission.

Support will be provided for students in applying to summer internship programmes at NASA, ESA, CERN and the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

The UCD Physics with Astronomy & Space Science is an Institute of Physics accredited degree which positions graduates to go into the rapidly growing space sector. There are opportunities  for well qualified graduates to work with major space agencies, such as ESA and NASA, or with space companies. Graduates are also qualified to go into areas such as medical physics, meteorology, semiconductor technology, energy, ICT and finance.

Graduates may apply for MSc programmes such as Space Science & Technology. They may also pursue research through PhD programmes in Ireland and abroad in many fields of physics.

Dr Lorraine Hanlon UCD School of Physics Science Education & Research Centre Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: +353 1 716 2214 Email: lorraine.hanlon@ucd.ie Web: www.ucd.ie/horizons

Students should take 5 core modules and two option module module. Students are required to complete 50 programme credits in Stage 3. In addition, students may select 10 credits from elective modules to complete Stage 3 or alternatively, select additional modules from the BSc programme.

Students must take 60 credits of Physics modules, seven specified core (C) modules worth 50 credits, and two option modules. If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 as one of their option modules in Stage 4.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 3 Core Modules
PHYC30170	Physics with Astronomy and Space Science Laboratory I	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	20
PHYC30020	Classical Mechanics and Relativity	Autumn	5
PHYC30030	Quantum Mechanics	Autumn	5
PHYC30100	Stellar Astrophysics & Astronomical Techniques	Autumn	5
PHYC30070	Electromagnetism	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)1OF: Students must take PHYC20100 if not taken in stage 2. If PHYC20100 had been taken in Stage 2, students must take PHYC30050 in Stage 3.
PHYC20100	Thermo & Stat Physics	Autumn	5
PHYC30050	Condensed Matter Physics	Autumn	5
Stage 3 Options - A)1OF: Students must take PHYC20100 if not taken in stage 2. If PHYC20100 had been taken in Stage 2, students must take PHYC30050 in Stage 3.
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN1OF: If not taken in Stage 2 students MUST TAKE ACM20030. If ACM20030 had been taken in Stage 2, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 in Stage 3.
ACM20030	Computational Science	Autumn	5
PHYC30080	Optics & Lasers	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN1OF: If not taken in Stage 2 students MUST TAKE ACM20030. If ACM20030 had been taken in Stage 2, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 in Stage 3.
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF: Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional Option modules may be selected from the list below instead of Elective modules to complete Stage 3. Students wishing to take PHYC40110 Medical Physics in stage 4 must take PHYC30090 in stage 3.
ACM30220	Partial Differential Equations	Autumn	5
STAT20070	Data Modelling for Science	Autumn	5
PHYC30090	Nuclear Physics	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF: Students are required to complete 50 programme credits (cores/options) in Stage 3. Additional Option modules may be selected from the list below instead of Elective modules to complete Stage 3. Students wishing to take PHYC40110 Medical Physics in stage 4 must take PHYC30090 in stage 3.
Stage 4 Core Modules
PHYC40600	Physics with Astronomy and Space Science Laboratory II	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	15
PHYC40890	Astronomy Field Trip (10)	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	10
PHYC30050	Condensed Matter Physics	Autumn	5
PHYC40020	Applied Quantum Mechanics	Autumn	5
PHYC40080	High Energy Particle Physics	Autumn	5
PHYC30090	Nuclear Physics	Spring	5
PHYC40030	Galaxies, Observational Cosmology & the Interstellar Medium	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)2 OF: Students must take 2 option modules from the list below. If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 as one of their option modules in Stage 4.
ACM40090	Riemannian Differential Geometry	Autumn	5
PHYC40120	General Relativity & Cosmology	Autumn	5
PHYC40470	Computational Biophysics and Nanoscale Simulations	Autumn	5
PHYC40930	Ultrafast Soft X-ray Photonics	Autumn	5
ACM30200	Mathematical Fluid Dynamics I	Spring	5
ACM40750	Gen Relativity & Black Holes	Spring	5
PHYC40110	Medical Physics (Selected Topics)	Spring	5
PHYC40200	Quantum Theory of Condensed Matter	Spring	5
PHYC40210	Applied Optics	Spring	5
PHYC40360	Theoretical Astrophysics	Spring	5
PHYC40650	Advanced Statistical Physics	Spring	5
PHYC40800	Quantum Field Theory	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - A)2 OF: Students must take 2 option modules from the list below. If not taken in Stage 3, students MUST TAKE PHYC30080 as one of their option modules in Stage 4.
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN0OF: If not taken in Stage 3 students MUST TAKE PHYC30080
PHYC30080	Optics & Lasers	Spring	5