Edward Brown edited motivation.tex  about 9 years ago

Commit id: c082f75f2a76aea8c11ae4fb3253ccc5499d2b60

deletions | additions      

       

Astrophysics---like all sciences---evolves, and the skills that a student of astrophysics is expected to acquire therefore also evolve. Numerical software has made tables of integrals gather dust; data analysis and CCD detectors have replaced visual scanning of photographic plates.  Further, although the majority of astrophysics majors do not become professional astronomers, they do find employment in a variety of STEM fields. For both these reasons, the undergraduate major must impart skills that are broadly applicable.  As part of a response to an institutional accreditation review, the astronomy group at Michigan State University  committed to the following learning outcomes for the undergraduate astrophysics major. \begin{quote}  Students completing an Astrophysics degree will be able to:  \begin{enumerate}