deletions | additions       diff --git a/motivation.tex b/motivation.tex  index 8650a85..99a6782 100644  --- a/motivation.tex  +++ b/motivation.tex 
...
Astronomy, like all sciences, evolves; the skills that a student of astronomy is expected to acquire must therefore also evolve. The majority of astronomy majors do not become professional astronomers; they do, however, find employment in a variety of STEM fields. The undergraudate major therefore needs to impart skills that are broadly applicable.  As part of a recent accreditation exercise, the astronomy group committed to the following learning outcomes for the undergraduate astronomy program:  \begin{quote}  Students completing an Astrophysics degree will be able to:  \begin{itemize}  \item Apply concepts from physics, mathematics, and scientific computing to solve quantitative problems in astrophysics;  \item Gather, analyze, and interpret astronomical data from sources including telescopes, databases, computer simulations, analytic models, and the scientific literature; and  \item Effectively communicate scientific ideas in both written and oral form.  \end{itemize}  \end{quote}  Data analysis and numerical computation are now ubiquitous in astronomy; undergraduate curricula have been slower to train students in a systematic fashion in these skills. At Michigan State University, astronomy students are required to complete a senior thesis. We have been dissatisfied with the preparation of students for longer, open-ended research projects, such as that of a typical two-semester research project. Moreover, astronomy, like other STEM fields, is increasingly collaborative. Skills such as communication and project management are an essential component of a student's education.   \subsection{About AST 208} 
...
\subsection{Integration of skills over the astronomy major}  Because AST 208 is the gateway into the astronomy major, it provides an opportunity to develop some core skills that can be developed further in the junior/senior level courses AST 304, \emph{Stars}, and AST 308, \emph{Galaxies}.