http://www.uah.edu/science/departments/space-science

Information below is intended for prospective students who are considering a Master's degree in Space Science from UAH.

All questions about enrolling in our M.S. program should be directed to Dr. Jakobus le Roux, Chair of the SPA Graduate Committee.

Requirements for M.S. Degree - Thesis Option

  1. Complete the core coursework (15 credit hours), see Core Courses below.
  2. Complete an additional nine credit hours of elective courses. These are chosen from the Elective Courses list.
  3. Complete SPA 582 and SPA 796 once. 
  4. Complete six hours of Master's thesis (SPA 699).
  5. Write and defend a Master's thesis.
Core Courses
SPA 522INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS3
SPA 610ADVANCED MATH METHODS FOR SPACE SCIENCE3
SPA 622CLASSICAL & QUANTUM STATISTICS3
SPA 624SPACE PHYSICS I3
SPA 631WAVES AND FIELDS3
Required Courses
SPA 582SCIENCE CAREER PREP1
SPA 796JOURNAL CLUB1
Elective Courses
Choose 3 courses from the following:
SPA 526
SPACE WEATHER
SPA 623
TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN SPACE
SPA 625
SPACE PHYSICS II
SPA 627
HIGH ENERGY RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT
SPA 628
SOLAR PHYSICS
SPA 629
ASTROPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS
SPA 630
WAVES IN FLUIDS
SPA 662
COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS
SPA 663
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS AND MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
SPA 689
SELECTED TOPICS
SPA 741
PHYSICS OF COSMIC RAYS
SPA 742
GAMMA-RAY BURSTS AND JETS
SPA 771
COMPETITIVE GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
SPA 789
SELECTED TOPICS
Total Semester Hours26
Year 1
FallSemester Hours
SPA 522INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS 3
SPA 582SCIENCE CAREER PREP 1
SPA 610ADVANCED MATH METHODS FOR SPACE SCIENCE 3
SPA 622CLASSICAL QUANTUM STATISTICS 3
 Term Semester Hours: 10
Spring
SPA 526SPACE WEATHER 3
SPA 624SPACE PHYSICS I 3
SPA 631WAVES AND FIELDS 3
SPA 796JOURNAL CLUB 1
 Term Semester Hours: 10
Summer
SPA 699MASTER'S THESIS 3
 Term Semester Hours: 3
Year 2
Fall
SPA 627HIGH ENERGY RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT 3
SPA 662COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS 3
SPA 699MASTER'S THESIS 3
 Term Semester Hours: 9
 Total Semester Hours: 32

Requirements for M.S. Degree - Non Thesis Option

  1. Complete the core coursework (15 credit hours), see Core Courses below.
  2. Complete an additional 15 credit hours of elective courses. These are chosen from the Elective Courses list.
  3. Complete SPA 582 and SPA 796 once. 
  4. Pass a Comprehensive Examination ("Comps"). The Comps are offered annually during the summer semester and consist of three sections: (a) Electromagnetic Theory, (b) Classical and Quantum Statistics, and (c) Plasma Physics. A passing grade of 40 percent or above in all three sections is required for a M.S. pass.
Core Courses
SPA 522INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS3
SPA 610ADVANCED MATH METHODS FOR SPACE SCIENCE3
SPA 622CLASSICAL & QUANTUM STATISTICS3
SPA 624SPACE PHYSICS I3
SPA 631WAVES AND FIELDS3
Required Courses
SPA 582SCIENCE CAREER PREP1
SPA 796JOURNAL CLUB1
Elective Courses
Choose 5 courses from the following:
SPA 526
SPACE WEATHER
SPA 623
TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN SPACE
SPA 625
SPACE PHYSICS II
SPA 627
HIGH ENERGY RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT
SPA 628
SOLAR PHYSICS
SPA 629
ASTROPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS
SPA 630
WAVES IN FLUIDS
SPA 662
COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS
SPA 663
COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS AND MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
SPA 689
SELECTED TOPICS
SPA 741
PHYSICS OF COSMIC RAYS
SPA 742
GAMMA-RAY BURSTS AND JETS
SPA 771
COMPETITIVE GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
SPA 789
SELECTED TOPICS
Total Semester Hours32
Year 1
FallSemester Hours
SPA 522INTRODUCTION TO PLASMA PHYSICS 3
SPA 582SCIENCE CAREER PREP 1
SPA 610ADVANCED MATH METHODS FOR SPACE SCIENCE 3
SPA 622CLASSICAL QUANTUM STATISTICS 3
 Term Semester Hours: 10
Spring
SPA 526SPACE WEATHER 3
SPA 624SPACE PHYSICS I 3
SPA 631WAVES AND FIELDS 3
 Term Semester Hours: 9
Year 2
Fall
SPA 625SPACE PHYSICS II 3
SPA 627HIGH ENERGY RADIATION DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT 3
SPA 662COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS 3
SPA 796JOURNAL CLUB 1
 Term Semester Hours: 10
Spring
SPA 628SOLAR PHYSICS 3
 Term Semester Hours: 3
 Total Semester Hours: 32