Outline of PHYS 374, "Introduction to Astrophysics"

Course material can be found online at URL

http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys374/phys374.html

Instructor

Michael Richmond
Building 76, Office 1274
Office phone: 475-2538
FAX: : 475-5988
E-mail: mwrsps at rit dot edu

Class hours


   Monday     noon - 12:50 pm    LBR-3220

Office Hours


   Monday      2:00    -  3:00 pm      
   Tuesday     noon    -  1:00 pm      
   Wednesday   noon    -  1:00 pm      
   Thursday   11:00 am -  noon         
   Friday     11:30 am - 12:30 pm    (Bates Study Center)

You may send E-mail to make an appointment; I'm happy to chat just about any time during the day. If my office door is open, feel free to enter. I'm almost always in my office :-(

Textbook

There is no required textbook for this course. However, a very good reference for any upper-level undergraduate course, or many graduate-level courses, in astronomy is An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics by Carroll and Ostlie. Either edition should provide a wealth of information.

In the past, instructors of this course have used Dan Maoz' book Astrophysics in a Nutshell as a text.

Grading

The course grade will be based on attendance, participation in class, an oral presentation, and homework assignments. There will be no tests. The list below is not definitive, but a rough guide to the importance of each component.


   25  percent  in-class participation
   50  percent  homework 
   25  percent  oral presentation
   -----------
  100  percent

If you have any special needs, you must inform me during the first week of classes. Otherwise, I may not be able to make arrangements in time to help you. Please contact me after class or at my office.

Please read RIT's Policy on Academic Integrity , section D08.0 of the Policies and Procedures Manual. I will follow this policy strictly if there is any evidence that students have violated it; that is, if there is any evidence of cheating, duplicate submission, or plagiarism.

RIT is committed to providing a safe learning environment, free of harassment and discrimination as articulated in our university policies located on our governance website. RIT's policies require faculty to share information about incidents of gender based discrimination and harassment with RIT's Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators, regardless whether the incidents are stated to them in person or shared by students as part of their coursework.

If you have a concern related to gender-based discrimination and/or harassment and prefer to have a confidential discussion, assistance is available from one of RIT's confidential resources on campus (listed below).

The Center for Women & Gender: Campus Center Room 1760; 585-475-7464; CARES (available 24 hours/7 days a week) Call or text 585-295-3533.
RIT Student Health Center - August Health Center/1st floor; 585-475-2255.
RIT Counseling Center - August Health Center /2nd floor - 2100; 585-475-2261.
The Ombuds Office - Student Auxiliary Union/Room 1114; 585-475-7200 or 585-475-2876.
The Center for Religious Life - Schmitt Interfaith Center/Rm1400; 585-475-2137.
NTID Counseling & Academic Advising Services - 2nd Floor Lynden B. Johnson; 585-475-6468 (v), 585-286-4070 (vp).

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Aug 23, 2026.