Earth & Planetary Sciences in Space Exploration (Minor)

Director:
Clive Neal


Space exploration is an inter- and multidisciplinary subject that covers science, engineering, politics, policy, ethics, law, business and the economy. The goal of the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) minor is to better prepare Notre Dame students for employment in the burgeoning space sector. An Industry Advisory Board has been instituted to give curricular input and suggestions for course relevance and applicability. It is open to all undergraduate students who can take a selection of relevant courses from Arts & Letters, Science, and Engineering.

A minimum of 15 credit hours (5 courses) consisting of approved courses (see below):
Only two of the five courses required for the minor can be at the 20000 level.
THEO 30659Space Ethics: Creation, Commerce, Colonization 23
CE 40555Living & Working on Our Moon--Science Fiction or Science Fact? 33
Other foundational courses:
AME 30282Introduction to Space Exploration3
PHYS 20140Descriptive Astronomy3
or PHYS 20481 Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics for Majors
CE 20110Planet Earth3
Elective course list:
AME 30341Aerospace Structures3
AME 30381Orbital and Space Dynamics3
AME 40551Introduction to Robotics3
AME 40573Physiology for Engineers3
PHYS 20481Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics for Majors 13
PHYS 30240Introduction to Cosmology 13
PHYS 50201Physics of Astrophysics3
PHYS 50481Modern Observational Techniques3
BIOS 30344Vertebrate (Human) Physiology3
ANTH 20556Science, Technology, and Society3
or THEO 20888 Science, Theology, and Creation
ANTH 30121Exercise Physiology: Celebrating What Your Body Can Do3
ANTH 30125Humans at the Extremes3
HIST 30949History of Exploration3
HIST 30986Technology and the World We Inherit: A Global History3
BES 40470Corporate Governance and Catholic Social Teaching3
CSE 40247Computing in Spaceflight3
1

for STEM students

2

Required Foundational course. If this course is not offered in a given academic year, students should consult with their minor advisor for an alternative course plus one other approved Foundational course

3

Capstone course

Note: Courses taken as part of the EPS minor might also be eligible to satisfy degree program requirements. So that all students in the minor are held accountable to the same multi-counting rules, the rules for the academic unit (i.e., CoE: CEEES) responsible for the minor will apply regardless of the student’s degree program.