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Session 58 - Masters Programs: Ones that Work & Plans for the Future.
Oral session, Thursday, January 08
Lincoln,
The program at Wesleyan may well be unique in providing a course of graduate level physics and astronomy classes and independent thesis research leading to a terminal M.A. in astronomy. The graduate program attracts both traditional and non-traditional students with a variety of goals, from students who decided later in their educational careers to pursue a Ph.D. in astronomy, to students seeking further preparation for careers in secondary science education, technical support or public outreach. The research thesis, written in the student's final year, is a vital and required aspect of the program. Students also obtain experience in teaching and public education through teaching assistantships and the department's significant public outreach program. This paper will present an overview of the curriculum and goals of the Wesleyan program, and will discuss the backgrounds and post-graduate destinations of its graduates.
