Astronomy Courses
2026-2027 Online Astronomy Courses
Our two astronomy courses, PHYS 2150 and PHYS 2151, are now available fully online, giving you maximum flexibility to study anywhere, on your own schedule. There are no scheduled classes to attend. Work through the course material when it fits your schedule, complete interactive online assignments each week, and receive immediate feedback and personalized study support. The final exam is also online, so the entire course can be completed remotely.
Even better, both courses use the same eText, available directly from the publisher, along with an interactive homework platform featuring personalized study tools and immediate feedback.
PHYS 2150: The Foundations of Astronomy
Offered in the Fall semester | No pre-requisites | Fully online
​The Foundation of Astronomy represents a general introduction to astronomy. The course emphasizes the scientific method, basic physics, night sky and objects in our solar system. Topics include space science, telescopes, spectroscopy, atomic structure, the formation and evolution of planetary systems, and the detection and properties of exoplanets.
No university-level mathematics or physics prerequisites are required. Comfort with basic high-school algebra is assumed, and any mathematics used in the course is introduced in the context of astronomy.
PHYS 2151: Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics –
Offered in the Winter semester | Pre-requisite: 6 credit hours in first-year Mathematics | Fully Online
​Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics is atomic structure and spectra. The sun: radiation, energetics, magnetic field. Stars: distance, velocity, size, atmospheres, interiors. Variable stars, multiple stars, clusters and stellar associations. Stellar evolution, interstellar matter, structure of the Milky Way Galaxy. Exterior galaxies, quasi-stellar objects, pulsars. Cosmology.
PHYS 2151 explores the physics of stars, galaxies, and the Universe. It uses the same textbook and format as PHYS 2150.
Study when you want. Study where you want. No scheduled classes. Weekly interactive assignments. Online final exam. Support available when you need it.
Questions & Answers
- Do I have to attend classes at a specific time?
There are no scheduled classes. You can work through the course material at times that fit your schedule. - Can I take the course from outside Newfoundland and Labrador?
The courses are fully online, so you can study from anywhere with reliable internet access. - Are there weekly assignments?
There are interactive online assignments each week. They are designed to reinforce the material and provide immediate feedback as you work. - Is the final exam online?
The final exam is completed online, so you do not need to come to campus to write it. - Do I need university-level physics or mathematics for PHYS 2150?
PHYS 2150 has no formal prerequisites. Familiarity with basic high-school algebra is assumed, but no university-level mathematics or physics background is required. - What are the prerequisites for PHYS 2151?
PHYS 2151 requires 6 credit hours of first-year Mathematics. The instructor will also consider a combination of PHYS 2150 and 3 credit hours of first-year Mathematics. - Do PHYS 2150 and PHYS 2151 use the same textbook?
Both courses use the same eText, which can make taking the two-course astronomy sequence more convenient and economical. - Is PHYS 2151 harder than PHYS 2150?
PHYS 2151 is more advanced and mathematically demanding than PHYS 2150. It builds on first-year mathematics and goes more deeply into the physics of stars, galaxies, and the Universe. However, the flexible online format, weekly interactive assignments, and access to support are designed to help students stay on track.
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ the Instructor
Dr. Svetlana Barkanova is a Professor of Physics at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ University’s Grenfell Campus and a theoretical subatomic physicist. She has extensive experience teaching physics and astronomy at the university level and is actively involved in science education and outreach across Atlantic Canada and Northern communities.
Dr. Barkanova is particularly interested in making science engaging and accessible to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. In PHYS 2150 and PHYS 2151, she connects astronomy concepts with current discoveries, real-world examples, and the broader story of how we understand the Universe.
She also works extensively in astronomy outreach and public science communication, including talks, workshops, telescope observations, and guided stargazing.
Although the courses have no scheduled classes, Dr. Barkanova is available to support students throughout the term.