Space Science Minor

Space Science Minor

Space Science

Minor

The space science minor focuses on the technology of spacecraft, satellites, and space exploration. Modern life has increasingly benefited from the knowledge of the space environment, utilization of satellites and spacecraft, and the application of space-based technologies.

Offered by the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering.

The space science minor integrates facets of space-enabled technology to develop a fundamental knowledge that will support a variety of technical interests. It will provide cadets with a solid foundation in orbital mechanics, the space environment, attitude determination and control, satellite communications, space structures, astronomy, astrophysics, space physics, remote sensing, and rocket propulsion.  

Cadets from a large number of majors learn about space-related topics and how those topics align with their respective major.

Cadets become the multi-domain leaders of tomorrow; leveraging knowledge of the space environment, space capabilities, and space threats into the planning of all domains of battle (land, air, sea, cyber, and space)

Three space-related courses (SP471, SP472, and SP473) AND 2 electives within almost any major!

Cadets will become the multi-domain leaders of tomorrow leveraging knowledge of the space environment, space capabilities, and space threats into the planning of all domains of battle -- land, air, sea, cyber, and space.

To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering.

Required Courses

Sample Electives

  • CH387 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 
  • CH457 MICROBIOLOGY 
  • KN355 FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY 
  • KN360 BIOMECHANICS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT 
  • KN460 EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 
  • KN465 MOTOR CONTROL AND LEARNING
  • EE381 SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS  
  • EE383 ELECTROMAGN FIELDS & WAVES  
  • EE482 WIRELESS COMM SYS ENGINEERING 
  • EE483 PHOTONICS ENGINEERING 
  • XE383 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
  • EV377 REMOTE SENSING  
  • EV387 METEOROLOGY 
  • EV388A PHYSICAL GEOLOGY 
  • EV388B GEOMORPHOLOGY
  • EM411 PROJECT MANAGEMENT  
  • SE301 FNDTN ENGIN DSGN & SYS MGMT 
  • SE302 FUNDAMENTALS OF SYSTEMS ENG 
  • SE375 STATISTICS FOR ENGINEERS
  • NE300 FUNDAMENTALS OF NUCLEAR ENGR 
  • NE350 RADIOLOGICAL ENGR DESIGN
  • PH384 APPLIED OPTICS 
  • PH485 LASER PHYSICS 
  • SP474 ASTROPHYSICS
  • CY300 PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS 
  • CY350 NETWORK ENGR & MGT 
  • CY450 CYBER SECURITY ENGINEERING
  • DS370 STRATEGY AND POLICY 
  • LW482 NATIONAL SECURITY LAW  
  • SS477 ECONOMICS OF NATIONAL SECURITY 
  • SS483 NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR

To learn more, view the full Space Science Minor Curriculum.

Opportunities are available to perform research at Department of Defense and laboratories that conduct space and missile defense-related research during the summer. Majors can also join the Astronomy Club. 

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, the Photonics Research Center or the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Space and High-Altitude Research Center.