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The Professional Doctor of Astronomy
What is the Professional Doctorate of Astronomy?
The Doctor of Astronomy is a Professional Doctorate program in astronomy, astrophysics and astronomy related areas, that is delivered fully over the Internet. This Doctorate is a combination of lecture material and research. The Professional Doctorate of Astronomy is classified as a research degree by virtue of the fact that most of the program is original research and is examined either by thesis or a portfolio. This is a professional degree from an accredited university. See below.
The Doctor of Astronomy is abbreviated to DoA.
The Doctor of Astronomy degree consists of two introductory courses in astronomy, followed by the major research component that the student remains continually enrolled in until the thesis or portfolio is submitted. See below for a schematic that shows the structure of the degree. The Doctor of Astronomy is a program equivalent to a PhD. Here the student is led through the doctoral program at a pace that allows full development of the student.
Full-time or Part time Study
The Doctorate of Astronomy is designed to be taken as a part-time program, however students can take the program as full-time students if they so wish. The part-time program is shown in the diagram below. Full-time students would do two subjects per semester for the course-work component, and be a full-time researcher for the research component. The fees would be double those for a part-time degree and the degree would be completed in half the time.
Computer Requirements
To study in the Doctorate of Astronomy degree students will need a computer and internet connection. It is the intention of the Centre for Astronomy to keep the computing requirements of the student to a basic level. If you can read this website, then you can start this degree program. Some research programs may require a modern machine for some of the data reduction.
Entry Standard Required
The entry requirement for the Doctorate of Astronomy is equivalent to an Australian Bachelor level degree with Honours grade I or IIA, or a Research Masters in appropriate discipline, or a relevant Coursework Masters including evidence of research capacity in the appropriate discipline (the JCU Master of Astronomy is designed to meet this need). Not all Master's degrees are research based, and JCU can not accept Coursework Masters that do not have a substantive numerical research component for entry into the Doctor of Astronomy degree.
More details of entry standards required for all JCU Centre for Astronomy Internet programs are available at the Entry Standard Requirements page.
It is also possible for potential students to apply with alternative backgrounds. We have a proviso for candidates who can supply "other evidence of significant research capacity in an appropriate discipline". Contact us for our consideration.
Preference will be given to candidates who have a degree in the physical, mathematical and computational sciences. Graduates with degrees in other subjects will also be considered.
Research Topic
The Doctor of Astronomy is a Professional Doctorate degree which consists of both a coursework component and a research component. The principal examination of the degree will be either by a research thesis or by a portfolio. It is important that before you enrol for the degree that you and the Centre agree on a thesis topic that is acceptable to both you and to us. We are offering thesis and portfolio topics in selected areas of Astrophysics and Astronomy History.
Therefore, during the enrol process, it is imperative that you discuss your topic with us before you commit to the degree. This should be done either before you apply, or after your application has been accepted but before you pay your fees.
Fees
The fees for this program will be set for each intake of students.
The fees for a student studying in part-time (P/T) mode is AUD
5,000 per
semester or AUD 10,000 for a full year.
The fees for a student studying in full-time (F/T) mode is AUD
10,000 per
semester or AUD 20,000 for a full year.
The cost per subject for the course-work component of the Degree is AUD 5,000.
Exchange rates change continually; here is the current conversion site.
Once you are in the program, your fee may be subject to a small increases each semester, but these will be less than 10% (typically <5%) per year, and are set by the central administration of the University (and not by the Centre for Astronomy).
The NEST of Astronomy Programs
The JCU Internet degree offerings are a nested set that allows students to choose which level of training they will undertake. The path to the Doctor of Astronomy allows you to opt-out at three valuable exit points. These are:
- The Graduate Certificate of Astronomy
- The Master of Astronomy or a Master of Science by research
Transfer to the Professional Doctorate Program from the JCU Master of Astronomy
Acceptance to the Doctorate of Astronomy program will be considered by the Centre for Astronomy only upon completion of the requirements for the Master of Astronomy degree.
Course Structure
The Doctor of Astronomy is in two parts. The first part consists of two subjects related to introductory astronomy. They are called Modern Astrophysics (AS5011) and Astronomy Instrumentation (AS5012).
Next comes the research component (PD7605) which typically begins with a literature review followed by a pilot research project. The literature review allows the student to develop the research interest that they will explore in the thesis, while the pilot research project allows a "test run" of the research. It is hoped that the report that examines these works will be the first two chapters of the Doctoral Thesis.
The next part is the main body of research. This is the major research effort of the degree, and this is the bit that goes to external examination. Students must take PD7605 as many times as are required to complete the research thesis.
A part-time program is shown below. In this program one course-work subject is taken per semester. There are two semesters in the Australian academic calendar.
It is possible to do this program full-time if you wish. The full-time program is two subjects per semester for the first 2 semesters and then a full-time commitment for the research project.
The Doctor of Astronomy Examination
The examination of the Doctor of Astronomy degree is in two parts, both of which must be passed at a satisfactory level.
The first section of the Doctor of Astronomy is the course work components (subjects AS5011 and AS5012). For these you will be given a grade (Pass, Credit etc)
The major part of the degree is the research (PD7605) which is examined by three examiners who are external to the University. They will be appointed by the University and the report from each will typically rate the work in one of four ways. They are, in simple terms; (i) satisfactory as it stands, (ii) minor changes are required, (iii) substantive changes are required (rewrite), and (iv) Fail.
A pass in the course work components and either (i), (ii) or (iii) above will give you your Doctor of Astronomy degree, after any requested changes have been made to the satisfaction of the examiners.
The work must be of academic worth (content) equivalent to at least three refereed papers, and the work presented must be principally that of the student. In all cases the standard of the work is to be at a Doctoral/PhD level before the work is signed off for examination.
- The work can be a “Portfolio-Thesis” of
size approximately 50,000 words (see
Graduate Research School website) adjusted appropriately for the content of the work (eg Astronomy History may require additional words by nature of the subject). As a guide, the work in the thesis should be at a standard equivalent to three refereed papers.
- The Portfolio may be three (or more) published refereed papers (e.g. reprints) in reputable journals introduced by a covering note. This work must be undertaken whilst the student was enrolled in the Doctor of Astronomy degree. The student must be the principal contributor to that work.
- The Portfolio may be three (or more) papers that have been accepted for publication introduced by a covering note; or a combination of published and accepted work to the value of three refereed papers or more. This work must be undertaken whilst the student was enrolled in the Doctor of Astronomy degree. The student must be the principal contributor to that work.
- The Portfolio may also be a collection of other academic works to the equivalence of three refereed papers or more undertaken whilst the student was enrolled in the Doctor of Astronomy degree. The student must be the principal contributor to that work.
- Any combination of the above to the equivalence of three refereed papers or more undertaken whilst the student was enrolled in the Doctor of Astronomy degree. The student must be the principal contributor to that work.
Subjects in the Course-work Component of the Doctor of Astronomy and PhD
Graphically, the Doctor of Astronomy degree can be represented as follows:
Subjects
- AS 5011 Modern Astrophysics
- AS 5012 Astronomy Instrumentation
- PD 7605 Professional Doctorate Research Thesis (Astronomy)
Structure of the Doctor of Astronomy
Modern Astrophysics (AS5011)
This subject is the same as the Master of Astronomy subject, and it is in the
Doctor of Astronomy program to introduce students with little knowledge of astronomy
to the basics of the universe. Graduates of the JCU MoA will be given advanced
standing for this subject.
Astronomy Instrumentation (AS5012)
This subject is also the same as the Master of Astronomy subject of the same
name, and it is in the Doctor of Astronomy program to introduce students with
little knowledge of astronomy to the basics of astronomical instrumentation.
Again graduates of the JCU MoA will be given advanced standing for this subject.
Professional Doctorate Research Thesis (Astronomy) (PD 7605)
The doctoral research thesis that is examined externally. This subject is done
as many times as is required to complete the research thesis.
Other Information About the Doctor of Astronomy and the James Cook University.
How to Apply
How Do I Apply for this Program:
