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PG_logo S.P.S.E.
The Space and Planetary
Science and Engineering
Area of Special Interest
At the Colorado School of Mines

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Program in a nutshell:
To take part in this Area of Special Interest, you will need to:
1) Contact ASI director (Angel Abbud-Madrid)
2) Get assigned to ASI advisor to help with course selection and general guidance
3) Plan courses for completion of ASI
4) Fill out Minor/ASI Declaration form (available from the registrar)
5) Have form signed by student’s major advisor, major department head, and ASI director, and turn in to registrar
6) To modify the proposed course plan, retrieve form from the registrar, make the changes and get initialed by ASI director

Completion of the ASI requires 12 credits from among the approved ASI courses (or other courses as approved by your ASI advisor). ASI courses are subject to the following restrictions:
1) Only 3 credits may overlap with credits used to satisfy you degree program requirements
2) Only 3 credits may be at the 200 level or below
3) Only 6 credits may be in the form of EPICS or senior design
4) Credit for EPICS or Senior Design requires an advisor-approved space-related project

Program description (pdf)

Program Description (from the bulletin)
Since the advent of the space age in the middle of the last century, the pace of human and robotic exploration of space has been ever increasing. This exploration is made possible by feats of engineering to allow long-term operation of robotic and human explorers in the harsh environment of space. The product of this exploration is a large and growing body of knowledge about our neighbors in the Solar System and our place in the universe. The mission of the Space and Planetary Science and Engineering (SPSE) program is to provide students with a pathway for studying extraterrestrial applications of science, engineering, and resource utilization through an Area of Special Interest. This ASI draws on courses from five CSM departments and programs, covering a broad spectrum of space and planetary topics including astronomy, planetary science, space exploration, and the design of missions and instruments.

Program Requirements:
Area of Special Interest in Space and Planetary Science and Engineering: Enrollment in the Area of Special Interest is approved by the Director or Associate Director. Students will then be assigned to an SPSE ASI advisor from among the faculty listed above, who will monitor and advise their progress. The Area of Special Interest requires a total of 12 credits, up to 3 of which may be at the 200 level or below, up to 3 of which may overlap with the requirements of the degree-granting program, and up to 6 of which may be in the form of EPICS or Senior Design courses. Students may choose their ASI courses from the list of approved courses below or from any additional courses approved by the students' ASI advisor. Application of EPICS or Senior Design credits towards the ASI requires choice of a space or planetary related project and approval by the students' SPSE ASI advisor.

SPSE-approved Courses:
EPICS 251 Planetary EPICS Design II
EPICS 251 GIS EPICS Design II
EPICS 398 EPICS Design III
EGGN 408 Introduction to Space Exploration
EGGN 491/492 Senior Design I and II
GEGN 469 Engineering Geology Design
GEOL 410 Planetary Geology
GPGN 438 Geophysics Project Design
GPGN/GEOL 470 Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing
GPGN 475 Planetary Geophysics
PHGN 324 Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics
PHGN 424 Astrophysics
PHGN 471/481 and 472/482 Senior Design Principles/Practice I and II
*NOTE* EPICS 251 (GIS), and Senior Design classes can be applied towards the ASI only if a space or planetary related project is chosen, and with permission of the ASI director.

Last updated October 3rd, 2008