Graduate Certificate in Space Studies

CORE COURSE: MUST BE TAKEN AS ONE OF THE STUDENT’S FIRST TWO COURSES. This course is designed to build the student's ability to organize and conduct research in the space studies discipline, and to enable the student to present findings in a clear, concise, coherent manner. It is devoted to thinking about research logically, creatively, critically, structurally and scientifically. Course material covers qualitative research designs, theory building, role of argumentation in presenting a research report (thesis), as well as describing and analyzing quantitative variables. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED COLLEGE ALGEBRA BEFORE TAKING THIS COURSE

CORE COURSE: MUST BE TAKEN AS ONE OF THE STUDENT’S FIRST TWO COURSES. This course evaluates space programs and operations and their meaning for future international and national economic and national security. The course will provide an overview of major policy, program, scientific, and technical issues in space for the non-scientist.

CORE COURSE: What is an orbit? How does a spacecraft fly to the Moon or Mars? What does NORAD use to track all of the satellites currently in orbit around Earth? How does a spacecraft move from one orbit to another? These questions and more are answered in this course. From Kepler and Newton to the modern telecommunications, navigation, and remote sensing spacecraft, knowledge of orbital mechanics is essential for the modern Space Manager to be able to plan future space missions and to converse with orbital analysts that perform the day-to-day calculations determining IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED COLLEGE ALGEBRA BEFORE TAKING THIS COURSE. Prereq: SPST500 and SPST501

Pre Reqs: Research Methods in Space Studies(SPST500),Introduction to Space Studies(SPST501)

This course takes an in-depth look at the past and current structure, tasking, goals and objectives of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Emphasis is placed on the roles of the individual research centers, space centers and laboratories that form the NASA organization. The origins and impact of the ‘space race’ are discussed in detail.

CORE COURSE: Earth orbiting remote sensing satellites play a key role in the lives of human beings. This course is a study of the major components of contemporary remote sensing satellites, the various methods of remote sensing capability, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Course topics also include study of remote sensing orbits, launch vehicles, and technology. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED COLLEGE ALGEBRA BEFORE TAKING THIS COURSE. Prereq: SPST500 and SPST501

Pre Reqs: Research Methods in Space Studies(SPST500),Introduction to Space Studies(SPST501)

This course assesses the growing role of space in national military strategy, particularly for the U.S., as it progresses into the 21st century. The course begins with an overview of the political history of space exploration, followed by an examination of how space fits into the overall picture of military operations. The course then moves into the more speculative arena, looking at how space is evolving into a separate sphere of military operations, and how future conflicts might well have their first decisive engagements in earth orbital space, if not beyond. Students will be making extensive use of the Internet websites that are dedicated to reporting the latest developments and trends in space warfare. The climax of the course is the space wargame exercise, in which the students will be grouped into various national actors and organizations.