Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences that studies celestial bodies and events. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry to explain the formation and evolution of celestial bodies in the universe. The objects studied in the Astronomy area are planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Related events include supernova explosions, gamma-ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. More generally, astronomy studies everything that occurs outside the Earth's atmosphere. Cosmology is a branch of astronomy, and it examines the universe as a whole.
The Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences started education in 2003 within the Faculty of Science. Our department carries out education, training, and research in General Astronomy, Astrophysics, Satellite and Space Sciences. In addition, students have the opportunity to take elective courses offered in various units of the university. In this way, they can develop their general culture and field knowledge. Furthermore, successful students have a chance to do double major and minor programs.
Our department currently has 1 Professor, 4 Associate Professors, 2 Dr Assistant Professors, 2 Research Assistants with PhD, and 1 Lecturer. In addition, under the Post-Doctoral Research Project (DOSAP), there is one doctoral staff member as a researcher.
The astronomy and Space Sciences program aims to
- cover all practical and theoretical aspects of the field of study,
- equip students with thinking, questioning and synthesis skills,
- enable students to understand that space science is a field of application with solid intuition and creativity.
The undergraduate education of our department is eight semesters (4 years), and we accept students with the numerical score (SAY) type of the university entrance exam. Students in this program must pass 240 credits, 178 of which are compulsory and 62 are elective (50 fields -, 12 non-field-elective), to graduate. Click here for the Education Plan. Students who complete this process receive a bachelor's degree. In addition to our undergraduate program, our students have the opportunity to minor in Physics and Mathematics. To enrol in a minor program, students must have a GPA of at least 2.50/4.00.
The detailed information about our department can be reached on the YÖK PROGRAM ATLAS page.
The duration of Master of Science (MSc) is two years (4 Semesters), including the educational course period and the thesis period. PhD is four years (8 semesters), including course and thesis periods. The students who are successful as a result of the interview are accepted to the Master's Degree and PhD programs among the ones who meet the criteria of the Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences.
Graduate Education-Training curriculum and course contents can be accessed at:
https://dbp.erciyes.edu.tr/YuksekLisans
https://dbp.erciyes.edu.tr/Doktora
Our Vision
We aim to become the best department in the region and in Turkey leading in the field of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences, particularly Radio Astronomy in cooperation with different disciplines
Our Mission
Our mission is to serve while protecting our leading position in education and research in Astronomy Sciences. To reach this goal, we aim:
- to educate students in the areas of astronomy and especially in radio astronomy
- to train successful individuals who can do applied astronomy or scientific research.
The web page of our department
Divisions
We have three main divisions in our department:
- General Astronomy division
- Astrophysics division
- Satellite and Space Sciences division
Physical Area
There are five classrooms, 16 academician offices, one room for the department head, and one conference room in our department.
Activities
In our department, our faculty members and graduate students give a seminar every week in each academic semester. Moreover, during the semester, scientists from different universities and institutions that we are in touch with come to our department to give a lecture. In addition, our practices for primary and high schools continue within the framework of visit programs for Kayseri and nearby cities. Therefore, schools that want to visit our department or invite our faculty members can contact us by filling out the forms on our website.
Department Acquaintance Parties
At the beginning of the academic semester, acquaintance parties are organized to enable the students and faculty members to meet each other.
Institutions where our graduates can work
Graduates of our department can work in the academic field at the universities (Erciyes University, Ankara University, Atatürk University, Ege University, İstanbul University, 18 Mart University). Apart from this, most of our graduates work at private teaching schools, Science Centers, and different institutions such as the Banks, Aviation and Space Technologies Directorate General, Turkish State Meteorological Service, Turkish Statistical Institute, and General Directorate of Security. Besides, some of our graduates are working at some institutes Information and Communication Technologies Authority, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, and TURKSAT with which we carry out joint studies.
