Everyone is curious about Space Studies!
Katy, you were correct. There always is a lot of curiosity about Space Studies!
I answer similar questions all the time, so I am going to create this entry so I don't have to type it a million times.
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Q: Where is Space Studies offered?
University of North Dakota
Q: What is Space Studies?
Short version: It's an unique degree that combines space science, management, technology, law, policy, and life science in order to help people communicate across disciplines.
Long version: View the department's website.
Q: What is entailed in a Master's of Space Studies?
Required courses: 6 credits in policy, 6 credits in technology, 3 credits of survey of space studies. These were the requirements when I joined. These are subject to change. See the UND website for details.
Additional Requirements
Campus Thesis Option: 3 credits of individual research, 6 of thesis, 6 credits of electives
Campus Nonthesis Option: 2 credits independent study, 15 credits of electives, a comprehensive exam.
Distance nonthesis: 2 credits independent study, 12 credits of electives, capstone, a comprehensive exam.
Distance thesis: See Campus thesis
Q: What courses have you taken?
Advanced Observational Astronomy, Asteroids, Meteorites & Comets, Concepts in Astrobiology, Engineering for Human Spaceflight, Ethics and Space Commerce, Extraterrestrial Resources, History of Astronomy and Cosmology, Human Factors in Space, Individual Research in Space Studies (twice), Life in the Universe, Observational Astronomy, Satellite Information Processing, Space Life Sciences & Life Support Systems, Space Policy & International Implications, Survey of Space Studies, Thesis (6 credits)
Q: What courses are you taking now?
I graduated!!! August 2007!
Q: What are you studying?
I really wanted to study long term physiological and psychological adaptations to microgravity in humans, but my advisor was pushing me to study physiological, psychological, and sociological adaptations to small scale closed ecological systems as is in part described here (WARNING FRIENDS ONLY POST!!). Now I am going to be studying how our evolutionary past will affect long duration spaceflight.
Q: What are the requirements to get in this program?
A degree in one of the following: Engineering, Science, Business, Social Science, Communication and Information Systems
Courses required to get in Approved Status
One in the following Math/CS: statistics, calculus or a programming language at the college level;
One in the following Social Sciences: Sociology, Psychology, or Political Science;
One course in a science (any type)
GPA: CGPA= 2.75+ for all undergraduate work
or
GPA= 3.00+ for the junior and senior years of undergraduate work
Q: Standardized tests required?
No GRE required, though mine was a V: 570, M: 640, W: 5.5
Q: Available Financial Aid?
Tuition waivers, RAs available for campus students, and loans.
--Personal questions--
Q: What do you like about the program?
This school has the coolest classes this side of the galactic center.
Q: What do you not like about the program
Red tape, and I hated Dr. Sadeh and Dr. de Silva who both screwed me over royally.
Q: Would you recommend the program?
Yes
Q: What is it like to live in North Dakota?
As of this time I am not living in North Dakota. I suggest asking stellar_dust.
Q: Why are you in this program?
That is long and complicated. I wanted to be in an anthropology program right now, but one of my recommenders (my advisor Neal) would not let me apply to an Anthropology masters program even as a backup and insisted on me applying to the top schools in my field. So I asked if I could get a letter for UND as a safety school. He laughed and said, thinking it was a joke, sure. I asked my recommenders to write me 4 letters. So once I received notification of my rejection at Emory and Harvard, and my waitlisted status at Rutgers, I said fuck it. So I gathered my UND stuff and sent it off. If I was accepted at another program I would have read my LORs to find out what was said. I'm really glad I did because I met my friend Dr. H. :)
Q: You have often called yourself a space anthropologist, mind explaining?
Some has already been explained in:
Space Anthropologist
Q: Can I see your CV?
Yes, go to www.melsmarsh.com and click on Curriculum Vitae
Q: Any current publications?
Check my Curriculum Vitae
Q: What did you do after you graduation?
I worked for Foresight Science & Technology as a member of Consulting Services. I started my own business. Now wanting to go back for a PhD in Biological Anthropology or Psychology or Space Life Sciences.
Q: If you don't go back into academia, what can you do with an MS in Space Studies?
Most of my classmates are already working in the aerospace industry or in the military so they continue those jobs when they graduate. I have several classmates from HSS, Boeing, JPL, and NASA.
Those who did not have the aerospace background are still being recruited by NASA to work in certain areas, for example in space history. I think one of our alums is a nurse at NASA studying nutrition.
Others have gone on to be the founders/editors of peer reviewed journals. Others become teachers. There is at least one or two that are interested in persuing medicine. And some people just take it because they are interested in it.
Q: Are there other FAQs?
Sure! Try Katy's
If anyone out there has additional questions please ask. (Katy if you have received additional questions please tell.) :-)
Last updated May 29, 2009
I answer similar questions all the time, so I am going to create this entry so I don't have to type it a million times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Where is Space Studies offered?
University of North Dakota
Q: What is Space Studies?
Short version: It's an unique degree that combines space science, management, technology, law, policy, and life science in order to help people communicate across disciplines.
Long version: View the department's website.
Q: What is entailed in a Master's of Space Studies?
Required courses: 6 credits in policy, 6 credits in technology, 3 credits of survey of space studies. These were the requirements when I joined. These are subject to change. See the UND website for details.
Additional Requirements
Campus Thesis Option: 3 credits of individual research, 6 of thesis, 6 credits of electives
Campus Nonthesis Option: 2 credits independent study, 15 credits of electives, a comprehensive exam.
Distance nonthesis: 2 credits independent study, 12 credits of electives, capstone, a comprehensive exam.
Distance thesis: See Campus thesis
Q: What courses have you taken?
Advanced Observational Astronomy, Asteroids, Meteorites & Comets, Concepts in Astrobiology, Engineering for Human Spaceflight, Ethics and Space Commerce, Extraterrestrial Resources, History of Astronomy and Cosmology, Human Factors in Space, Individual Research in Space Studies (twice), Life in the Universe, Observational Astronomy, Satellite Information Processing, Space Life Sciences & Life Support Systems, Space Policy & International Implications, Survey of Space Studies, Thesis (6 credits)
Q: What courses are you taking now?
I graduated!!! August 2007!
Q: What are you studying?
I really wanted to study long term physiological and psychological adaptations to microgravity in humans, but my advisor was pushing me to study physiological, psychological, and sociological adaptations to small scale closed ecological systems as is in part described here (WARNING FRIENDS ONLY POST!!). Now I am going to be studying how our evolutionary past will affect long duration spaceflight.
Q: What are the requirements to get in this program?
A degree in one of the following: Engineering, Science, Business, Social Science, Communication and Information Systems
Courses required to get in Approved Status
One in the following Math/CS: statistics, calculus or a programming language at the college level;
One in the following Social Sciences: Sociology, Psychology, or Political Science;
One course in a science (any type)
GPA: CGPA= 2.75+ for all undergraduate work
or
GPA= 3.00+ for the junior and senior years of undergraduate work
Q: Standardized tests required?
No GRE required, though mine was a V: 570, M: 640, W: 5.5
Q: Available Financial Aid?
Tuition waivers, RAs available for campus students, and loans.
--Personal questions--
Q: What do you like about the program?
This school has the coolest classes this side of the galactic center.
Q: What do you not like about the program
Red tape, and I hated Dr. Sadeh and Dr. de Silva who both screwed me over royally.
Q: Would you recommend the program?
Yes
Q: What is it like to live in North Dakota?
As of this time I am not living in North Dakota. I suggest asking stellar_dust.
Q: Why are you in this program?
That is long and complicated. I wanted to be in an anthropology program right now, but one of my recommenders (my advisor Neal) would not let me apply to an Anthropology masters program even as a backup and insisted on me applying to the top schools in my field. So I asked if I could get a letter for UND as a safety school. He laughed and said, thinking it was a joke, sure. I asked my recommenders to write me 4 letters. So once I received notification of my rejection at Emory and Harvard, and my waitlisted status at Rutgers, I said fuck it. So I gathered my UND stuff and sent it off. If I was accepted at another program I would have read my LORs to find out what was said. I'm really glad I did because I met my friend Dr. H. :)
Q: You have often called yourself a space anthropologist, mind explaining?
Some has already been explained in:
Space Anthropologist
Q: Can I see your CV?
Yes, go to www.melsmarsh.com and click on Curriculum Vitae
Q: Any current publications?
Check my Curriculum Vitae
Q: What did you do after you graduation?
I worked for Foresight Science & Technology as a member of Consulting Services. I started my own business. Now wanting to go back for a PhD in Biological Anthropology or Psychology or Space Life Sciences.
Q: If you don't go back into academia, what can you do with an MS in Space Studies?
Most of my classmates are already working in the aerospace industry or in the military so they continue those jobs when they graduate. I have several classmates from HSS, Boeing, JPL, and NASA.
Those who did not have the aerospace background are still being recruited by NASA to work in certain areas, for example in space history. I think one of our alums is a nurse at NASA studying nutrition.
Others have gone on to be the founders/editors of peer reviewed journals. Others become teachers. There is at least one or two that are interested in persuing medicine. And some people just take it because they are interested in it.
Q: Are there other FAQs?
Sure! Try Katy's
If anyone out there has additional questions please ask. (Katy if you have received additional questions please tell.) :-)
Last updated May 29, 2009