Is Astronomy BCPM?

Discover Your Odds of Getting into Medical School
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Auron

Auron

Cruisin' the Cosmos
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
896
Reaction score
2
Members do not see this ad.
I'm thinking about taking astronomy, but want to make sure that it counts towards the BCPM gpa, especially after seeing this thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=4344

At my school, its taught by the physics department. I'm a senior, and its a 100 level class - will it look bad if I take it? I would also be taking 4 300 level classes at the moment, and I want to take it out of genuine interest and cause its my last semester and I want to take a fun class. Its either astronomy or ecology which is 300 level (which I'm not really interested in taking but if It looks better to adcoms then astronomy I'll stomach it).

What do you guys think?
 
Last edited:
If the course is PHYS _____, then yes, it's in BCPM. I don't know why they would see it as bad though, it's an interest, and physicians are known to have interests outside of medicine 😛

Take the course and have fun! 🙂
 
What if it is in a separate "Astronomy" Department?
 
Sach said:
What if it is in a separate "Astronomy" Department?
Click to expand...

I don't think it would count then, check out that thread in the first post as the guy said it didn't count...so I'm not sure.
 
Auron said:
I don't think it would count then, check out that thread in the first post as the guy said it didn't count...so I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

That's weird/strange because all along I've heard that BCPM courses are classified by their 'content' and NOT the department.
 
MilkmanAl said:
If it wasn't, half my physics major wouldn't be BCPM. Yes, it's a science course.
Click to expand...

Some people are suggesting it would not be in science if it is offered through "ASTRONOMY" department. That's weird.
 
Well what about astrology? I mean, that's like physics right?
 
anbuitachi said:
school i go to has Astro department because there are astro majors..

but its weird how Astro counts and psychology doesn't i think..? 😕
Click to expand...
Psych is BSOS unless there's a heavy bio component.

Astro I think is sometimes considered NPSC depending on the content.
 
Sach said:
I know. I thought that too! However, some people in this thread suggest that AMCAS changed it if it was in "Astronomy" Department.
Click to expand...
It might have been in 01.

FeralisExtremum said:
What if it's a psych course with a heavy math component? I took a psych course that was pretty much 99% statistics with maybe 15 minutes of a lecture spent talking about how we apply the statistics to experiments and studies for validity etc.
Click to expand...
Try it. If they don't like it, they'll change it.
 
anbuitachi said:
Astrology is definitely not physics! haha. we learned in first day of Astro 101 the difference between astrology and astronomy!
Click to expand...

Damn, I knew I should've picked another major!
 
Sach said:
I know. I thought that too! However, some people in this thread suggest that AMCAS changed it if it was in "Astronomy" Department.
Click to expand...

Wow, there was a thread sometime ago I believe that asked if Behavior was part of BCPM and most people said it is. Though the Behavior class is part of Bio department/Neuro but since department doesn't matter it depends on the class right... And looking at this, my nutrition classes dont count either . . . That seriously sucks!
 
jurassicpark said:
It might have been in 01.

Try it. If they don't like it, they'll change it.
Click to expand...

jurassic,

I'm confused now. lol. So are you saying it is BCPM even if it NOT under PHYS? Earlier in the thread you said, it is BCPM ONLY if its under PHYS department.
 
Sach said:
I know. I thought that too! However, some people in this thread suggest that AMCAS changed it if it was in "Astronomy" Department.
Click to expand...
Do you realize that the given thread is NINE years old? Astronomy is astronomy. I also don't believe that astronomy can be taught under psychology. Completely unrelated. But if it is by some crazy justification, then perhaps it isn't BCPM. I have yet to hear of a case like that.

Astronomy IS BCPM.
 
Excelsius said:
Do you realize that the given thread is NINE years old? Astronomy is astronomy. I also don't believe that astronomy can be taught under psychology. Completely unrelated. But if it is by some crazy justification, then perhaps it isn't BCPM. I have yet to hear of a case like that.
Click to expand...

But at some schools, Astronomy isn't in Physics department. It is under a separate "Astronomy" department itself at some schools.
 
Sach said:
jurassic,

I'm confused now. lol. So are you saying it is BCPM even if it NOT under PHYS? Earlier in the thread you said, it is BCPM ONLY if its under PHYS department.
Click to expand...

I have a statement upthread qualifying that that is the opinion of people who don't count it?

I think it used to be NPSC as Astro XXX as opposed to PHYS XXX
 
Sach said:
But at some schools, Astronomy isn't in Physics department. It is under a separate "Astronomy" department itself at some schools.
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter. Look under non-BCPM classes - astronomy is NOT there. It is irrelevant under which department astronomy is taught. It is still BCPM. That's because astronomy pretty much always uses physics and math - even a simple method like parallax calculation is pure physics and math, even if not complicated.
 
jurassicpark said:
I have a statement upthread qualifying that that is the opinion of people who don't count it?

I think it used to be NPSC as Astro XXX as opposed to PHYS XXX
Click to expand...
I don't know what it used to be in the past, but here is what it is now:

.Natural/Physical Sciences (NPSC).
 .1...Agriculture.
 .2...Animal and Avian Sciences.
 .3...Forestry.
.4...Geography.
.5...Geology.
.6...Horticulture.
 .7...Landscape Architecture.
.8...Meteorology.
 .9...Natural Resources.
.10...Oceanography.
.11...Environmental Science & Policy.



No astronomy here. It is only under physics.
 
Excelsius said:
It doesn't matter. Look under non-BCPM classes - astronomy is NOT there. It is irrelevant under which department astronomy is taught. It is still BCPM. That's because astronomy pretty much always uses physics and math - even a simple method like parallax calculation is pure physics and math, even if not complicated.
Click to expand...

So...probably AMCAS changed their policy from 2001?
 
Is an ACCA seminar about infectious diseases BCPM? It's taught by the bio department at my school..and classified under bio in my course schedule.

hey Jurassicpark, think we can get a modified version of your avatar that says "I hate this AMCAS crap" haha.
 
It better count cause that one credit will make a big difference GPA wise. Has anyone taken any science seminars and had any problems counting towards BCPM?
 
It is part of your BCPM. The AMCAS catalog clearly states that astronomy counts as physics.
 
Hate to bring this up again...but at my school there are "Introduction to Astronomy" courses.

ASTR 101: Introduction to the universe, with emphasis on conceptual, as contrasted with mathematical, comprehension. Modern theories, observations; ideas concerning nature, evolution of galaxies; quasars, stars, black holes, planets, solar system. Not open for credit to students who have taken 102 or 201; not open to upper-division students majoring in physical sciences or engineering.

and

ASTR 102: Emphasis on mathematical and physical comprehension of nature, the sun, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Designed for students who have had algebra and trigonometry and high school or introductory level college physics. Cannot be taken for credit in combination with ASTRO 101 or ASTRO 301.

From the thread it seems like ASTR 102 would definitely count towards BCPM, but would ASTR 101 be considered BCPM? ASTR 101 is a class of 240 students whereas ASTR 102 is only 50 students. I really want to take an astronomy course, but ASTR 102 is only offered in the fall quarter and I missed it. I am considering taking ASTR 101 if it counts towards BCPM, if not...I might as well wait then.

Thanks to any reply!
 
solsek said:
Hate to bring this up again...but at my school there are "Introduction to Astronomy" courses.

ASTR 101: Introduction to the universe, with emphasis on conceptual, as contrasted with mathematical, comprehension. Modern theories, observations; ideas concerning nature, evolution of galaxies; quasars, stars, black holes, planets, solar system. Not open for credit to students who have taken 102 or 201; not open to upper-division students majoring in physical sciences or engineering.

and

ASTR 102: Emphasis on mathematical and physical comprehension of nature, the sun, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Designed for students who have had algebra and trigonometry and high school or introductory level college physics. Cannot be taken for credit in combination with ASTRO 101 or ASTRO 301.

From the thread it seems like ASTR 102 would definitely count towards BCPM, but would ASTR 101 be considered BCPM? ASTR 101 is a class of 240 students whereas ASTR 102 is only 50 students. I really want to take an astronomy course, but ASTR 102 is only offered in the fall quarter and I missed it. I am considering taking ASTR 101 if it counts towards BCPM, if not...I might as well wait then.

Thanks to any reply!
Click to expand...
I don't understand why this is still not clear. See my signature. It IS BCPM.
 
Last edited:
I just wanted to clarify because from the earlier posts in the thread it seemed that only astronomy classes that were dealing with physics and math counted towards BCPM. If the astronomy classes that barely deals with math and physics (more of a overview of astronomy type class - much like psychology 101) are also considered towards BCPM then that is excellent as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
What counts in BCPM gpa?
Replies
2
Views
1K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
G
LOR - if a professor in a non-science dept taught me in a BCPM course, is the letter science or non-science?
Replies
5
Views
855
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
S
What is considered “late”?
Replies
11
Views
1K
GoSpursGo
GoSpursGo
K
How bad is this?
Replies
2
Views
995
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
dondeP
  • Question Question
Is MD still possible?
Replies
13
Views
1K
Obnoxious Dad
Obnoxious Dad
Top