C895: Astronomy

Astronomy gives M.A. Science Education candidates essential astronomical literacy — from the moon's phases through introductory cosmology.

What C895 covers

The course provides graduate students seeking initial licensure or endorsement and/or to earn their MA degree in secondary or middle grade science education with essential knowledge of astronomy. This course explores Western history and basic physics of astronomy; phases of the moon and seasons; composition and properties of solar system bodies; stellar evolution and remnants; properties and scale of objects and distances within the universe; and introductory cosmology.

A prerequisite for this course is General Physics.

The C895 performance assessment

Expect a performance assessment requiring you to explain an astronomical phenomenon (e.g., moon phases or stellar evolution) grounded in basic astrophysics.

Key topics in C895

• History and basic physics of astronomy
• Moon phases and seasons
• Solar system composition
• Stellar evolution and cosmology

Writing tips for C895

Follow the task instructions and rubric line by line

WGU performance assessments for C895 are graded against a fixed rubric — every rubric line has to be visibly addressed, usually with a labeled heading that mirrors the rubric language. Skipping a rubric point because it seems minor is the single most common reason a competent submission comes back "Not Yet Competent" for revision.

Remember this program serves already-licensed teachers adding an endorsement

M.A. Science Education courses like C895 are designed for candidates who are already licensed teachers seeking an ADDITIONAL science endorsement, not first-time teacher-candidates. Written work can assume a baseline of classroom experience and should focus on the specific science content and pedagogy gap the endorsement fills.

Because WGU is self-paced, don't let "no deadline pressure" become no submission

There's no weekly due date forcing progress, which means procrastination costs more at WGU than at a traditional term-based school — a stalled task can quietly eat weeks of a term. Treat your own target date for each C895 assessment as a real deadline.

Why students seek help with C895

Candidates sometimes explain astronomical phenomena descriptively without the underlying physics (gravitational and orbital mechanics) the course specifically requires — the rubric typically wants that physics-based explanation, not description alone.

How GradeEssays helps with C895

Share your topic and rubric, and your writer will build an explanation genuinely grounded in the underlying physics, not description alone.

Prerequisites and program context

C895 requires General Physics as a prerequisite.

• Master of Arts Science Education (Middle Grades)
• Master of Arts Science Education (Secondary Earth Science)

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