Overcoming Challenges: Creating an Astrosociology Curriculum

Astrosociology is a new and emerging field that is a significant departure in the study of human behavior and interaction. The development of this field is important because wherever there are humans in space, their society, culture, and psychology will follow and demand consideration in this new environment. As it currently stands, neither the social sciences nor the hard sciences can provide a suitable curriculum for this new field. This paper will suggest courses of study for both, an undergraduate level and a graduate level astrosociology program as well as possible difficulties and challenges that both professors and students could encounter. These difficulties could include issues with funding a program that could be considered 'unusual' or 'unnecessary,' as well as the lack of support within both the social sciences and the natural sciences. The interdisciplinary nature of the program also receives discussion.