The idea for this course is simple: develop a coherent physics-based theory which describes how our galaxy works, and use it to explain the key observations of our galaxy (and others). Rather than trying to provide a traditional astronomical view of the galaxy, with lots of detailed observations, we will try focus on a few key things that we know about the galaxy, and use a simple theory to explain them. Both the mathematics and physics involved will be a basic level, and I will try to keep the course relatively self-contained, although some basic astronomy background will be necessary. The course will consist of two parts: the first will focus on the stellar component of galaxies, while the second part will primarily investigate the gas and dust out of which stars form. By the end of the course you should be able to read and understand most journal papers on the Galaxy and the ISM.
There will be about ten problem sets throughout the term (approximately every week or so), as well as a mid-term and final exam. During classes we'll stop every now and then and discuss things in the class -- questions are very much encouraged. We'll also devote at least one class to discussing a recent research paper in class. The final grade will be based on all of these elements (problem sets 30%, midterm 30%, final 30%, participation 10%).
Unfortunately, there is no ideal textbook for this course. The main reference material will be the prepared notes for this course (available online). Of course, the material we will be discussing can be found in a number of texts, and here I recommend some of them. In the syllabus, I have indicated which section of the following texts are most helpful.
Modern Astrophysics by Carroll and Ostlie (Addison-Wesley, 1996, second edition 2006): This is the text you are most likely to have, as it is the required text for the C2001/2002 sequence, and used for a number of other courses. It is a good text for stellar physics, but only average for Galactic physics. Nevertheless, it has much of the material in some form or the other, and I'll indicate how our lectures correspond to Carroll and Ostlie chapters in the syllabus given below. Since I can't present all the astrononomical background for a course like this, I'm going to assume you have access to this textbook or one much like it (e.g. Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics by Zelik & Gregory or something similar).
Galaxies in the Universe by Linda Sparke and John Gallagher (Cambridge, 2000, second edition 2007). This is a very nice book, and is a closer match to the course content and level than Carroll and Ostlie. Unfortunately, half of it is on cosmology, and there is not enough on the physics of the interstellar medium. Still, if you are able to buy one book for this course, this would be the one to get. It will be a good reference book for the future. Again, I will provide pointers in the syllabus to the appropriate chapter of this book.
Galactic Astronomy by James Binney and Michael Merrifield (Princeton, 1998): An excellent and comprehensive review of the obseved properties of present-day galaxies, but considerably above the level of this course. This is a graduate level review text; look at it for all the stuff I'm leaving out.
Galactic Dynamics by James Binney and Scott Tremaine (Princeton, 1987): An excellent and comprehensive review of the theory of self-gravitating, collisionless systems (i.e. Galaxies). This is the book on stellar dynamics, but again it is graduate level.
Galaxy Formation by Malcolm Longair (Springer, 1999): Despite it's title, this text focuses heavily on the cosmological background (covering this quite well), but the observational part is rough and patchy.
The Road to Galaxy Formation by William Keel (Springer, 2002). Up-to-date and heavily observational but missing much in the way of theoretical development.