Introduction

Historical perspective: cosmologies of ancient and medieval peoples

Overview of the genesis of modern cosmology in General Relativity

Cosmological Essentials

Simple Newtonian Cosmology

The Robertson-Walker metric and Friedmann models

Empirical Pillars of modern cosmology

Cosmological Parameters: H0, t, O, q, L, T(CMBR), Yp, Ob, CDM

The Size scale of the Universe

The Hubble relation

The expansion rate (H0) and age (t) of the Universe

Calibration

The Age of the Universe

Globular Cluster ages

White dwarf age limits

Radioactive decay and interstellar grain limits

The density parameter

The role of density parameter (O) in specifying world model

Importance of O to H0 and t

Relation of O to deceleration parameter (q) and cosmological constant (L)

Measures of O, q, and L

Primordial Nucleosynthesis

Photon to baryon ratio (entropy)

Abundances of the light elements: Yp, D/H, Li/H

Entropy and the density of baryons (Ob)

Cosmic Microwave Background

Anisotropy and T(CMBR)

Structure formation and fluctuations in the CMBR

The Mass Discrepancy Problem

Cosmological and dynamical motivations

The need for cold dark matter (CDM)

Alternative possibilities: MACHOs, MOND, etc.

Alternative world models

as time permits