Astronomy College Majors, Degree Programs and Universities

Astronomy

What do you see when you look up at the night sky? There are patterns of planets, the moon, far away stars and some sights that you may not understand or be able to explain. Astronomy is the study of stars, suns, and other objects in outerspace — how stars, planets, and galaxies form and behave — as well as the universe itself.

If you want to understand the mysteries outerspace, a major in astronomy may be for you.

Students in the Astronomy major study the history and future of the universe, outerspace, and the objects within, including planets, stars, and galaxies. Subjects of study include the evolution of stars, how the stars and planets move through space, chemistry, physicas and advanced math.

School	Department Chair	Address	Undergraduate Degrees	Graduate Degrees
University of Alabama	Professor Stan Jones	Department of Physics & Astronomy 206 Gallalee Hall Box 870324 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0324	Astronomy Minor	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Arizona	Professor Peter Strittmatter	Department of Astronomy Steward Observatory N204 P.O. Box 210065 Tuscon, AZ 85721-0065	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	Ph.D. Astronomy
Arizona State University	DIRECTOR: Kip Hodges	School of Earth and Space Exploration P.O. Box 871404 Tempe, AZ 85287-1504	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Earth and Space Exploration (astrobiology and astrophysics concentrations) Minors are available in astrophysics and astronomy	MS in Astrophysics PHD in Astrophysics /td>
Ball State University	Professor David Ober	Department of Physics & Astronomy Muncie, IN 47306	Astronomy minor	Ed.D. in Physics w/ Astronomy emphasis
Boston University	Professor Harlan Spence	Department of Astronomy 725 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02215	Astronomy, Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Astronomy and Physics	M.A. and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of California at Berkeley	Professor Donald Backer	Department of Astronomy 601 Campbell Hall Berkeley, CA 94720-3411	Astrophysics major	M.A. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
University of California at Los Angeles	Professor Claudio Pellegrini	Department of Physics & Astronomy Box 951547 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1562	Astrophysics	Ph.D. Astronomy
University of California at San Diego	Professor John Goodkind	Department of Physics 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92093-0354	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy specialization	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of California at Santa Barbara	Professor James Allen	Department of Physics Broida Hall, Building 572 Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9530	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	Ph.D. Physics
University of California at Santa Cruz	Professor Stephen Thorsett	Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics (Astrophysics)	Ph.D. Astrophysics
California Institute of Technology	Professor Thomas Tombrello	Department of Astronomy 105-24 Caltech 1201 E. California Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91125	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
Carnegie Mellon University	Professor Fred Gilman	Department of Physics Wean Hall 7325 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/tracks in Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
Case Western Reserve University	Professor R. Earle Luck	Department of Astronomy 422 AW Smith Building 10900 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106-7215	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Chicago	Professor Michael Turner	Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics 5640 S. Ellis Avenue Chicago, IL 606037	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Physics w/Astronomy specialization	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Colgate University	Professor Victor Mansfield	Department of Physics & Astronomy 13 Oak Drive Hamilton, NY 13346-1398	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy-Physics	N/A
University of Colorado at Boulder	Professor J. Michael Shull	Department of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences Campus Box 391 Boulder, CO 80309-0391	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences
Columbia University	Professor David Helfand	Department of Astronomy Pupin Physics Lab Room 1328, Mail Code 5246 550 West 120th Street New York City, NY 10027	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy and Astrophysics	M.A., MPhil., and Ph.D. Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cornell University	Professor Joseph Veverka	Department of Astronomy 312 Space Sciences Bldg. Ithaca, NY 14853-6801	Astronomy major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Dartmouth College	Professor Mary Hudson	Department of Physics & Astronomy 6127 Wilder Laboratory Hanover, NH 03755-3528	Astronomy major	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics w/Astronomy specialization
University of Delaware	Professor George Hadjipanayis	Department of Physics & Astronomy 223 Sharp Laboratory Newark, DE 19716	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy emphasis	M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Florida	Professor Stanley Dermott	Department of Astronomy 211 Bryant Space Science Center P.O. Box 112055 Gainesville, FL 32611-2055	Astronomy major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Georgia State University	Professor William Nelson	Department of Physics & Astronomy Science Annex, Suite 400 29 Peachtree Center Avenue Atlanta, GA 30303	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	M.S. Physics w/Astronomy concentration and Ph.D. Astronomy
Harvard University	Professor Lars Hernquist	Department of Astronomy 60 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138	Astronomy major	Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Hawaii	Professor Gareth Wynn-Williams	Institute for Astronomy 2680 Woodlawn Drive Honolulu, HI 96822-1897	Physics major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Hawaii at Hilo	Professor Robert Fox	Department of Physics & Astronomy 200 West Kawili Street Hilo, HI 96720-4091	Astronomy major Physics major	N/A
Howard University	Professor Demetrius Venable	Department of Physics & Astronomy Room 105, Thirkield Hall 2355 6th. Street NW Washington, DC 20059	Physics major	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Professor Lewis Snyder	Department of Astronomy 1002 West Green Street Urbana, IL 61801	Astronomy major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Indiana University	Professor Richard H. Durisen	Department of Astronomy 727 East 3rd Street Swain West 319 Bloomington, IN 47405-7105	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy and Astrophysics	M.A. and Ph.D. Astronomy, Ph.D. Astrophysics
University of Iowa	Professor Thomas Boggess	Department of Physics & Astronomy 203 Van Allen Hall Iowa City, IA 52242-1479	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy	M.S. Astronomy and Ph.D. Physics
Iowa State University	Professor Eli Rosenberg	Department of Physics & Astronomy Ames, IA 50011-3160	Physics major w/Astronomy emphasis	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
Johns Hopkins University	Professor Jonathan Bagger	Department of Physics & Astronomy Charles & 34th Street Baltimore, MD 21218	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Kansas	Professor Stephen Sanders	Department of Physics & Astronomy Malott Hall, Room 1082 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive Lawrence, KS 66045-7582	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics w/Astronomy emphasis
Kansas State University	Professor Dean Zollman	Department of Physics 116 Cardwell Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-2601	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
Louisiana State University	Professor Roger McNeil	Department of Physics & Astronomy 202 Nicholson Hall Tower Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4001	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics w/Astronomy concentration
University of Louisville	Professor Joseph Chalmers	Moore Observatory 800 Old Zaring Road Crestwood, KY 40014	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.S. Physics, Ph.D. program with U of K
University of Maryland	Professor Lee G. Mundy	Department of Astronomy College Park, MD 20742-2421	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Massachusetts at Amherst	Professor Ronald Snell	Department of Astronomy LGRT-B 619 E 710 N. Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01003-4525	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Professor Marc Kastner	Department of Physics Building 6-113 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139-4307	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astrophysics concentration	Ph.D. Physics w/Astrophysics concentration
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor	Professor Douglas Richstone	Department of Astronomy 830 Dennison Building Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1090	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy and Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Michigan State University	Professor Eugene Capriotti	Department of Physics & Astronomy East Lansing, MI 48824-2320	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
Michigan Technological University	Professor Ravi Pandey	Department of Physics 1400 Townsend Drive Houghton, MI 49931-1295	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of Minnesota	Professor Leonard Kuhi	Department of Astronomy 116 Church Street, SE Minneapolis, MN 55455	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
Minnesota State University, Mankato	Professor Mark Pickar	Department of Physics and Astronomy 141 Trafton Science Center N Mankato, MN 56001	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Astronomy	M.S. Physics
University of Missouri at Columbia	Professor Henry White	Department of Physics & Astronomy 223 Physics Building UMC Columbia, MO 65211	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of Montana	Professor James Jacobs	Department of Physics & Astronomy 32 Campus Drive #1080 Missoula, MT 59812	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Physics w/Astronomy option and Astronomy minor	N/A
Montana State University	Professor William Hiscock	Department of Physics 264 EPS Building P.O. Box 173840 Bozemon, MT 59717-3840	Physics major	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of Nebraska	Professor Roger Kirby	Department of Physics & Astronomy 116 Brace Lab Lincoln, NE 68588-0111	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy track	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of New Mexico	Professor Bernd Bassalleck	Department of Physics & Astronomy 800 Yale Blvd. Albuquerque, NM 87131	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Tech	Professor Ken Minschwaner	Department of Physics 333 Workman Center 801 Leroy Place Socorro, NM 87801	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astrophysics option	Ph.D. Astrophysics
New Mexico State University	Professor Rene Walterbos	Department of Astronomy 1320 Frenger Mall Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001	Astronomy minor	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
SUNY at Stony Brook	Professor Paul Grannis	Department of Physics & Astronomy Stony Brook, NY 11794-3800	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
University of North Carolina	Professor Bruce Carney	Department of Physics & Astronomy Phillips Hall CB#3255 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3255	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy and Astrophysics
Northwestern University	Professor David Meyer	Department of Physics & Astronomy 2145 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60208-3112	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	Ph.D. Astronomy
Ohio State University	Professor Patrick Osmer	Department of Astronomy 4055 McPherson Lab 140 W. 18th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210-1173	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Ohio University	Professor Louis Wright	Department of Physics & Astronomy Clippinger Lab 251B Athens, OH 45701-2979	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics	M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
University of Oklahoma	Professor Ryan Doezema	Department of Physics & Astronomy Norman, OK 73019-0225	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics and Astronomy	Ph.D. Astrophysics
Oklahoma State University	Professor James Wicksted	Department of Physics 145 Physical Sciences Stillwater, OK 74078-3072	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics
Penn State University	Professor Lawrence Ramsey	Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics 525 Davey Lab University Park, PA 16802	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy and Astrophysics	Ph.D. Astrophysics
University of Pennsylvania	Professor Tom Lubensky	Department of Physics & Astronomy 209 S. 33rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-6396	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
University of Pittsburgh	Professor David Jasnow	Department of Physics & Astronomy 3941 O'Hara Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Physics w/Astronomy concentration
Pomona College	Professor Alma Zook	Department of Physics & Astronomy 610 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Physics w/Astronomy option	N/A
Princeton University	Professor Scott Tremaine	Department of Astrophysical Sciences Peyton Hall-Ivy Lane Princeton, NJ 08544-1001	Astrophysics major	Ph.D. Astronomy
Rice University	Professor F. Barry Dunning	Department of Physics & Astronomy 6100 S. Main Houston, TX 77005-1892	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astrophysics
University of Rochester	Professor Arie Bodek	Department of Physics & Astronomy Bausch and Lomb Hall P.O. Box 270171 600 Wilson Boulevard Rochester, NY 14627-0171	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Professor G.-C. Wang	Department of Physics Troy, NY 12180-3590	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
San Diego State University	Professor Paul Etzel	Department of Astronomy 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-1221	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy	M.S. Astronomy
State University of New Jersey, Rutgers	Professor Paul Leath	Department of Physics & Astronomy 136 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-8019	Astrophysics major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
St. Cloud State University	Professor Mark Nook	Department of Physics & Astronomy 740 4th Avenue St. MS 324 St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	N/A
City College of San Francisco	Professor Lancelot Kao	Department of Astronomy Science Hall 400 50 Phelan Avenue San Francisco, CA 94112	A.A. and A.S. Astronomy	N/A
Stanford University	Professor Vahe Petrosian	Department of Physics Varian Physics, Room 310 382 Via Pueblo Mall Stanford, CA 94305-4060	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	Ph.D. Physics
Swarthmore College	Professor Amy Bug	Department of Physics & Astronomy Dupont Science Building Swarthmore, PA 19081	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy and Astrophysics	N/A
University of Texas at Austin	Professor D.E. Winget	Department of Astronomy 1 University Station C1400 Austin, TX 78712-0259	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Union College	Professor Michael Vineyard	Department of Physics Science & Engineering Center Schenectady, NY 19308	Physics major Physics and Astronomy minor	N/A
Vanderbilt University	Professor Robert Scherrer	Department of Physics & Astronomy 1807 Station B Nashville, TN 37235	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy and Astrophysics track Astronomy minor	M.S. Astronomy Ph.D. Physics
Vassar College	Professor Debra Elmegreen	Department of Physics & Astronomy 124 Raymond Avenue Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0539	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy	N/A
Villanova University	Professor George McCook	Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics 800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy and Astrophysics	N/A
University of Virginia	Professor Robert Rood	Department of Astronomy P.O. Box 3818 Charlottesville, VA 22903-0818	Astronomy major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Virginia Tech	Professor John Ficenec	Department of Physics Robeson Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0435	Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics w/Astronomy concentration	Ph.D. Astrophysics
University of Washington	Professor Bruce Balick	Department of Astronomy Box 351580 Seattle, WA 98195-1580	Astronomy major	M.S. and Ph.D. Astronomy
Washington University in St. Louis	Professor John Clark	Department of Physics Campus Box 1105 One Brookings Drive St. Louis, MO 63130-4899	A.B. and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Physics	M.A. and Ph.D. Physics
Wellesley College	Professor Richard French	Department of Astronomy 106 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02481-8203	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy	N/A
Wesleyan University	Professor John Salzer	Department of Astronomy Van Vleck Observatory Middletown, CT 06459-0123	Astronomy major	M.S. Astronomy
Williams College	Professor Karen Kwitter	Department of Astronomy 32 Lab Campus Drive Williamstown, MA 01267	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astrophysics	N/A
University of Wisconsin at Madison	Professor Linda Sparke	Department of Astronomy 475 N. Charter Street Madison, WI 53706	Astronomy-Physics major	Ph.D. Astronomy
Yale University	Professor Charles Bailyn	Department of Astronomy P.O. Box 208101 New Haven CT 06520-8101	Bachelor of Art (B.A.) Astronomy Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Astronomy and Physics	Ph.D. Astronomy

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