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.
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School
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Department Chair
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Address
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Undergraduate Degrees
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Graduate Degrees
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| University of Alabama | Professor Stan Jones |
Department of Physics & Astronomy |
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 |
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 |
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 |