Physics & Astronomy Program:
Guide to the Astronomy Major

The department offers a bachelor's degree in Astronomy as well as minors in Astronomy and in Astrophysics. Many of the courses required are described in the Guide to the Physics Major; those that are unique to Astronomy and Astrophysics are listed below.

Introductory Courses

Courses numbered in the 50s provide an introduction without calculus to assorted topics in astronomy and astrophysics at a level accessible to non-science majors. Astronomy 50 and 51 contain labs. Astronomy 100 provides an introduction to astronomy and astrophysics to students with a background in freshman physics.

Intermediate and Advanced Courses

Astronomy 200, 210, and 220 provide discussion of upper level astrophysics at a level suitable for all science and engineering majors. Astronomy 230 and 240 are observation-based courses in which students use the Union College 20-inch telescope (Astronomy 230) and the 2-meter radio telescope (Astronomy 240) and learn how to process and analyze professional-level astronomical data.

Student Research

The Astronomy major also requires the completion of a senior thesis project. Astronomy students gain the experience of professional level astronomical research. To see a some of the projects our students have worked on in recent years, look at the Student Research Page.

Major Requirements

The requirements for the Astronomy major consist of:

  1. Four introductory physics courses: Physics 120, 121, 122, 123
  2. At least one observation-based astronomy course: Astronomy 230 or 240
  3. One general introductory course in astronomy Astronomy 51 or 100
  4. Any three courses among:
    1. Astronomy 50 or Geology 26
    2. Astronomy 52
    3. Astronomy 200
    4. Astronomy 210
    5. Astronomy 220
    6. Astronomy 230 or 240 (whichever was not used in requirement #2)
    7. physics 230
  5. A senior research course (physics 490) culminating in a written senior thesis;
  6. Two courses in mathematics (Math 113 and 115), and
  7. One science course outside the department

The requirements for the Astrophysics minor are:

Any six of the following courses:

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