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
  • Astronomy 50:  The Solar System
  • Astronomy 51 (or 100):  Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Astronomy 52:  Relativity, Black Holes, and Quasars

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: Stars
  • Astronomy 210: Galaxies
  • Astronomy 220: Cosmology
  • Astronomy 230: Observational Astronomy
  • Astronomy 240: Radio Astronomy

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:

  • Astronomy 50 or Geology 26,
  • Astronomy 100,
  • Astronomy 200,
  • Astronomy 210,
  • Astronomy 220,
  • Astronomy 230,
  • Astronomy 240