Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy

Although the study of astronomy has ancient roots, it is now one of the most rapidly developing and exciting subjects in modern science. Astronomy is the study of the Universe and its contents: planets, stars, black holes, galaxies, and quasars. Each of these is a fascinating topic in its own right, but perhaps the greatest achievement of modern astronomy has been to gather them all into a rich and coherent picture, one which depicts the origin and evolution of all things from the Big Bang to the development of living organisms. Recent advances in astronomy have derived from new technologies that have yielded instruments of unprecedented power: telescopes with 10-meter mirrors, orbiting satellite observatories for all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, deep space missions to sample planetary atmospheres and surfaces, and huge laboratories for detection of elusive cosmic neutrinos and gravity waves. The excitement and accessibility of astronomy are featured in frequent press coverage of major new discoveries, including in recent years the discovery of planets orbiting other stars, a comet crashing into Jupiter, the discovery of very young galaxies in the distant universe, the detection of gravitational waves from merging black holes, the possibility of life on Mars, the threat of asteroid collisions with the Earth, and the detection of primordial ripples in the cosmic background radiation. Astronomy draws from, and contributes to, many other subjects: primarily physics but also geology, atmospheric and environmental science, biology, and even philosophy. The coursework of the two Astronomy majors offers students the opportunity to explore these frontier discoveries while simultaneously developing fundamental analytical and quantitative skills useful in many different careers. A total of 35 Astronomy courses are open to majors. The Astronomy major (BA) offers a concentration on science in the context of a liberal arts degree for students who do not intend to pursue graduate training in astronomy or physics. It is often part of a double major. The Astronomy-Physics major (BS) provides more rigorous preparation for graduate work in astronomy, physics, computer science, or related fields.

High School Transcripts.
Typically, the most important factor in the admission evaluation process is demonstrated academic achievement in a challenging secondary school program.
The admission committee looks for applicants who have completed the most rigorous academic courses available in their secondary schools and recommends that prospective students should exceed minimum high school graduation requirements. We require an official transcript. The secondary program should include no fewer than 16 academic courses and must include the following courses:

English 4 units
Mathematics 4 units
Foreign Language 2 units
Science (from among biology, chemistry, and physics) 2 units (*)
Social Studies 1 unit

A TOEFL or IELTS score should not be more than two years old. Depending on the school, most admitted graduate students attain a minimum total score of 90 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening). The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is usually 600, and the minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0.