Astronomy and Astrophysics

Major

Why study astronomy and astrophysics at CMU?

As an astronomy and astrophysics student you'll study thermal physics, quantum theory, astrophysics, observational astronomy, mathematical physics and more. And with a student to faculty ratio of 3:1, you'll do so with individual and personalized attention from experts in this field. Working closely with a faculty advisor, you'll complete a final project that demonstrates your knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics. When you graduate as an astronomy and astrophysics major, you'll be prepared for competitive graduate programs and many careers.

You'll also gain hands-on research experience with access to our Brooks ​Astronomical Observatory and other state-of-the-art resources, including:

• Brooks Research Hub: Complete with computers, a darkroom and a library housing over 1,000 volumes of observatory publications, catalogs, charts and atlases.
• Brooks Astronomical Observatory: Search the skies with a 16-inch (40 cm) advanced computer-controlled telescope that is equipped for CCD direct imaging, UBVRI photometry, medium-dispersion spectroscopy, as well as visual observing.
• Specialized physics laboratories: Equipped for laser spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, thin films and X-ray diffraction.
  

You'll gain significant physics experience for your future career or graduate program. Many students present their research at national venues. More than 50% of our students participate in research programs and a significant portion of those are research assistants. As a result of opportunities like these, nearly 100% of graduating students secure jobs or gain admittance into graduate programs.

Highlights of our astronomy and astrophysics program

Explore the stars and your potential, our astronomy and astrophysics program offers resources and opportunities for you: 

• Excellent career outcomes: Join a program in which nearly 100% of graduating students secure jobs or gain admittance into graduate programs.
• Observational astronomy access: Explore the stars with access to the Br​ooks Astronomical Observatory and its $100,000 computer-controlled Cassegrain reflector telescope.
• Research funding: Study in a department in which physics faculty consistently secure more than $2 million dollars of annual research funding.
• Scholarship opportunities: You're eligible to receive the Kenneth Wright Physics, David H. Current or Kenneth W. And Margaret Cuff Saunders scholarships.
• Living and learning in STEM: Live in our Science & Engineering Residential College. Form relationships with STEM faculty, professionals and alumni. And access personalized tutoring, academic advising and career-related programs, right where you live.
• Get involved with RSOs: Meet other aspiring physicists, astronomers, astrophysicists and STEM professionals as a member of the Society of Physics Students.