Bachelors in Astrophysics in USA

Many graduates pursue careers with the National Weather Service, the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, the Environmental Research Laboratories, and the Department of Defense. Graduates also pursue careers with private meteorological or environmental consulting firms that provide weather information and apply atmospheric sciences to air pollution control, energy distribution, marketing, transportation, weather modification, and agriculture. Graduates also work for insurance and commodities industries that employ meteorologists who are educated in statistics, agriculture, and world climates.

Applied meteorologists apply weather and climate information to problems facing agriculture and commerce. Students acquire the skills and tools necessary to improve the health, safety, and productivity of today’s world. Graduates work on many environmental problems such as air quality, renewable energy sources, climate change and the impacts of climate change.

The option involves extensive coursework in meteorology, physics, and mathematics, as well as first-hand experience in applying basic concepts to real world situations. Internship programs are available with private industry, the National Weather Service, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition there are regular opportunities to work in University laboratories and the State Climate Office.

Astronomy, the oldest of the sciences, originated in the human urge to understand the mysterious lights we see in the sky above us—the Sun, the Moon, the planets and the stars. Over the centuries, new tools have become available to study these cosmic icons—telescopes that allow us to see further and fainter, detectors that are sensitive to electromagnetic signals at non-visible wavelengths, and satellites that can observe from outside the confines of the Earth’s atmosphere. These tools have answered many questions, but raised even more. How did the Universe begin, and how did the stars and galaxies within it form? How will it end? Are there habitable planets around other stars—and has life emerged on these planets?

Astronomy is the scientific discipline dedicated to the study of everything in the universe outside the Earth's atmosphere. The undergraduate major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in astronomy/planetary sciences prepares a student for graduate and professional work. Grad­uates with a degree in astronomy teach in secondary schools, work in academic, government, and industrial laboratories, and teach and conduct research at colleges and universities.

Course requirements for the B.S. program are listed below and are summarized in the accompanying chart. When the student declares the Astronomy major, the director of undergraduate studies assigns a faculty advisor to the student. This advisor assists the student in the selection of courses. Students should consult frequently with their faculty advisors regarding their progress and regarding appropriate science courses. Because the position of the scientist in society is responsible and complex, the student is cautioned to pay careful attention to general education in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

When you look up at the night sky, what do you see? There are patterns of stars, planets, the moon, and some sights that you may not be able to explain. Astronomy is the study of those objects in space -- how stars, planets, and galaxies form and behave -- and the universe itself.

If you want to understand the mysteries of the night sky, this could be the major for you.

Astronomy students study space, the history and future of the universe, and the objects within, such as planets, stars, and galaxies. Subjects of study include the evolution of stars, how the stars and planets move through space, chemistry, and advanced math.

The astronomy and astrophysics program is geared toward preparing our students for graduate school. Thanks to our excellent facilities and dedicated faculty, students in this program encounter many research opportunities that few other universities can offer.

The B.S. in Physics with a Concentration in Astronomy is a modification of Plan A, the general physics major track, to emphasize observational astronomy and stellar and galactic astrophysics. This concentration is designed for students who plan to pursue graduate studies and/or careers in astronomy and astrophysics, as well as for students who desire an increased emphasis on image processing techniques and radiative processes and energy transport.

The study of meteorology involves the description of the earth’s atmosphere and the processes responsible for its behavior. Students majoring in Meteorology earn a bachelor of science. The major satisfies guidelines specified by the American Meteorological Society and meets education requirements for employment with the National Weather Service and the World Meteorological Organization. Successful preparation for professional or graduate work in Meteorology requires that the student develop and integrate a diverse range of skills and knowledge bases. These include weather observing, the physics and dynamics of the global atmosphere, application of new weather technologies, advanced mathematical tools, computer programming and modeling, and effective oral and written communication.

The Astronomy Department offers courses leading to a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy as well as a series of courses of general interest to non-majors. Astronomy majors are given a strong undergraduate preparation in Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics. The degree program is designed to prepare students for positions in government and industry laboratories or for graduate work in Astronomy or related fields. Courses offered by this department may be found under the following acronym: ASTR.

The astronomy minor can be combined with many majors to prepare you for an exciting niche career. A biology major can become an astrobiologist who studies life on exoplanets. A chemistry major can go into cosmochemistry (studying meteorites to discern the formation of the solar system) or astrochemistry (focusing on the molecules of the interstellar medium). An English major can go into science journalism, specializing in physics and astronomy. The list goes on: you could be a science illustrator or an archaeoastronomer. In order to do these jobs well, you need the kind of knowledge provided by our astronomy minor program.

Our introductory astronomy classes – Planetary Astronomy and Stars and Galaxies – cover historical astronomy and also the latest observations from modern space missions. These both have a laboratory component in which students make use of the ONU Observatory, a roll-off roof facility that contains three, pier-mounted "goto" telescopes and specialized CCD cameras for astrophotography. Additional courses include Modern Physics and Introductory Astrophysics. Here, you will be challenged with problems to deepen your understanding of such things as orbits, light, matter and relativity.

To our knowledge, Florida Tech’s astrobiology degree program is the first and only undergraduate astrobiology program in the country. If you’re interested in the potential for life on other planets, studying the theory of abiogenesis is key.

Students in the astrobiology program receive a broad education in areas that include planetary science, extrasolar planets, and the origin of life. At the same time, students take a solid core of mathematics, physics, and biology courses, allowing them to pursue a wide range of interests.

Astrobiology degree graduates are ready for graduate studies in astrophysics, planetary science, or biology, as well as careers in the aerospace or biotech-related industries. Whether you want to study the effects of space travel on humans, discover past or present microbial life on Mars, or help develop ways to sustain life on the moon, you will be well prepared with an astrobiology degree from Florida Tech. Here, you'll develop a strong background in physics and biology and get hands-on experience with space science technologies.

The field of astronomy is being transformed by the advent of large astronomical data sets. This degree incorporates a strong foundation in data science and astronomy. In this program, you'll learn how to work with modern large data sets using current computational and statistical methods. You'll also have a strong grounding in data curation and ethics. These skills are transferrable to the many careers that handle and communicate data across the knowledge economy. This includes jobs in agribusiness, computing, education, engineering, finance, government, insurance, marketing, medicine, supply chain, and more.

The Bachelor of Science degree program prepares students for further graduate studies as well as for non-academic professional applications. The program follows standards established by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), emphasizing a math and physics background for understanding the physical processes governing the motion and composition of the atmosphere.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to work with the faculty and are able to earn course credit and senior theses by conducting research under the supervision of leading scientists in their field. Research encompasses atmospheric dynamics, climate science, boundary-layer processes, cloud processes, and remote sensing. Focus areas include hurricanes (modeling, data assimilation and field observations), tropical meteorology, atmosphere-ocean coupling, climate, and climate change. Many faculty are active in fieldwork.

The Bachelor of Science degree program is meant for students planning to continue with graduate studies in atmospheric science, or for those who will pursue a technical career in this area in government or private industry.

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Astronomy, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts in Mechanics.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts in Electromagnetism.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts in Quantum Mechanics.
4. Be knowledgable in fundamental topics in Astronomy.

Astronomy (ASTR) is the branch of science that studies the structure and development of the physical universe beyond Earth. It includes the study of planets and other objects of the solar system; the sun and stars and their evolution; the interstellar medium; the nature and dynamics of star clusters, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies; and the study of the nature and history of the universe itself— of the physical cosmos taken in its largest extent in space and time. Astronomy provides humanity with a fundamental understanding of both the universe and our place in it.

The mountains of Hawai‘i are sources of wonder and inspiration. Astronomers worldwide recognize that summit access is an extraordinary privilege, to be shared with others who approach these mountains with respect and reverence. The observatories on Maunakea and Haleakala, collaboratively established by 11 nations, are dedicated to the discovery and international dissemination of astronomical knowledge, and the academic programs offered by the Institute for Astronomy exist to insure that students at UH Manoa have full and equal access to this knowledge. These programs stand on a foundation of basic research in cosmology, galaxies and large-scale structure, stellar formation and evolution, interstellar material, our own and other planetary systems, astrobiology, solar astronomy, and technologies for adaptive optics, infrared detectors, and submillimeter astronomy. In support of its mission of education and research, the Institute for Astronomy operates dedicated facilities on Maunakea and Haleakala and has guaranteed access to all major telescopes on these mountains.

This program is intended to give students a thorough background in basic physics and astronomy, as well as the historical development of modern physical concepts and the relationship of these basic sciences to other fields. It is a particularly appropriate program for those planning to enter careers on which science and technology have a large impact, such as certain kinds of law, business administration, governmental administration, technical writing, and science education. It is not intended to prepare students for scientific or technical careers, but to enable students to understand and evaluate the ever increasing influence of science and technology on other areas.