a student studies the stars through a telescope

Bachelor of Science in
Astronomy

Classroom courses and hands-on experience provide students in this program the opportunity to explore the universe through leading-edge facilities and research projects.

Astronomy is unlike most sciences. We can’t bring celestial objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies into a laboratory. Instead, we use a clever combination of astronomical observations, physics principles, computer analysis and the human mind to understand how these distant objects work.

At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, students in the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy program use a combination of physics and astronomy classroom courses, along with hands-on laboratory courses, to understand and explore the Universe. Graduates are prepared to enter a variety of industrial and basic science applications, as well as graduate programs in related fields.  

As one of only a few small, private institutions with an Astronomy program, Embry-Riddle offers plenty of advantages, including faculty ties to major resources, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, and major research programs sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation. Students also frequently work one-on-one with faculty on research projects and activities.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 14% increase in physics and astronomy jobs between 2016 and 2026. The 2021 median annual wage for astronomers and astrophysicists was $147,450, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We are proud to report that 94% of Embry-Riddle graduates are employed in their field or are continuing their education within a year of graduation, according to our most recent Alumni Survey.

DETAILS

About Astronomy at the Prescott, AZ Campus

Through hands-on experiences with instruments that unlock the secrets of the skies, students in the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy program at the Prescott Campus can make precise observations of a variety of celestial objects. The Prescott Campus houses the Prescott Observatory Complex, with facilities including 20-inch and 16-inch optical telescopes. Home to one of only a handful of Astronomy degree programs in the Western United States, its high-altitude location away from large cities allows students to take advantage of equipment access on campus to peer into the skies.

At the Prescott Campus, students are immersed in hands-on undergraduate research working directly with faculty. Faculty have grants through NASA, SAO, National Science Foundation, Space Telescope Science Institute and other agencies. Beyond on-campus observing, faculty often collaborate internationally, studying data from state-of-the-art ground and space-based facilities like the James Webb Space Telescope and various X-Ray satellites, including those used in the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM).

Learn more about the Prescott, AZ Campus

Summary

120 Credits

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