Astronomy
Bachelor of Arts
About the Major
Will the universe expand forever? Is there life on other planets? How do stars and galaxies form? These are the types of questions being addressed by students majoring in astronomy. You'll have access to outstanding facilities, including our own Mount Laguna Observatory, which is frequently used to train students in the use of astronomical telescopes and instruments.
Program Highlights
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree are trained in the application of the scientific method to the realm of astronomy and astrophysics, which requires a good foundation of understanding of physics and mathematics. Additionally, our students obtain practical skills in applied computing and the use of modern instrumentation.
Sample Courses
- Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
- Astrophysics of Stars
- Extragalactic Astronomy
- A Walk Through the Stellar Graveyard
Career Options
Employment opportunities for astronomers who have advanced degrees include positions at colleges and universities, national observatories and government laboratories, planetariums, and in industry and private companies.
- Space Telescope Science Institute
- American Museum of Natural History
- Boeing
- United States Air Force
Academic Experiences
- SDSU Schwartz Astronomical Society
- Unistellar eVscope 2
Transferable Skills
- Problem solving skills
- Abstract and formal reasoning skills
- Identify and rectify problems
- Explain processes
- Perform mathematical analyses
- Describe technical information to laypersons
- Sort and prioritize data
- Organizational skills
Astronomy Department
College of Sciences
