Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor's Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics

This four-year Bachelor's Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics teaches the fundamentals of space science and physics, preparing students for careers in research, education, or technical roles in space-related fields.

4 years
Length
Bachelor
Level
After high school
Entry level
113
Schools
00
Exit level
Bachelor
Length
4 years
Work-study
Uncommon
Selectivity
Selective
Where to study
113 établissements

About

The Bachelor's Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics is a four-year undergraduate program offered in the United States. It is designed for students interested in understanding the universe, celestial bodies, and the physical laws that govern space. This degree combines physics, mathematics, and observational techniques to provide a solid foundation in space sciences. It suits those who enjoy scientific inquiry and want to explore careers related to space research, education, or technology development. Graduates can work in observatories, research institutions, planetariums, or continue their studies in graduate programs.

  • The program focuses on astronomy and astrophysics concepts to understand celestial phenomena.
  • It is intended for students with a strong interest in science and mathematics.
  • Graduates can pursue roles in research, education, or technical positions in space-related industries.
  • The degree provides a foundation for further studies in graduate school if desired.
  • The program is offered by universities accredited in the United States.

What you study

The curriculum covers a blend of theoretical and practical courses over four years, progressively deepening students' understanding of astronomy and physics. Early years focus on foundational subjects, while later years emphasize specialized topics and research skills.

  • Students study physics, mathematics, and computer programming in the first years to build essential skills.
  • Advanced courses include stellar astrophysics, cosmology, and observational techniques.
  • Laboratory work and telescope observations provide hands-on experience.
  • Students often complete research projects or participate in internships during their final years.
  • The program encourages the development of data analysis and scientific communication skills.

How to get in

Admission to a Bachelor's Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics in the US typically requires a high school diploma with a strong background in science and math. The process involves submitting academic records and standardized test scores.

  • Applicants should have completed high school courses in math and science.
  • Many universities require SAT or ACT scores as part of the application.
  • Some programs may ask for letters of recommendation or personal statements.
  • Interest in science and research is valued in candidate profiles.
  • Admission is managed by individual universities through their undergraduate offices.

Day to day

A typical academic year combines lectures, labs, and projects, with opportunities for internships and research. Students manage coursework alongside practical activities to build their skills.

  • The year is divided into semesters with regular classes and exams.
  • Students attend lectures and participate in laboratory sessions to apply theoretical knowledge.
  • Research projects or group assignments are common, especially in later years.
  • Internships at observatories or research centers may be pursued during summer breaks.
  • While formal alternance (work-study) is uncommon, students can seek part-time roles related to their field.

Careers after further study

Continuing your studies

After earning this bachelor's degree, students can continue with graduate studies to specialize further or switch to related fields. Graduate programs often focus on research and advanced topics.

  • Many pursue a Master's degree or PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics.
  • Other options include data science or engineering graduate programs.
  • Graduate studies open doors to research careers and higher-level technical positions.
  • Some may choose to reorient towards teaching or science communication.

Where to study this degree (113)

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Cooper Union
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Cooper Union
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📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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San Francisco State University
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San Francisco State University
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📍San Francisco, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Colorado Boulder
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📍Boulder, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of California-Santa Cruz
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University of California-Santa Cruz
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📍Santa Cruz, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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📍Seattle, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of California-Berkeley
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University of California-Berkeley
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📍Berkeley, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of California-Los Angeles
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University of California-Los Angeles
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📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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The University of Texas at Austin
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The University of Texas at Austin
University
📍Austin, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Wisconsin–Madison
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University of Wisconsin–Madison
University
📍Madison, 🇺🇸 United States
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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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📍University Park, 🇺🇸 United States
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
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📍Daytona Beach, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Arizona
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University of Arizona
University
📍Tucson, 🇺🇸 United States
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Florida Institute of Technology
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Florida Institute of Technology
School
📍Melbourne, 🇺🇸 United States
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Michigan State University
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Michigan State University
University
📍East Lansing, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University
📍Urbana, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Chicago
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University of Chicago
University
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Florida
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University of Florida
University
📍Gainesville, 🇺🇸 United States
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Harvard University
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Harvard University
University
📍Cambridge, 🇺🇸 United States
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Boston University
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Boston University
University
📍Boston, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio State University-Main Campus
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Ohio State University-Main Campus
college
📍Columbus, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Maryland-College Park
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University of Maryland-College Park
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📍College Park, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
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📍Minneapolis, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
college
📍Ann Arbor, 🇺🇸 United States
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Columbia University
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Columbia University
University
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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📍Amherst, 🇺🇸 United States
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Princeton University
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Princeton University
University
📍Princeton, 🇺🇸 United States
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Brigham Young University
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Brigham Young University
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📍Provo, 🇺🇸 United States
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Indiana University Bloomington
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Indiana University Bloomington
University
📍Bloomington, 🇺🇸 United States
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Yale University
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Yale University
University
📍New Haven, 🇺🇸 United States
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Arizona State University Digital Immersion
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Arizona State University Digital Immersion
college
📍Scottsdale, 🇺🇸 United States
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Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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📍New Brunswick, 🇺🇸 United States
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Cornell University
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Cornell University
University
📍Ithaca, 🇺🇸 United States
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College of Charleston
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College of Charleston
School
📍Charleston, 🇺🇸 United States
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Whitman College
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Whitman College
School
📍Walla Walla, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Oklahoma
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University of Oklahoma
University
📍Norman, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Virginia-Main Campus
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University of Virginia-Main Campus
college
📍Charlottesville, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Hawaii at Hilo
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University of Hawaii at Hilo
University
📍Hilo, 🇺🇸 United States
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Stony Brook University
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Stony Brook University
University
📍Stony Brook, 🇺🇸 United States
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Illinois Institute of Technology
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Illinois Institute of Technology
School
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
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Wesleyan University
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Wesleyan University
University
📍Middletown, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
University
📍Honolulu, 🇺🇸 United States
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Villanova University
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Villanova University
University
📍Villanova, 🇺🇸 United States
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Case Western Reserve University
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Case Western Reserve University
University
📍Cleveland, 🇺🇸 United States
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Northern Arizona University
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Northern Arizona University
University
📍Flagstaff, 🇺🇸 United States
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Smith College
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Smith College
School
📍Northampton, 🇺🇸 United States
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Butler University
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Butler University
University
📍Indianapolis, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Georgia
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University of Georgia
University
📍Athens, 🇺🇸 United States
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Wellesley College
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Wellesley College
School
📍Wellesley, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Cincinnati
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University of Cincinnati
University
📍Cincinnati, 🇺🇸 United States
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Vassar College
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Vassar College
School
📍Poughkeepsie, 🇺🇸 United States
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Tufts University
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Tufts University
University
📍Medford, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Wyoming
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University of Wyoming
University
📍Laramie, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Toledo
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University of Toledo
University
📍Toledo, 🇺🇸 United States
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Central Michigan University
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Central Michigan University
University
📍Mount Pleasant, 🇺🇸 United States
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Swarthmore College
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Swarthmore College
School
📍Swarthmore, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Kansas
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University of Kansas
University
📍Lawrence, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of New Mexico-Main Campus
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University of New Mexico-Main Campus
college
📍Albuquerque, 🇺🇸 United States
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Lycoming College
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Lycoming College
School
📍Williamsport, 🇺🇸 United States
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Franklin and Marshall College
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Franklin and Marshall College
college
📍Lancaster, 🇺🇸 United States
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Mount Holyoke College
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Mount Holyoke College
School
📍South Hadley, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Iowa
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University of Iowa
University
📍Iowa City, 🇺🇸 United States
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Haverford College
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Haverford College
School
📍Haverford, 🇺🇸 United States
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Baylor University
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Baylor University
University
📍Waco, 🇺🇸 United States
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
college
📍Prescott, 🇺🇸 United States
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Colgate University
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Colgate University
University
📍Hamilton, 🇺🇸 United States
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Williams College
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Williams College
School
📍Williamstown, 🇺🇸 United States
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Emory University
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Emory University
University
📍Atlanta, 🇺🇸 United States
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Youngstown State University
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Youngstown State University
University
📍Youngstown, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Southern California
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University of Southern California
University
📍Los Angeles, 🇺🇸 United States
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Dartmouth College
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Dartmouth College
School
📍Hanover, 🇺🇸 United States
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California Institute of Technology
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California Institute of Technology
School
📍Pasadena, 🇺🇸 United States
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Amherst College
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Amherst College
School
📍Amherst, 🇺🇸 United States
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Rice University
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Rice University
University
📍Houston, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University Lancaster
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Ohio University Lancaster
University
📍Athens, 🇺🇸 United States
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Carnegie Mellon University
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Carnegie Mellon University
University
📍Pittsburgh, 🇺🇸 United States
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Bennington College
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Bennington College
School
📍Bennington, 🇺🇸 United States
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Washington University in St Louis
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Washington University in St Louis
college
📍Saint Louis, 🇺🇸 United States
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San Diego State University
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San Diego State University
University
📍San Diego, 🇺🇸 United States
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Texas Christian University
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Texas Christian University
University
📍Fort Worth, 🇺🇸 United States
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Agnes Scott College
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Agnes Scott College
School
📍Decatur, 🇺🇸 United States
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Concordia College - Minnesota
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Concordia College - Minnesota
School
📍Moorhead, 🇺🇸 United States
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Valdosta State University
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Valdosta State University
University
📍Valdosta, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio Wesleyan University
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Ohio Wesleyan University
University
📍Delaware, 🇺🇸 United States
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Bryn Mawr College
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Bryn Mawr College
School
📍Bryn Mawr, 🇺🇸 United States
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Barnard College
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Barnard College
School
📍New York, 🇺🇸 United States
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Drake University
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Drake University
University
📍Des Moines, 🇺🇸 United States
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Lehigh University
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Lehigh University
University
📍Bethlehem, 🇺🇸 United States
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Marietta College
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Marietta College
School
📍Marietta, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ball State University
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Ball State University
University
📍Muncie, 🇺🇸 United States
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Montana State University
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Montana State University
University
📍Bozeman, 🇺🇸 United States
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Stonehill College
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Stonehill College
School
📍Easton, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
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University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
college
📍Pittsburgh, 🇺🇸 United States
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Benedictine College
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Benedictine College
School
📍Atchison, 🇺🇸 United States
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SUNY New Paltz
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SUNY New Paltz
School
📍New Paltz, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Delaware
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University of Delaware
University
📍Newark, 🇺🇸 United States
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Union College
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Union College
School
📍Schenectady, 🇺🇸 United States
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Brown University
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Brown University
University
📍Providence, 🇺🇸 United States
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Hampshire College
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Hampshire College
School
📍Amherst, 🇺🇸 United States
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Oglethorpe University
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Oglethorpe University
University
📍Atlanta, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University Zanesville
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Ohio University Zanesville
University
📍Zanesville, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University-Eastern Campus
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Ohio University-Eastern Campus
college
📍Saint Clairsville, 🇺🇸 United States
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University
📍Las Vegas, 🇺🇸 United States
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George Washington University
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George Washington University
University
📍Washington, 🇺🇸 United States
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Siena College
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Siena College
School
📍Loudonville, 🇺🇸 United States
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Wheaton College - Massachusetts
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Wheaton College - Massachusetts
School
📍Norton, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University Southern
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Ohio University Southern
University
📍Ironton, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
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Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
college
📍Lancaster, 🇺🇸 United States
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Valparaiso University
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Valparaiso University
University
📍Valparaiso, 🇺🇸 United States
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Wayne State University
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Wayne State University
University
📍Detroit, 🇺🇸 United States
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DePaul University
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DePaul University
University
📍Chicago, 🇺🇸 United States
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George Mason University
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George Mason University
University
📍Fairfax, 🇺🇸 United States
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Colby College
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Colby College
School
📍Waterville, 🇺🇸 United States
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Ohio University Chillicothe
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Ohio University Chillicothe
University
📍Chillicothe, 🇺🇸 United States
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Liste des 113 établissements

Frequently asked questions

What background is needed to apply for this degree?

Applicants should have completed high school with strong courses in mathematics and science. Universities may also require standardized test scores like the SAT or ACT.

Are there practical experiences during the program?

Yes, students participate in laboratory sessions, telescope observations, and research projects to gain hands-on experience.

Can I work while studying this degree?

Formal work-study programs are uncommon, but students can seek internships or part-time roles related to astronomy during breaks.

What careers can I pursue with this degree?

Graduates may work in research, education, technical roles in space agencies, or science communication, though many continue with graduate studies.

Is this degree recognized internationally?

Degrees from accredited US universities are generally recognized internationally, especially if pursued further with graduate studies.

What skills will I develop during this program?

Students develop strong analytical, computational, and scientific communication skills, along with expertise in physics and astronomy.

Can I switch to another field after this degree?

Yes, graduates can reorient towards related fields such as data science, engineering, or science education depending on their interests.

How selective is admission to this program?

Admission is selective and based on academic records, test scores, and demonstrated interest in science and mathematics.