Astronomy & Astrophysics Major
Main Content
The Astronomy & Astrophysics (ASTRO) major in Penn State's Eberly College of Science involves the scientific study of the universe. During your first two years as an ASTRO major, you will obtain a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and chemistry. In the later years, you receive a selection of advanced courses on topics such as astrophysics, observational methods, galaxies and cosmology, high-energy astrophysics, and computational methods. At the start of the third year, you choose one of two options depending on whether you wish to emphasize physics or computer science to complement your advanced Astronomy & Astrophysics courses:
- Graduate Study (with increased work in math and physics)
- Computer Science (with emphasis on computer studies)
Formal entry into the ASTRO major at the start of the third year requires:
- A GPA of at least 2.00 in all courses.
- A grade of C or better in: ASTRO 291, CHEM 110, MATH 140, MATH 141, PHYS 211, and PHYS 212.
In order to graduate, students must:
- complete all course requirements for the major.
- Maintain a cumulative grave point average of 2.00 or better.
- Achieve a grade of C or better in: ASTRO 291, ASTRO 292, CHEM 110, MATH 140, MATH 141, PHYS 211, PHYS 212, and 12 credits of 400-level ASTRO courses.
- Complete all other university requirements.
