Exploration, observation, and analysis of the large-scale universe around us is the object of modern astronomy. For students fascinated by the prospect of contributing to the search for the universe's hidden secrets, the study of astronomy is a rewarding major. Our program consists of two components, coursework and independent research projects under the close supervision of a faculty member. The coursework is designed to give a solid background in the relevant areas of astronomy, physics, and math. We place a particularly strong emphasis on the independent research component. A measure of our success is that a substantial fraction of our graduating seniors have cowritten one or more papers published in the astronomical literature as a result of their independent work. In addition to the scientific excellence of the department, its relatively small size allows for an informal atmosphere and a highly accessible faculty, both of which are greatly enjoyed by our majors.

The astrophysics program is flexible and accommodates students with a broad range of interests. While many of our students plan to continue in graduate school in astrophysics, we offer a flexible choice of courses and research projects for students with other career goals, in areas such as science education, science policy, and space exploration, as well as law, medicine, finance, and teaching.