Astronomy

Undergraduate Minor

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Earn a minor in astronomy

Ready to take your love of the universe to the next level? UW’s highly regarded astronomy minor gives students a fundamental education in physics and astronomy as well as access to state-of-the-art telescopes, observatories and our on-campus planetarium. This program prepares grads for further education at prestigious universities or fulfilling careers in the scientific field.

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This program is currently offered in
the following locations:

Laramie Campus

About the Minor in Astronomy

If you’re interested in astronomy and physics but have a major in another field, the astronomy minor might be a perfect fit! This 23-credit hour program covers astronomy, mathematics and physics fundamentals.

The minor also gives students access to research opportunities, UW’s state-of-the-art planetarium, telescopes and more. During the program, students learn to think critically and evaluate, interpret and solve astronomical and scientific problems.

*Students must have taken, or tested out of, the UW calculus progression (MATH 2200, MATH 2205 and MATH 2210) in order to declare an astronomy minor.

A tutor helps a fellow student in the library

 

Astronomy faculty at UW are award-winning instructors and actively practicing astronomers. They study a wide range of astronomical phenomena, including exoplanets, stars, galaxies, black holes and the wider cosmos. Some faculty are involved in engineering technical instrumentation, while others work on computational projects.

Danny Dale working with people
Meet Our Faculty!

Learn more about the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UW.

Astronomy Minor Highlights

State-of-the-Art Facilities

UW is home to a state-of-the-art planetarium, which provides incredible outreach and teaching opportunities. Our students and faculty additionally have access to technical equipment and observatories. In fact, UW is perhaps the only American university with complete ownership of a research-grade 2.3-meter-class telescope near campus. UW also owns or has dedicated access to, three additional observatories.

UW Observatories

Astronomy students have the opportunity to pursue exciting research projects with faculty. These research opportunities are great preparation for graduate school and high-profile jobs. Research projects typically involve working with highly technical equipment and facilities, including large telescopes around the country. Students also have the opportunity to produce and present shows in the astronomy department’s state-of-the-art planetarium. Doing so gives students valuable experience in presenting and designing educational materials.

UW Planetarium

Students are encouraged to join the Society of Physics Students, an on-campus organization that promotes academic and professional development. As part of the organization, students attend national conferences and network with practicing scientists.

Society of Physics Students

The astronomy department is proud to offer small class sizes. Doing so ensures students receive an individualized education and the opportunity to work closely with esteemed faculty.

 

State-of-the-Art Facilities

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What can you do with a minor in astronomy?

The minor in astronomy prepares students for careers as researchers, scientists and educators. Many of our graduates pursue additional education, work in observatories or serve the U.S. military.

  • Research Assistant
  • Data Analyst
  • Planetarium Educator
  • Museum Educator
  • Technical Writer
  • Software Developer
  • Science Teacher
  • University Professor
  • Engineer
  • Science Policy Analyst

  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Google
  • United States Marine Corps
  • Bill Barrett Corporation
  • Lowell Observatory
  • Vanderbilt University
  • United States Air Force
  • Epic Systems

Many UW astronomy grads go on to pursue additional education and degrees. Here are some of the prestigious universities that our graduates have studied at:

  • Princeton University
  • Duke University
  • The University of Arizona
  • The Pennsylvania State University
  • The University of Texas at Austin
  • New Mexico State University
  • ITT Technical Institute
  • The University of Utah
  • Louisiana State University
  • University of Pennsylvania

Along with our state-of-the-art observatories, planetarium and research-grade telescope, our faculty and students routinely visit and use national and international observatories. They also use high-end computing facilities and space-based equipment, such as the James Webb Space Telescope.

“No other undergraduate program I've heard about compares to UW in terms of access to research, especially early in college.”

- UW Graduate, B.S. in Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Related Programs

Interested in studying astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Wyoming? These other programs might be of interest to you: