Good astronomy colleges

[quantumnumber]

Currently I am at a two year community college. I plan on graduating with an associates degree in math and science. I am also planning on transfering to another college when I graduate. I would like to get a degree in astronomy and I am wondering if any of you know of any good colleges to attend in order to get a degree in astronomy?

 

[drwayne]

What do you plan on / want to do after you get your degree?

Wayne

 

[derekmcd]

Astronomy has gone beyond the classical definition of looking through an eyepiece and studying the sky. Given the name you choose to use here at SDC, you could be an astronomer with never looking up. You need to define what interests you.

 

[quantumnumber]

Thank you both for your replies. I have too many interests and am having difficulty deciding. I love everything from quantum mechanics and particle physics all the way to general relativityand the possibility of parallel universes, etc... I am very lost about what my exact interest is. Is there any degree or subject that might include everything from the smallest to the largest?

 

[derekmcd]

Thank you both for your replies. I have too many interests and am having difficulty deciding. I love everything from quantum mechanics and particle physics all the way to general relativityand the possibility of parallel universes, etc... I am very lost about what my exact interest is. Is there any degree or subject that might include everything from the smallest to the largest?

I guess my first recommendation would be to visit Bojanges' stickied thread in SS&A titled:

Lectures Documentaries & Books (Science, Physics, Cosmology)

You can find the link here:

http://www.space.com/common/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=16646

If you choose not to sleep for a week or two, you still wouldn't make it through all the links in this thread. Find what interests you most.

 

[Saiph]

speaking as someone who has a degree and spent a year at grad school for a degree, a few insights on how the astronomy gig works.


First, there is no really wrong field to study in. Astronomy is a mixing pot of all the sciences, and the programs reflect that. You can get into the graduate programs with anything from a straight astronomy degree, to mathematics and engineering. As it is, it's good that you like a large variety of physics fields, as the astronomy programs are even more 'jack of all trades' than a regular physics program (which is 'jack of all trades' compared to engineering...).

So the big question is: Do you intend to go for a Ph.D.? I'd say masters but in physics the difference is usually in the research and publishing of a thesis. You have to pass the same classes to nearly the same degree for both the Ph.D. and masters.

If you do, you don't have to worry about a good astronomy program specifically. You can also find a good physics program with a field you like (quantum, particle physics etc) if it's more convenient cost & Location wise.

Keep up with the math, especially differential equations.

Any computer courses are also a big help and highly attractive to grad schools and employers. Computer programming is a key skill in modern research.

If you don't want to get at Ph.D. and want a real taste of astronomy, I do recommend finding a college with a dedicated degree track for it. A key factor is also the universities access to real research grade telescopes. Try to dig up if your prospective campus' are affiliated with large telescopes (Univ. of California system gets regular time on Keck!). While you may not get any real time on them yourself, you may get lucky and get to be a grad students flunky! At the very least you'll know the campus is serious about it's program.

Another tip is to look up campuses that have an active astronomy R.E.U (research experience for undergrads). These are programs where selected undergrads get a taste of the field and get to be paid interns for a summer. You do a real, if simple and abbreviated, research project and are almost always given some hands on experience at a live scope. Finding a campus like this has two benefits: You'll know they're serious about the program, and you'll have a foot in the door when applying for the internship!


Now, for a reality check if you're thinking of going professional astronomer: the competition is insanely steep. There are ~5,000 paid positions worldwide (I think, even if that's wrong, the number is small!) The US produces hundreds of astronomy ph.d.'s every year, and even fewer positions open up. So you've got a LOT of competition.

This doesn't mean you don't have a chance, but it does mean you've got to work for it. Good news is you'll have a physics degree (astronomy is usually just tacked on) so you'll still have a good shot at a good job. But it may not be the research astronomer/professor position you're thinking about. Example: One of my grad student friends went on to work with a company making Doppler weather radars, leveraging his knowledge of studying Nebulae into helping with cloud observations.