Bachelor of Science - Astronomy

Program Description

Through hands-on experiences with the instruments that unlock the secrets of the skies, students in the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott Campus can make precise observations of a variety of celestial objects. Prescott’s campus houses the Optical Observatory, newly upgraded with a computer-controlled 16-inch diameter telescope and professional-quality electronic camera.

Students attend classes in dynamic, engineering-related labs and facilities, such as the Campus Observatory Complex, Cosmic Ray Laboratory, and Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

Prescott’s campus has one of only a handful of Astronomy degree programs in the Western United States and its high altitude location away from large cities allows students to take advantage of equipment access on campus to view the nearest heavens, while peering up at the farthest reaches through access to the Hubble Space Telescope and research programs at NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Diverse co-operative education (co-op)/internship opportunities are available for students interested in expanding their experiences.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 14% increase in physics and astronomy jobs between 2016 and 2026. In 2019, the median annual wage for astronomers and astrophysicists was $120,000. ERAU is proud to report that 94% of Embry-Riddle graduates are employed in their field or are continuing their education within a year of graduation, according to their most recent Alumni Survey.