Astronomy
About the Major
Curious about what’s "out there?" Students who are comfortable with mathematics and physics and have a strong desire to understand the nature of the Solar System and other planetary systems, stars, galaxies and the universe, are encouraged to consider majoring in astronomy. UF's astronomy department is the only US institution with access to the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), whose superb image quality "sees" both the faintest and the most distant objects in the universe, from nearby, newborn planets and stars, to the most distant galaxies.
Our graduates have gone on to become...
- A Visiting Scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
- A Science Fellow at the Gemini Observatory
- Interim Director of the Florida Space Institute
Possible Careers for this Major
Prehealth & Prelaw
Any CLAS major can prepare you for
for admission to professional schools such as medical school, vet school,
law school, etc.
For more possibilities visit the Career Resource Center Web Site
- Industrial Researcher
- Observing Technician
- Physicist
- Planetarium Director
- Science Librarian
- Science Museum Director
- Aerospace Engineer
- Astrophysicist
- Computing and Imaging Processor
- Defense Contractor
- Educator
- Engineer
- Government Scientist
- Instrument Designer
- Management Consultant
Cool Courses You Might Take
- Astronomy & Astrophysics 1 (AST 3018)
- Astronomy Laboratory:
Teaching lab and observations at the Campus Teaching Observatory (AST
1022L)
- Discover the Universe (AST 1002)
- History of Astronomy through Newton (AST 3043)
- Introduction to the Solar System (AST 2003)
- Life in the Universe: Explore exoplanets and possibilities
for extraterrestrial life (AST 2037)
- For more course descriptions, please visit the course descriptions page in the Undergraduate catalog
Some Unique Opportunities in this Major
- Undergraduates have numerous opportunities to work on research projects with faculty and postdoctoral researchers
- Positions are available in summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs sponsored by NSF across the U.S.
- Possible summer positions at the Instituto de Astrofi'sica de Canarias (Institute for Astrophysics of the Canary Islands) to work with the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC).
- For more opportunities, please refer to the department website
