The M83 barred spiral galaxy

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Why Enroll in the UW Colleges?

We offer students the best possible start for their education. On the average, each of our physics classes has fewer than 20 students, allowing each student to receive personal attention from the instructor. Excellence in teaching is our main objective.

Astronomy is the oldest science, the most fascinating and beautiful of all the scientific disciplines. It will be difficult for anyone with even the slightest knowledge of astronomy not to be amazed by its richness and history, touched by the profound questions it asks about our place in the universe, and humbled by the volume and quality of information it provides us about it. From the first questions asked by the earliest civilizations about celestial events, to the modern descriptions of exotic phenomena at the edge of the observable universe and our current and future efforts to explore our surroundings and communicate with others beyond our solar system, astronomy was, is and will be an integral part of human life. It has touched all aspects of human activity, from poetry and philosophy to politics and technology. It gives us a way of looking at and understanding the universe and thus a way of understanding our position in it.

An introductory astronomy class is often a student’s first science class. It is the perfect class for introducing students to science as a way of learning and knowing about our surroundings and us. It helps them understand our place in the universe and all the related philosophical and cultural considerations. It introduces them to many other disciplines, such as physics, chemistry and biology. With many historical examples, it provides them a simple way of understanding how science works. This includes the "scientific method," but also all other aspects of science, the instrumental, archival, methodological, vocational and sociological. Above all, astronomy shows students that science, in general, is a human activity through which we try to find the orderliness of nature and the causes that govern this order. No other discipline can show in such an elegant and beautiful way how much is known about the subject it studies, the entire universe, while having absolutely no control over it. If the essence of education is to venture beyond the limits of one’s narrow horizons, there is no better vehicle than an introductory astronomy class.

Students can take the entire two-year sequence of required courses for a major at one of our campuses. This includes a major in physics, astronomy, engineering, or any combination of these fields. You will be well prepared before you transfer to any baccalaureate institution to finish your degree. Please consult with the physics instructor(s) and Student Services personnel at your campus for specific requirements at the baccalaureate institution where you plan to transfer. Of course, if you are not interested in a major in the field, we do offer challenging introductory courses that satisfy lab science requirements and give you a general overview of the discipline.

A course in astronomy can be the start of a career in science or an important building block for another job. Astronomy, like Physics, will give you a different, powerful, and beautiful way of looking at things, much different than any other discipline. It is this different way that employers value since it provides may possibilities for innovative solutions to problems.

Astronomy is a relatively small field, with about 6,000 professional astronomers in North America. Because of this, astronomers get to know and collaborate with many colleagues across the U.S. and the world. Astronomy training emphasizes a remarkably broad set of problem-solving skills. It opens doors to opportunities in government, industry, schools, and private organizations, and the following is but a small set of such opportunities (from an AAS publication).

Astronomy

Field

Opportunities

Basic Research

Universities, National Labs, Industrial and Private Labs; about a third of the professional astronomers are directly employed by the federal government or by federally supported national observatories and labs.

Academic

Colleges, Universities, Observatories; about 55% of professional astronomers are in academic positions.

Earth Sciences

Physics, Space Technology, Geophysics, Geology, Atmospheric Sciences

Other: Education

Planetariums, Science Museums; astronomers in these positions provide an important information link between the general public and the astronomy profession.

Communications

Aerospace, Telecommunications, Television, Image Analysis, Video Recording, Photography; about 10% of all astronomers work in business or private industry. Astronomers are generally well-versed in instrumentation, remote sensing, spectral observations, and computer applications to unusual problems.

Publishing

Technical Books, Journals, Software

Consulting

Industry, Government, Military

Non-Technical

Law, Administration, Business, Journalism, Museums, Sports, Accounting, Marketing, Art, Science Communication