Are you interested in the universe beyond our world? A major in astronomy is your ticket to the cosmos, where you’ll study galaxies, astrophysics, physics, and more. You’ll get the chance to work on—and engage in—in-depth research, hands-on experimentation, using state-of-the-art technology. A degree in astronomy also strengthens your path toward careers in research, education, and other related fields.
What You Will Learn
In this astronomy major program, you’ll learn the fundamental laws governing the natural universe—from quarks to nanoscale electronics to the mechanics of galaxies.
Astronomy gives students many of the same skills as a physicist, plus skills like:
- digital image processing
- remote sensing
- applied spectral analysis
Our program provides the knowledge and skills for graduates to continue successfully on to graduate study.
What It’s Like to Major in Astronomy at Ball State
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in independent study and research, working one-on-one with faculty mentors. You’ll get to conduct research in areas such as nanoscience, astronomy, astrophysics, nuclear and particle physics, Computational and Theoretical Physics, Materials Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Physics Education.
Through research projects, you gain valuable professional skills and experience working with modern technical facilities and equipment. These include the College of Science and Humanities supercomputing cluster, a 20-inch diameter telescope in the observatory, Computational Research Laboratory, Nanoscience Laboratory, Biomedical Research Laboratory, Materials Research Lab, and a 3D printing lab.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is also a member of the SARA consortium that operates three research-grade telescopes located in some of the best sites in the world: southwest Arizona, Chile, and the Canary Islands. Our students (and occasionally high-school students) often make observations with these telescopes and become authors on published scientific papers.
Careers in education and outreach are fostered through the Charles W. Brown Planetarium on campus.
Our department offers several scholarships to students seeking bachelor's degrees, as well as employment opportunities.
Our students regularly work as lab assistants, graders, research assistants, as well as paid staff in the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, which features a 52-foot diameter dome – the largest in Indiana.
Our Society of Physics Students (SPS) is an active, student-run club that engages in a number of social and outreach programs.
The SPS organizes cooperative events with organizations on campus, including our annual “Clash of the Sciences” demo competition between physics and chemistry student groups.
As part of your senior capstone experience, you will pursue scientific knowledge on a topic of your choice and hone technical skills that will be attractive to employers in many fields.
We offer research opportunities in:
- astronomy and astrophysics
- computational nanoscience
- condensed matter physics
- medical physics
- nanomaterials and devices
- nuclear and radiation physics
- particle physics
- physics education
Learn in the Charles W. Brown Planetarium
As a student, you’ll get to experience the night sky unlike anywhere else in the state. We are home to the Charles W. Brown Planetarium, which is the largest in Indiana.
Keep Exploring
On top of the dozens of funding options offered through Ball State’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, our department awards scholarships to our own students. Find a scholarship.
Take the Next Step
Are you interested in pursuing this major? The first step is to apply as an undergraduate student to Ball State University. One of the best ways to understand why Ball State stands out is to come see it for yourself. You can schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions.