Physics - Astronomy Bachelor's Degree Program (BA)

Study Astronomy at the University of Montana

Explore the final frontier at the University of Montana with a physics degree focused on astronomy. This Physics-Astronomy Bachelor of Arts uncovers the stars, galaxies and evolving universe through 69 stellar credit hours filled with time inside the classroom and at places like the UM Planetarium and Blue Mountain Observatory. This program is led by compassionate faculty at the top of their field, all excited to know your name and help you understand the universe’s biggest questions.

Astronomy at the University of Montana is exclusively undergraduate. This provides a unique advantage in that undergraduate students interested in research won’t be pushing a broom around a grad lab – they’ll be engaged in all research activities at the highest level. This means UM's astronomy students graduate with more hands-on and in-depth experience than offered by larger, graduate-level physics programs.

There’s no better classroom for astronomy than the state of Montana and the University of Montana. Our mid-size status means more opportunities and affordable tuition. But more so, our mountain campus emphasizes community within our beautiful location, surrounded by miles of starry night sky. If you feel passionate about astronomy, like to take advantage of a lack of light pollution and favor a mountain scene or two – you will not be alone at the University of Montana.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Astronomy

After obtaining a physics degree with a focus on astronomy from the University of Montana, several exciting career paths await you. While 60% of alums continue their education by pursuing a graduate degree after graduating, other students find employment in the aerospace, journalism, finance and public policy industries.

What Employers Hire UM Astronomy Degree Graduates?

Engineering firms, tech companies, start-ups, national research laboratories, hardware companies, universities and public schools hire graduates with our astronomy degrees. Astronomers from UM also successfully transition to professional writing, research and presentation roles.  

Astronomy Jobs

The world is your universe with an astronomy degree from the University of Montana. Here’s a small selection of the jobs and careers you can pursue after graduating: 

• Astronomer
• Science Journalist
• Technical Writer
• Research Assistant
• Research Scientist
• Science Teacher
• Associate Professor
• Meteorologist
• Planetarium Director
• Physicist

Astronomy Salary (How Much do Astronomers Make?)

Your salary with an astronomy degree depends on your chosen field after graduating. You’ll be qualified for several entry-level and mid-career positions where earning power extends over time. According to Indeed.com, astronomers can secure six-figure positions, while other roles like science journalists and technical writers average between $40,000 and $70,000 when first starting out. Teachers, professorships and research assistants similarly range from $40,000 to $80,000.

Experiential Learning in the Astronomy Degree Program

Get out of the classroom with an astronomy degree at the University of Montana. While plenty of time is spent studying the stars and distant planets through coursework and discussion, active observation will always be a part of the degree. Faculty members go to great lengths to put the universe before your eyes.

Get Lost in the Cosmos at UM’s Observatory

UM’s Blue Mountain Observatory is less than 20 miles southwest of campus at an elevation of 6,300 feet within the Blue Mountain National Recreation Area. Its 16-foot Boller and Chivens f/18 Cassegrain telescope is used for research, education and public outreach. Students host observation evenings for the public a few times each month, answering questions and teaching them how to use various telescopes. Learn more about UM’s Observatory.

Plan a Show at UM’s Planetarium

Astronomy students and faculty conduct live planetarium shows throughout the year at UM’s Planetarium, located in the Payne Family Native American Center on campus. State-of-the-art technology equips this Star Gazing Room, and students learn to build their own shows, operate the projectors and guide an audience through space. Learn more about UM’s Planetarium.

Undergraduate Research the Entire Way

Our undergraduate-only status for the astronomy degree lends to a specialized, experience-focused college experience. Our curriculum is entirely undergraduate, so we don’t teach intro-level classes as an “afterthought”— we teach them as the foundation of our students’ education. Our electives and labs are all undergraduate, so the undergraduate research and educational experiences are much richer than those of other institutions with grad-degree-awarding departments.

Find Your Path to the Final Frontier at UM

What’s happening here is remaking our understanding of the universe. Find out for yourself why the University of Montana is the best college for an undergraduate degree in astronomy. 

Career Development for Astronomy Majors

Majoring in astronomy at UM means you get a first-rate education and the support you need to succeed in the classroom and your career. We’re a tight-knit and accepting community that works, learns and plays together – our students and instructors even compete together on intramural teams. It’s a program where your instructors will know your name, and you’ll spend more time collaborating than working on your own. 

The undergraduate-specific curriculum and research opportunities are a great way to build professional connections and develop resume-building experiences to help you stand out to employers and graduate school programs. Student organizations, such as our Society of Physics Students and the Women and Gender Minorities in Physics Club, offer other great ways to get involved and network with people in your field.

Scholarships for Astronomy

Get extra help paying for your astronomy degree. Our department awards scholarships to incoming freshman and current physics majors each year. Learn more about scholarship opportunities in the astronomy program at UM.

Requirements for an Astronomy Degree

The physics degree focused on astronomy requires 69 credit hours to graduate, including lower and upper divisions astronomy and physics classes. Students also encounter computer science and math requirements, labs and physics electives.  

View all classes for a bachelor's degree in physics focused on astronomy.