Astronomy today is a large, fast-moving enterprise, in which new instruments and theories are constantly evolving. We live in a golden age of science, and astronomy is enjoying more than its share of breakthroughs. As an astronomy major, you will come to understand how much of this works, and you will have opportunities to make your own contribution to humankind's understanding of the cosmos. The astronomy major is under the umbrella of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Until recently, a separated major wasn't available. You may wonder, then, what astronomy is, and how it relates to the other subject in the department, physics. Other disciplines come into play as well. Computers are used at every step of the way, not just to simulate physical situations, but to deal with the reams of data modern instruments produce. Some astronomers specialize in telescope and instrument building, and become very good engineers. Even chemistry has its place in understanding molecular clouds in space, cool stellar atmospheres, and the composition of planets. And because randomness is everywhere, both in the sky and in our data, some astronomers make very clever use of statistics. Astronomy is not a mere subfield of physics, but a truly interdisciplinary quest to understand the universe.<br>Students who complete a major in Astronomy: Are critical thinkers who can apply scientific reasoning to new situations, Are effective written and oral communicators, Can solve problems using logical, mathematical and computational skills, Can design and execute an astronomical observing program, Can formulate the major open questions in astronomy and evaluate the results of recent studies.