大多数学生进入我们系的目的是获得博士学位。学位。对于典型的成功博士学位。学生，获得硕士学位是该过程中的可选步骤。在完成硕士学位后选择退出课程的学生通常在各种追求方面都做得很好，包括技术就业，研究支持或教育。至少30个学分，包括任何三门天文学研究生核心课程。论文：系可能会酌情决定论文。放弃论文要求的学生仍必须完成一个证明研究水平的项目。期末考试：必须通过口试，内容涵盖A450-452级别的一般天文学，针对该学位的核心课程以及论文研究。
Students receive a Master of Arts in Astronomy degree by completing a minimum of 30 credit hours (including any three astronomy graduate core courses), submitting a thesis or research project demonstrating research proficiency, and passing the qualifying examination. Graduate students take courses and begin research projects with faculty during their first two years, and then undertake Ph.D. dissertation research after passing the qualifying exam at the end of their second year. Students all gain teaching experience during their graduate careers at IU, and can teach courses independently during the summer sessions.