尽管天文学研究具有悠久的历史，但如今已成为现代科学中发展最快，令人兴奋的学科之一。天文学是对宇宙及其内容的研究：行星，恒星，黑洞，星系和类星体。每个方面本身就是一个有趣的话题。但是，现代天文学的最大成就也许就是将它们汇集成一幅丰富而连贯的图画，其中描绘了从大爆炸到生物发展的万物的起源和演变。天文学的最新进展源于新技术，这些新技术产生了空前强大的仪器：带有10米镜的望远镜，围绕电磁频谱的卫星轨道运行的天文台，用于采样行星大气和地表的深空任务以及用于探测的庞大实验室难以捉摸的宇宙中微子和引力波。
Although the study of astronomy has ancient roots, it is now one of the most rapidly developing and exciting subjects in modern science. Astronomy is the study of the Universe and its contents: planets, stars, black holes, galaxies, and quasars. Each of these is a fascinating topic in its own right, but perhaps the greatest achievement of modern astronomy has been to gather them all into a rich and coherent picture, one which depicts the origin and evolution of all things from the Big Bang to the development of living organisms. Recent advances in astronomy have derived from new technologies that have yielded instruments of unprecedented power: telescopes with 10-meter mirrors, orbiting satellite observatories for all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, deep space missions to sample planetary atmospheres and surfaces, and huge laboratories for detection of elusive cosmic neutrinos and gravity waves. The excitement and accessibility of astronomy are featured in frequent press coverage of major new discoveries, including in recent years the discovery of planets orbiting other stars, a comet crashing into Jupiter, the discovery of very young galaxies in the distant universe, the detection of gravitational waves from merging black holes, the possibility of life on Mars, the threat of asteroid collisions with the Earth, and the detection of primordial ripples in the cosmic background radiation. Astronomy draws from, and contributes to, many other subjects: primarily physics but also geology, atmospheric and environmental science, biology, and even philosophy. The coursework of the two Astronomy majors offers students the opportunity to explore these frontier discoveries while simultaneously developing fundamental analytical and quantitative skills useful in many different careers. A total of 35 Astronomy courses are open to majors. The Astronomy major (BA) offers a concentration on science in the context of a liberal arts degree for students who do not intend to pursue graduate training in astronomy or physics. It is often part of a double major. The Astronomy-Physics major (BS) provides more rigorous preparation for graduate work in astronomy, physics, computer science, or related fields.