Exploring the universe and observing astronomy did not begin in modern times. Stonehenge, a prehistoric temple site in Britain, the pyramids built by ancient Egyptians 4,700 years ago, or the records of solar and lunar eclipses on the Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Yin Ruins in China all have the shadow of astronomical exploration. As Galileo made an astronomical telescope to observe celestial bodies and discovered many previously unknown astronomical phenomena, a new astronomical era began. ...
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Overview of astronomy
Astronomy includes the most interesting physical phenomena in the universe, the discovery and characterization from planets to planets orbiting other stars, the properties of galaxies and stars in them, and how supermassive black holes and even the universe evolved. Students majoring in astronomy can be exposed to the relevant principles of astronomy, physics and mathematics.
Boston University Astronomy:
Astronomy provides students with a variety of interesting courses, focusing on astronomical principles related to objects in the solar system, the properties of stars, the composition of galaxies and broader astronomical topics.
Students will learn to use various media to effectively convey astronomical information to various audiences. They learn to think critically, evaluate, explain and solve problems related to astronomy, physics and general scientific topics. Students develop problem-solving skills and experience and provide tools for working in the modern high-tech world. Astronomy prepares students for highly competitive jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Cornell University Astronomy:
Astronomy teachers, researchers, graduate students and undergraduates at Cornell University are active in all fields of modern astronomy, from theoretical astrophysics and general relativity to the study of exoplanets, pulsars, star formation, galaxy formation and evolution, cosmology and solar system exploration. Cornell University is leading an international alliance to build a submillimeter wave telescope, CCAT main telescope, in the Atacama desert of Chile. Several faculty members of the department are also the main researchers of NASA's space and planetary exploration mission.
As students majoring in astronomy, they will have a deep understanding of the nature of the universe and make achievements in physics and mathematics. Like almost all majors, juniors and seniors have the opportunity to participate in project research-including a large number of NASA missions, such as the Mars rover.
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course
What courses will astronomy students be exposed to? Are astronomy courses the same in different universities?
Boston University:
All freshmen will take courses in BU Hub, which is a general education project integrated into the whole undergraduate experience. BU Hub's requirements are very flexible and can be met in many different ways. Students majoring in astronomy meet the requirements of BU Hub in scientific inquiry and quantitative reasoning, as well as communication and knowledge tools through the courses of this major.
Astronomy will also meet the requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. There are *** 15 courses, and all courses need to reach C or above. 15 course includes 4 basic courses and 1 1 core courses: 7 specific astronomy, mathematics and physics courses, and 4 selected from advanced astronomy and physics courses.
Cornell University:
The astronomy major of Cornell University is designed flexibly and can be customized according to the needs of each student.
Cornell University has prepared two development paths for students majoring in astronomy, so the courses are also different. Astronomy major includes three core courses of physics and three core courses of mathematics, as well as astronomy experiment or data analysis courses required by each major (27-28 credits in total) and extra courses specially designed to meet everyone's needs. (In addition to the same core courses, there are two courses designed according to different development paths. )
1) Astrophysics is designed for graduate students who intend to continue their studies in physical sciences such as astronomy, physics or engineering.
2) General astronomy courses are for students who have no intention to engage in astronomical research, but may have broader academic interests and are interested in related career paths (such as education or career development). The flexibility provided by the comprehensive astronomy major makes it suitable for students to choose it as their second major.
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Career prospects
Boston University:
Many college students are interested in astronomy, but they may be worried about employment after graduation. The number of jobs in astronomy and space science is limited, but the number of students who can meet the requirements of these majors is also limited.
Bachelor's degrees in astronomy, astronomy and physics, geophysics and planetary science fully prepare students for careers in science education, management, calculation, instrumentation or scientific writing (some industries or positions may require postgraduate level).
In addition, a degree in physical science means that graduates have the ability to solve problems related to astronomy, which is urgently needed by high-tech companies and other related companies. According to historical data, all astronomy graduates of Boston University have successfully obtained very promising and well-paid positions.
Many alumni of Boston University hold various positions in society. Some of them work as data assistants at NASA's Space Telescope Science Institute or Harvard-Smithsonian Astrology Center in Cambridge. Some people turned to economics, traffic engineering and other fields, where they applied the problem-solving skills they learned in astronomy. In addition, there are many astronomy graduates who work as scientific computer programmers, telescope construction projects, science museums, data analysis and instrument programmers at the AXAF x-ray Space Observatory of NASA, and serve as senior assistant researchers at the Space Physics Center of Boston University.
Of course, there are also many examples of graduates going on to further their studies, obtaining higher degrees and valuable jobs. Past alumni include mission planners of NASA, education officials of Hayden Planetarium of Boston Science Museum, and many others who are now scientists or university professors at the Observatory after receiving their doctorates.
Cornell University:
More than three-quarters of the graduates of Cornell University majoring in astronomy from 20 14 to 20 18 found satisfactory jobs or chose to continue their graduate studies.
Most students who choose to continue their graduate studies will choose aerospace, aerospace engineering, astrophysics, science news and other professional fields. Graduate schools are more Boston University, Cornell University, Rice University and Stanford University.
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Application requirements
The application of astronomy in Boston University needs to meet the application requirements of freshmen majoring in normal universities.
TOEFL score shall not be less than 20 points;
For applicants in the fall of 2022, SAT/ACT is not mandatory;
Cornell University astronomy application needs to meet the requirements of Cornell University of Arts and Sciences.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, Cornell University suspended the SAT/ACT requirements for applicants in the fall of 2022 -2024.
For international applicants, English scores must be submitted. One of the following minimum performance requirements needs to be met.
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Other schools
In addition to Boston University and Cornell University, there are actually many American universities that offer astronomy majors, giving applicants more choices.
For example, the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology not only has astronomy major, but also operates two observatories.
The University of Chicago, which has always been famous for its academic rigor, is also experienced in astronomical research. Famous astronomers who graduated from the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Chicago include: Hubble, the "father of galaxy astronomy" named after him; Yuzhe Zhang, a modern astronomer in China, the founder of modern astronomy in China and the discoverer of the "China" asteroid. Haier, the father of modern solar observation astronomy who took the first photo of the sun, once taught here.
In addition to MIT and the University of Chicago, Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University and so on are all very good at astronomy. If you love astronomy, there is always one for you.