BA and BS Astronomy

Pursuing both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Astronomy at the University of Iowa—over four years, on campus—gives you the flexibility to tailor your coursework to your goals. The BA offers more elective freedom, suited for education or technical careers, while the BS delivers a rigorous physics and mathematics foundation ideal for research and graduate school.

Experiential Learning Highlights:

You’ll engage in real astronomy from day one—across observation, instrumentation, computation, and research—with dedicated faculty mentors and hands-on facilities:

• Astronomical Laboratory Courses & the Van Allen Observatory (VAO):
  In courses like “Astronomical Laboratory,” you’ll schedule and conduct observations using the on‑campus 17″ Dall-Kirkham reflector with CCD and filter wheel. Labs teach you planning, data acquisition, and analysis—from lunar motion to galactic science.

• Iowa Robotic Observatory (Macro Consortium Telescope):
  You’ll gain experience using the 0.51 m robotic Cassegrain telescope in Arizona—submitting observation requests remotely and processing real scientific data with CCD imaging and scheduling software.

• Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research:
  Most students actively work with faculty on projects—ranging from exoplanet data and stellar astrophysics to space/plasma physics tied to the legacy of James Van Allen. Many undergraduates co-author publications or present at conferences.

• Departmental Capstone & Independent Study:
  Both BA and BS students can engage in independent research contracts, senior capstone projects, or thesis-like work supported by departmental advising and the Undergraduate Research Center.

• State-of-the-Art Research Facilities:
  Van Allen Hall (the department’s home) includes labs, seminar spaces, and research workshops. At the Iowa Advanced Technology Labs (IATL), students utilize microfabrication (MATfab), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), electronics assembly, and testing—the same spaces where space instruments are developed.

• Computational Resources & National Lab Partnerships:
  You’ll access high-performance computing tools on campus, and have avenues to participate in research at national labs like Fermilab or CERN via collaborations and internships.

• Public Outreach & Community Integration:
  The Van Allen Observatory hosts public nights and student-led outreach, giving you experience presenting astronomy to general audiences. Astronomy majors actively participate in departmental and campus events.

These experiences help you:

• Operate telescopes and conduct real astronomical observations (both campus-based and remotely located),

• Learn to analyze scientific data using software tools for imaging and scheduling,

• Build research proficiency in astrophysics, space physics, and instrumentation under faculty mentorship,

• Use fabrication and electronics labs for hands-on instrumentation work,

• Develop scientific communication skills through presentations and public outreach events,

• Tap into national-level research and computing resources, often resulting in collaborative publications or symposium presentations.

Progression & Future Opportunities:
The University of Iowa’s dual-degree BA and BS in Astronomy offers students the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a liberal arts education with the depth of a science-intensive curriculum. This unique combination prepares graduates for diverse roles such as astrophysics researcher, aerospace engineer, science educator, or scientific software developer. The program’s strength lies in its integration of academic breadth and scientific rigor:

• Career Services Support: The Pomerantz Career Center at Iowa provides specialized STEM career advising, resume workshops, internship placement support, and employer networking events tailored to science majors.

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures: Over 93% of University of Iowa graduates are employed or in graduate/professional school within six months. Astronomy graduates entering technical, research, or data-driven fields typically earn starting salaries between $60,000 and $85,000.

• University–Industry Partnerships: Iowa has long-standing ties with NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the Iowa Space Grant Consortium. Undergraduate students regularly engage in research related to spacecraft instrumentation, cosmic radiation, and planetary science through the Department of Physics & Astronomy.

• Accreditation & Reputation: The University of Iowa is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is a Carnegie R1 research institution, ensuring your degree is respected globally for its academic quality and scientific rigor.

• Graduation Outcomes: Alumni of the dual-degree program have pursued PhDs at leading universities, worked on space missions, joined research centers, or entered high-impact sectors like aerospace engineering, software development, and science policy.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates of the dual BA/BS in Astronomy are exceptionally well-prepared for graduate programs in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Physics. The broad analytical and communication skills from the BA, paired with the research and technical depth of the BS, also support further study in interdisciplinary areas like Computational Astrophysics, Planetary Science, Data Science, or Science Communication.