Astrophysics

Make discoveries that raise new questions about stars, interstellar clouds, and galaxies.

Astrophysicists apply disciplines of physics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, nuclear and particle physics, and atomic and molecular physics.

Major highlights

4 focus areas: Astronomy research, secondary education, data analysis, and computation

Research facilities: You have access to local and world-class facilities—including the 30-inch reflector near Minneapolis; 60-inch reflector on Mt. Lemmon and the Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona; Mauna Kea Observatories on the island of Hawaii; and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Double major: Many students major in both astrophysics and physics, which includes a supervised observation or theoretical research project in their senior year.

Student groups

There are many you can join as a civil engineering major at the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Interdisciplinary Transportation Student Organization (ITSO). See cse.umn.edu/studentgroups.

Career examples

  • Research scientist
  • Senior technical writer
  • Planetarium technician
  • Astrophysicist
  • Solar astronomer
  • Planetary scientist
  • Telescope engineer
     

For more info on career prospects, visit: What can I do with a major in astrophysics?

Related links

“My majors push me to think deeper and make sense of the world. I chose CSE because I knew I would receive a high-quality education that was affordable.” — Jessica Ni, astrophysics and physics double major
 

Hear from two students in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota.