Astrophysics and Astronomy, MS
Study the stars within one of the nation's most mission-active space programs, where you can help make discoveries, not just read about them. Graduate with skills in Python, modeling and data analysis that open doors in data science and tech.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Astrophysics and Astronomy master's description
The Master of Science program in astrophysics and astronomy provides you with fundamental graduate training in both astrophysics and astronomy.
You take courses that cover stars and interstellar media, galaxies and cosmology, and you acquire quantitative skills through analysis and modeling. You may have observation opportunities through regional and international telescope observatories.
Why study astrophysics and astronomy at ASU?
ASU is home to the School of Earth and Space Exploration, a single school that gathers astrophysicists, planetary scientists, engineers and instrument builders under one roof. Because of this, you can move easily from theory, to data, to actual flight hardware. SESE faculty don¿t just analyze data from missions; they build instruments and lead science teams for them.
ASU is a founding partner of the Giant Magellan Telescope and has direct, active involvement in JWST, SPHEREx, the Simons Observatory, ALMA, CMB-S4, and HERA, with use of Hubble, Chandra, and other space-telescope data. You have access to faculty who have worked on Hubble and Webb for decades.
Additional details
You join a tight-knit graduate community centered in the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 4 on ASU's Tempe campus, which also houses the Marston Exploration Theater and public outreach space. Weekly SESE colloquia and astrophysics seminars, research symposia and science-communication events keep you engaged, while conferences and mission collaborations link you to ASU's broader space community and professional networks.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours including the required capstone courses (SES 510 and SES 511)
Required Core (1 credit hour) Electives or Research (5 credit hours) Other Requirements: Astrophysics Sequence (9 credit hours) Other Requirements: Galaxies and Cosmology Sequence (3 credit hours) Other Requirements: Exoplanets and Planetary Science Sequence (3 credit hours) Other Requirements: Instrumentation and Techniques Sequence (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information For their culminating experience, students in an accelerated program complete capstone courses SES 510 and 511. All other students complete SES 599.
SES 502 Exploring SESE Research (1)
AST 521 Stars and Interstellar Medium I (3)
AST 522 Stars and Interstellar Medium II (3)
AST 591 Seminar: Astrophysics (2)
SES 501 SESE Colloquium (1)
AST 531 Galaxies and Cosmology I (3)
AST 532 Galaxies and Cosmology II (3)
AST 533 Galaxies and Cosmology III (3)
AST 598 Topic: Origins of Solar Systems (3)
AST 598 Topic: Exploring Exoplanets (3)
SES 598 Topic: Water in the Solar System (3)
AST 552 Astronomical Instrumentation and Data Analysis (3)
SES 598 Topic: An Introduction to Astro-statistics (3)
SES 598 Topic: Introductory Radio Astronomy (3)
SES 598 Topic: Spectroscopy for Astrophysics (3)
SES 510 Graduate Exploration Project I (3) and SES 511 Graduate Exploration Project II (3) or
SES 599 Thesis (6)
Students select one course from each Other Requirements category. Substitutions may be made per department approval.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Critically evaluate advanced astrophysical theories as applied to complex phenomena.
- Apply advanced analytical methodology including, modeling, and observational methods to investigate astrophysical problems.
- Conduct independent research that demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate astrophysical problems.
Critically evaluate advanced astrophysical theories as applied to complex phenomena.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 10/01 | Priority* |
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this astrophysics and astronomy master's degree prepares you for
Professionals with expertise in astrophysics and astronomy are in high demand across all sectors and industries, including remote sensing, data science, instrument building and scientific research. Coding and numerical modeling skills translate across many domains, including those beyond astrophysics. Skills in the measurement and analysis of data related to the physics, chemistry and structure of the universe and exoplanetary systems are valuable to businesses and institutions that rely on data-driven strategies to explore beyond the Earth and the solar system.
This degree program prepares candidates for further graduate study or for careers in related fields. Opportunities include scientific staff positions at government laboratories, teaching positions at the community college level, and technical positions in industry. Career examples include:
- data scientist
- research astronomer
- telescope operator
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Earth and Space Exploration
|
ISTB4 795
sese-prospectivegrads@asu.edu
480-965-5081
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
