The night sky is filled with stars above Merritt Hall on the McDaniel campus.

Astronomy

How many times have you gazed at the night sky and wondered, “What’s really out there?” Get answers to the big questions of the cosmos while preserving that sense of wonder. Astronomy at McDaniel is your gateway into STEM without any unnecessary barriers.

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Degree Types

Major, Minor

Institution

Complementary Programs

Physics

Astrophysics

Engineering Mechanics

Document

Special Opportunity

Transfer agreement with Carroll Community College

Astronomy is entering a golden age of possibility. The best part? You don’t need any prior specialized knowledge to engage with it. Start with curiosity and wonder, and we’ll help you turn it into scientific discovery. Reshape your understanding of the universe — from mapping the cosmic web to imaging black holes. Infinite possibilities are waiting for you in the stars above Westminster.

We make Astronomy approachable.

Other Astronomy programs may feel unapproachable because of their emphasis on math. At McDaniel, we focus on the human side of science and make sure it’s accessible for all. We respect Astronomy as one of the seven original liberal arts disciplines. Where better to study it than a liberal arts college? You won’t just get strong scientific content — you’ll get a solid foundation in all aspects of Astronomy. Learn where the science came from and make informed decisions about complex problems.

With personalized mentorship from our faculty, you’ll become an expert in the cosmos. You’ll get hands-on lab experience, directly observe the stars, and think critically about the universe. Get creative and go beyond just finding answers. Turn theories into realities.

Launch your career into the stars.

Our Astronomy program gives you all the skills that employers are looking for. From observational astronomy to data analysis, you’ll have the knowledge to fit a variety of careers. Possible career paths include:

Space science
Data analysis
Science education
Planetarium direction
Science communication or outreach
Research
Aerospace
Defense
Observatory technology or telescope operation

$132,170

Average wage for astronomers

1,800

Annual job openings for physicists and astronomers

We're a short drive from astronomy employers.

Our location in Maryland puts us in the center of an astronomical research hub. Multiple labs and institutes are either in-state or within driving distance, such as:

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Space Telescope Science Institute (featuring the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes)
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
Private aerospace companies and defense contractors in Maryland
Federal science agencies, think tanks, and consulting firms in Washington, D.C.

Explore the cosmos — your way.

You can pursue your passion for space science and have the flexibility to explore other topics. Our learning is centered on students — on you. Whether it’s in a double major, a minor, or interest across disciplines, we give you space to explore.

Distinctive courses in the Astronomy major include:

This foundational course for astronomy and astrophysics majors will introduce majors to the fundamental physical principles and observational techniques essential for understanding our universe, with a focus on developing the skills and knowledge for advanced study in astronomy. Topics will include fundamental physics, the classification of celestial objects, and stellar evolution. Additionally, students will learn about astronomical observational methods and instrumentation.

Galaxies serve as a fundamental building block of our universe. This course aims to build a comprehensive picture of galaxies through developing an understanding of the physical principles that govern galactic phenomena, and the methods astronomers use to study them. Topics will include galactic structure; evolution; dynamics and interactions; and denizens, such as stars, pulsars, quasars, interstellar medium, and black holes.

Astronomy is fundamentally an observational science, and this course introduces students to various observational techniques that involve subatomic particles, electromagnetic radiation, and gravitational waves. Emphasis is placed on the physical principles underlying gravitational distortions of space-time, sub-atomic particles, and electromagnetic emissions, as well as ground and space-based telescope design, detectors, experimental techniques, and data analysis.

This course is intended to offer students a formal opportunity to engage in the creative process of putting forward and resolving their own physics questions, which is one of the great things about being a physicist! Investigations have three parts. First, each student must think of and carefully word an interesting question to delve into; then work toward an answer for the Investigation question and, as time permits, any collateral questions that develop from the main line of inquiry; and, finally, compile a report based on the findings of the Investigation and make a short presentation to the class. Investigation questions can be related to any realm of physics that is of personal interest, and projects that merge multiple domains are encouraged.

Department Faculty

Learn more about the faculty and staff behind this program.

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The McDaniel Commitment in Action

The McDaniel Commitment — a series of opportunities guaranteed to all students — provides enhanced mentoring and coaching, and ensures every undergraduate student completes at least two meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

Study Abroad

An employer talks to students at a job and internship fair.

Internships

Students presenting for Innovation Challenge.

Research

Special Opportunities

Two students chat and walk on the McDaniel campus.

Transfer Agreement with Carroll Community College

Students who complete appropriate coursework at CCC or other community colleges will receive full credit toward the major, up to 64 credits.

A woman holds a telescope and looks at the moon in the sky.

Remote Telescope Access

Clouds over Westminster? Don’t worry — you’ll still be able to see the stars! McDaniel College partners with the Las Cumbres Observatory for access to its remote telescope array. In addition to our own telescopes on campus, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art equipment from miles away.

Faculty Spotlight Jeff Marx Professor and Department Chair

Professor Marx is the recipient of a $170,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop a novel science course for non-science majors on “The Nature of Science,” which dovetails with his student-centered interests in developing curricular materials to minimize these student difficulties in learning physics and working with students to help them conceive, design, and analyze their own physics projects such as the physics of various sports.

View Professor Marx’s Profile

An Engineering professor experiments with lasers in a lab.

McDaniel adds new undergraduate majors in Astrophysics, Astronomy, and Engineering Mechanics

McDaniel College announces new majors in Astrophysics, Astronomy, and Engineering Mechanics to begin fall 2027. Incoming fall 2026 students will have the opportunity to be able to declare one of these new programs as their major in their sophomore year.

Read the full story.

Physics Astrophysics Engineering Mechanics Applied Mathematics – Data Analysis

Department Faculty

Learn more about the faculty and staff behind this program.

See Physics faculty

Astronomy

We make Astronomy approachable.

Launch your career into the stars.

We're a short drive from astronomy employers.

Explore the cosmos — your way.

ASR 1111 - Principles of Astronomy

ASR 1111 - Principles of Astronomy

ASR 2110 - Galactic Astronomy

ASR 2110 - Galactic Astronomy

ASR 2115 – Observational Astronomy

ASR 2115 – Observational Astronomy

PHY 2209 – Investigations I

PHY 2209 – Investigations I

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Department Faculty