Astrophysics
Why Study Astrophysics?
The universe beckons with endless questions regarding the nature of black holes, exoplanets, star formation, and cosmic evolution—questions you'll explore in Caltech's Bachelor of Science (BS) in Astrophysics program. You'll develop sophisticated analytical and conceptual skills, from designing machine learning algorithms to catalog a specific type of star to discovering new ways to gather and analyze astronomical data.
As an astrophysics major, build the foundation that allows you to explore the nature of enigmatic cosmic phenomena, as well as understand their impacts on Earth and humanity, satisfying your thirst for knowledge while preparing you for careers at the forefront of understanding our cosmos.
Why Astrophysics at Caltech?
With significant overlap with our strong physics programs, the astrophysics major puts you at the epicenter of astronomical breakthroughs and discovery. You'll have access to research projects under faculty and graduate students after your first year, gaining experience in realistic research and laboratory settings as part of teams that analyze and interpret findings. This early exposure mirrors how professional astronomers and astrophysics researchers work, giving you a competitive edge in graduate school applications and career opportunities.
The astrophysics major emphasizes a deep understanding of the underlying physics that enables you to explore new territories in astronomy and astrophysics. Rather than memorizing facts about celestial objects, you'll learn the fundamental processes and properties that guide our perception of the universe, providing the framework to tackle some of the biggest unknowns/questions in the field throughout your career.
What You'll Learn
After completing Caltech's core curriculum, you'll progress through introductory physics and astronomy courses before advancing to specialized topics. By collaborating with other students on problem sets and projects, you will develop essential teamwork skills for research focused careers and gain the knowledge of biology, chemistry, and mathematics essential to understanding your discoveries.
The astrophysics curriculum combines observational techniques, theoretical background , and hands-on technological development. In courses like Physics of Stars, you'll examine a particular star's entire lifespan in detail—studying how it generates light and what prevents it from exploding prematurely—while building equations that describe these astrophysical concepts. Students interested in the field but majoring in other subjects can pursue a minor in astrophysics, supplementing their primary studies with a foundation in this fascinating field.
View the Caltech catalog for degree requirements and curriculum information.
Who You'll Learn From
Study and research alongside over 20 astronomy faculty members and more than 50 professors in physics and astrophysics who expand our knowledge of stars, radio astronomy, exoplanets, and entire galaxies. These researchers don't just teach established knowledge, but actively contribute to it, often involving undergraduates in their groundbreaking work. The small size of Caltech paired with our high-powered partnerships like NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, means you'll have direct access to faculty and industry professionals who define the field's future.
After the foundation of all of the physics and astrophysics topics, a class looks at things on the galaxy level, like how galaxies are formed, the different types of galaxies, whether it's shaped like the Milky Way or more of a circle as opposed to a spiral, and how the universe is expanding. I learned about the beginnings of every single field of astronomy I could get into later.
Career Possibilities
Astrophysics graduates from Caltech pursue diverse career paths, with many continuing to doctoral programs. The analytical problem-solving, programming, and data analysis skills developed in astrophysics prepare graduates for careers beyond astronomy and physics, including technology and engineering. Some enter research and academia, while others apply their astrophysics training in professional positions within :
- NASA and international space agencies
- Aerospace and technology companies
- Research observatories and laboratories
- Data science and analytics firms
- Science communication and education
- Computational modeling and simulation
Curriculum Components and Prerequisites
The Caltech astrophysics major program is based on an interdisciplinary foundation that encompasses geology and planetary science, mathematics, physics, engineering, biology, chemistry, and more. The components of the bachelor's program are designed to deepen students' understanding of various fields, enabling them to tackle unknown challenges across disciplines, from aerospace engineering to microbial biology.
- Core astrophysics courses including opportunities for observational astronomy practice and instrumentation labs
- Mathematics fundamentals
- Advanced physics courses including physics labs
- Additional specialized coursework in astrophysics
- Science and engineering electives outside of the division
Pursue a Bachelor's in Astrophysics at Caltech
In the Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics program at Caltech, traverse the cosmos and transform your fascination into expertise that addresses fundamental questions about our universe. From analyzing the dynamics of AGN (active galactic nuclei) to discovering new characteristics of exoplanets, develop the observational, theoretical, and computational skills needed to push the boundaries of human knowledge about space.