What is Astronomy? Astronomy today is a large, fast-moving enterprise, in which new instruments and theories are constantly evolving. We live in a golden age of science, and astronomy is enjoying more than its share of breakthroughs. As an astronomy major, you will come to understand how much of this works, and you will have opportunities to make your own contribution to humankind's understanding of the cosmos. The astronomy major is under the umbrella of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Until recently, a separated major wasn't available. You may wonder, then, what astronomy is, and how it relates to the other subject in the department, physics. - See more at: http://physics.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/major/astronomy#sthash.auBMqL8L.dpuf

Students who complete a major in Astronomy: Are critical thinkers who can apply scientific reasoning to new situations Are effective written and oral communicators Can solve problems using logical, mathematical and computational skills Can design and execute an astronomical observing program Can formulate the major open questions in astronomy and evaluate the results of recent studies Can effectively search, understand and utilize the professional astronomical literature Can analyze astronomical data and utilize statistical methods Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts in the core areas of astronomy and physics: - See more at: http://physics.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/major/astronomy#sthash.auBMqL8L.dpuf