Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects such as planets, stars, galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. In practice, Astronomy is mostly about using remote observations of celestial objects to understand how those objects work. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, students in the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy program are prepared to enter a broad variety of industrial and basic science applications, as well as graduate programs in related fields. Students will use a combination of physics and astronomy classroom courses, along with hands-on laboratory courses, to understand and explore the Universe. Being one of only a few small private institutions with an Astronomy program, ERAU offers students plenty of advantages that include faculty ties to major resources, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, and major research programs sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation. The Bachelor of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics has a strong fundamental basis in mathematics and physics. Added to this basis are the General Education components and the specialized courses of the field of study. It takes advantage of our department's observatory facilities, including an instrumented 1 meter telescope (the largest University research telescope in the southeastern United States), and folds them into laboratory components of the program, combining mathematics, physics, optics, astronomy, astrophysics, and instrumentation. The program’s strong emphasis on fundamental mathematics and applied sciences provides the flexibility to enter a broad variety of industrial and basic science applications, as well as graduate programs in related fields. The Bachelor of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics degree program requires 120 credit hours. The program can be completed in eight semesters.

The current placement rate for Embry-Riddle graduates who have earned their degree in Astronomy is 99 percent, which includes those who continue their education to pursue advanced degrees. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 14 percent increase in Physics & Astronomy jobs between 2010 and 2020. The American Institute of Physics (AIP) says graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in the physics field make up to $60,000 in the private sector in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) positions.