The astronomy department offers courses for students of all backgrounds. The 100 level courses are designed to provide an accessible, yet substantive introduction to contemporary astronomical theories and observations for students with modest or weak backgrounds in mathematics and physical sciences. The 200 level courses provide a similar service for students with stronger preparation, and serve as introductory courses for potential astronomy majors. The 300 level and graduate courses provide rigorous surveys of major subfields of contemporary astrophysics. The department has a new, modern Campus Observatory, located in Farnam Gardens near the corner of Prospect and Edwards Streets. The telescopes of the Campus Observatory, including a 12" Meade telescope with electronic detectors and computer control system, are available for use by undergraduates and other members of the Yale community.

The astronomy department is unusual, in that there are typically fewer astronomy majors than faculty members. This allows us to give a degree of personal attention to our majors which is impossible in more heavily subscribed departments. Faculty, graduate students and undergraduates meet and mingle in the department's hallways, computer rooms, library, lounges and classrooms on the second floor of the J.W. Gibbs Lab. Senior majors typically find themselves on a first name basis with virtually all of the faculty.

There are two kinds of astronomy majors at Yale. The B.S. major, a joint program with the physics department, is a very rigorous program of preparation for a research career in astronomy. Since the B.S. program is essentially a physics major with added astronomy courses, the requirements are among the most stringent of any undergraduate major. The B.A. major in astronomy is a considerably less intense program intended for students who want a comprehensive introduction to astronomy as part of a general liberal education. Most of our B.S. students go on to graduate study at one of the top research institutions, while our B.A. students have pursued careers in law, business, medicine, and government, as well as graduate study in astronomy, physics, and related disciplines.

Both programs consist of a broad base of physics and mathematics courses in addition to a series of courses on astronomy. Details can be found in the Programs of Study book (aka the "blue book"), but interested students should consult the D.U.S. as early as possible, to avoid conflicts with required courses. In general it is best to do the physics and math as early as possible; a typical schedule for a B.S. major in the freshman year would consist of an introductory physics sequence, two math courses, and possibly Astronomy 255, Astronomy 210 or Astronomy 220. However many different routes are possible, depending on the needs of the individual student.

All majors undertake an independent senior research project under the direct supervision of a faculty member. In recent years, undergraduates have analyzed data from the Hubble Space Telescope and other space based observatories, travelled to Chile and Puerto Rico to perform observations with the world's finest ground based instruments, and performed theoretical calculations with NASA supercomputers. Projects of publishable quality are the rule, not the exception.