MSU has three astronomy faculty and two observatories. Observatories Andreas Observatory is used for upper-level observing classes, student and faculty research projects, and occasional public viewing sessions . Standeford Observatory is used by students in general education classes and the introductory observing course and is also open to visitors when in operation. Astronomy 104 requires credit or concurrent enrollment in 101 or 102 and is offered each spring term. See the Undergraduate Curriculum in Astronomy for details.
Most professional astronomers hold doctorates in astronomy or astrophysics.
To prepare students for graduate work in this field, the MSU astronomy program offers a full range of courses leading to the undergraduate degree in astronomy. For details, see the Undergraduate Curriculum in Astronomy . Licensure in each teaching area is now linked to a set of competencies, which must be addressed in the courses taken by teaching majors. This site presents all of the Astronomy-related Competencies within the new rules and indicates the courses in which these competencies are covered. Although MSU does not offer a graduate degree in astronomy, some students have earned a masters degree in physics while working on astronomy-related projects.