Academics

Graduate Degrees

Student Graduating

We technically offer four kinds of graduate degrees now, but see below for more details:

  • Planetary and Space Sciences PhD
  • Planetary and Space Sciences MS
  • Physics PhD in the Planetary Sciences Track
  • Physics MS in the Planetary Sciences Track

Admissions Update (August 5, 2026): Fall 2026 admissions is complete. The Spring 2027 admissions process is under way, but we do not anticipate admitting any new students to start in Spring 2027. If you are thinking of applying for a Spring 2027 admission, contact us first! In general your best bet is to wait and apply for Fall 2027 admission.

Planetary and Space Sciences PhD

We are one of the very few institutions in the world to offer this degree! Lots more info about this degree is on the Graduate Studies page, the Graduate Catalog, and the program Handbook.

Planetary and Space Sciences MS

This is a new degree, though the only form it exists as right now is as a Master’s “Along the Way”, with only post-candidacy PhD students eligible for it. A stand-alone MS degree is not yet available, as we are still getting all the university approvals to create it. We anticipate the degree will be offered starting in Fall 2027. For the time being, there is info about this “Along the Way” program on the Graduate Studies page, and in the Graduate Catalog.

Physics PhD in the Planetary Sciences Track

This is the PhD degree program we have been running since 2009, and is a track within the Physics Department’s regular Physics graduate program. You can find more details about our program on the appropriate page on our website. There is also a general departmental website on graduate programs. However, note that we are not accepting any more applications to the program! Our intent is for current students in the track to complete their degrees, and then we will remove the track.

Physics MS in the Planetary Sciences Track

We also offer MS degrees through the Planetary Science Track. While the PSS MS (above) degree is still in the process of being approved, we are allowing applications to this program. But our intent is that, eventually, like the PhD Track, all the students in the MS track will complete their degrees, the track will be empty, and then we will remove the track.

The large majority of our graduate students are admitted for a Fall semester start. Technically we accept applications for a Spring admission too, but in practice (for various reasons) a Spring admission is rare. In many cases, it is better to simply apply for a Fall admission. If you are considering submitting an application to our graduate program for a Spring semester start, please contact us first to see if it is worthwhile to do so, since we don’t want you to waste your application fee money on what could be a pointless exercise. In your email, tell us why you would prefer to start in the Spring, and which faculty you have (hopefully already) been talking to about research.

Undergraduate Degrees

An undergraduate student in our program earns a BS in Physics, but with an Astronomy Track. You can find more details about our specialization on the appropriate page on our website. There is also a general departmental website on undergraduate programs.

Note that there is no Astronomy Specialization in the Physics BA program, although you may be able to take astronomy courses as electives in that program.

We also offer an Astronomy Minor.