Bachelor's in Astronomy at University of Oklahoma

Programme overview

Astronomy students study the evolution of stars, planetary motion and the effects on the universe, and take part in research with faculty on star and planet formation, supernovae, black holes and galaxies. One course uses the 3.5 metre telescope at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico.

Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy | Study mode: full-time | Location: Norman, OK, United States

What you will study

Courses include Introductory Astrophysics, Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology, Introductory Physics and Physical Mechanics, with a final group course focused on public speaking and scientific reasoning.

Career pathways

Aerospace manufacturers, government agencies, schools, universities, researcher, astronomer, physicist, technical writer, physics teacher, lab technician.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-wide freshman admission (applies to all OU undergraduate programmes): 4 units English; 3 units college-prep math (4 recommended); 3 units laboratory science (4 recommended); 3 units history and citizenship (including 1 of American history); 2 additional units from those subjects, computer science or foreign language. No minimum GPA is stated; high school grades carry the most weight in holistic review. ACT/SAT is test-optional (recommended for scholarship consideration). International freshmen: minimum 3.0 GPA; English proficiency minimum IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, Duolingo 100 or Pearson 53. International freshman deadlines: early action Nov 1, priority scholarship Dec 15, fall application Feb 1, final documents Apr 15. High school preparation should include mathematics and science, especially physics.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Domestic applicants: USD 5,532 a year (2026-27). Oklahoma resident full-time undergraduate tuition for fall and spring (flat rate for 12-21 hours), stated for the undergraduate level; not programme-specific. Excludes mandatory fees ($9,971), college program and technology fees, housing and books. Source

International applicants: USD 24,210 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate international tuition for fall and spring as stated for the undergraduate level (same as the non-resident figure); not programme-specific. Excludes mandatory fees, international student maintenance fee, college program and technology fees, h Source

Freshmen enter in fall, with spring and summer entry also available (spring application deadline Nov. 1, summer application deadline Mar. 1).

Transfer students may enter in fall, spring or summer.

First-year: application opens Aug. 1; early action deadline Nov. 1; final scholarship admission deadline Dec. 15; final admission deadline Feb. 1; enrollment deposit due May 1. Apply via the OU Application, Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir. The application fee is $50 (non-refundable) for domestic applicants. OU practices a test-optional admissions process (ACT/SAT/CLT scores encouraged and superscored).

International first-year: application opens Aug. 1; early action deadline Nov. 1; priority scholarship deadline Dec. 15; fall application deadline Feb. 1; final documents deadline April 15; deposit due May 1. Requires minimum 3.0 GPA and IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79 / Duolingo 100 / Pearson 53; SAT/ACT optional for international scholarships.

Transfer: application opens Aug. 1; spring priority scholarship deadline Oct. 1; spring application deadline Nov. 1; summer application deadline April 1; fall application deadline May 1; fall documents deadline July 1. The application fee is $50 for domestic applicants; apply via the OU Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir.

Apply through the official page: https://www.ou.edu/admissions/freshman/apply

Explore more study programmes

Engineering