<p>I'm about to start my last year at my community college where I will graduate with an Associates in Mathematics/Science, and I want to get a degree in either Astronomy or Astrophysics (still not solid on which path is right for me). I work full time and go to school part time. When I start my Bachelors degree I'm wondering if getting it in Physics and then moving on to Astronomy/Astrophysics as a Masters would an option? I'm also considering doing the Physics Bachelors because the college in my town offers Physics, but not Astronomy/Astrophysics which would keep me from having to up and move my family, or move away during each semester and trying to find a job in the new location (even if I move away to college I have a house and bills I'll have to pay for).</p>
<p>Anyone know if a Bachelors in Physics would be a wise move, or would it be a waste of 4+ years getting the Bachelors in Physics if I'm interested in Astronomy, Astrophysics.</p>
<p>Physics --> Astronomy is a very common path. Go for the local physics program without disrupting your family and then move for a graduate program.</p>
<p>Astronomy is a subfield of physics so it is definately doable to study physics in undergraduate and move onto astronomy in a graduate program.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. I was figuring it might be best to study physics before getting into astronomy. A while back I found one person online who suggested it saying that it might be harder to do astronomy without the physics background. Not a whole lot of information out there regarding my path of schooling, so I really appreciate you guys confirming what I was hoping to be a good idea. </p>
<p>My local CC seems clueless when I went in and told them I want to major in Astronomy, none of the people in the science department have ever had anyone with the interest, so they weren’t quite sure of the best path for me to take. </p>
<p>Physics is going to better prepare you for astrophysics than astronomy will. Astronomy and astrophysics are certainly closely related disciplines, but they’re also pretty drastically different in many ways. Majoring in physics and taking some astronomy electives (or a minor) if possible is the best way to go about it. Very few schools actually offer and undergraduate astrophysics major. Most students simply major in physics and take as much astronomy as possible, then go to grad school for astrophysics. </p>
<p>My friend had th me same dilemma and my physics c teacher who majored in physics then went to graduate school for astronomy said that physics is better if you change your mind you can choose a different major va being stuck with astronomy. </p>