<p>I was wondering if you guys could help me pin point a major for me. I've looked around online searching for it, but nothing really fits my boat and I was hoping you guys could help me.</p>
<p>So as the title says, I am looking for a major about space, but more specifically, structure of space, deep space findings, and essentially solar systems, galaxies and the works. I'm trying to find something that is not too mathematically based, (i'm wondering now if that's even possible), I understand that this is physics, and with physics comes math, but I was hoping that there would be a major that's more about space conceptually and theoretically than applicably. </p>
<p>I realize how vague and ambiguous this is, but I would really appreciate your help.</p>
<p>Alright thanks, those were the two that I researched, but alas I had hoped perhaps there wasn’t so math heavy. I love the concept and ideas of black holes, quasars, deep space findings and etc. but the idea of such heavy math is such a large detractor.</p>
<p>If it’s the “structure” of space you’re interested in, then you’ll have to learn the mathematics because physics is about the only way you’ll be able to study that. I used to dislike math until I took calculus in college. It really opened a new door for me as math is now something I enjoy doing. I believe anyone can learn the mathematics necessary for a physics degree (and learn to love it).</p>
<p>^ Indeed, college level math (starting with Calculus) is very interesting because it can do so much. In college, math is more typically introduced with applications (as opposed to high school, “here is the formula, now use it on these generic problems”) which helps increase interest and helps the learning process. Maybe that last part is just my experience, but that’s how I feel.</p>
<p>Ahhh, I see. Maybe college calculus will be loads more fun with the applications of math. I do like math, but I suppose I just didn’t like the way it was taught at my school. </p>
<p>Thanks for your help, but if you guys have any other ideas for majors that’d be great! I’m still looking around.</p>
<p>Astronomy or astrophysics is what you’re looking for…but both are unfortunately VERY math heavy, as others have said. In general, the more conceptual and theoretical it is, the more math it is going to need. Contrary to common belief, astronomers and astrophysicists spend basically NO time sitting around looking through telescopes and such. It’s more like countless hours spent pouring over data and doing endless calculations.</p>
<p>Astronomy or astrophysics is essentially a physics major, and with a physics major comes a LOT of math. At that bare minimum, you’d need a full calculus sequence, plus differential equations and linear algebra. Ideally though, you should have more math beyond that too. All of the physics and astronomy courses you’d need would also have a very heavy foundation in math.</p>
<p>You may find that you enjoy college math more. High school math is basically taught as rote memorization. They don’t really spend much time on the how and the why…which keeps a lot of people from actually seeing how fascinating and enjoyable math can be.</p>
<p>Here’s a great guide about pursuing a career in astronomy, you might want to check it out. Particularly, look at section 2 “what education does an astronomer need” and section 5, “what mathematics does an astronomer need.” There’s a ton of good information here.</p>
<p>But thank you for that link, that’s really helpful. May I ask, if this is also what you do? Or did you just happen to google that website hahaha</p>
<p>Not gonna happen. If you want to be more than a dilettante in astronomy or anything space science related, math is unavoidable, and to be realistic computer programming is probably unavoidable too.</p>
<p>There are two main ways to study space stuff. One is either through aerospace engineering (space vehicles, not really planets and stars and astronomy type stuff), or through astronomy/physics/astrophysics. Most people who major in astronomy seem to double-major in physics as well, and at my school and many others the departments are housed together because there is so much overlap. Maaaaaaybe chemistry, since physical chemistry is a large part of astrophysics.</p>
<p>But something without math? I don’t think so. Better learn to like math. Once you realize how essential it is to something you’re interested in, your dislike of math might go away. Mine did. Now I love math.</p>
<p>Can you fry an egg without using a pan? I don’t know how one would take the math out of a subject like what you’re talking about. Math is the language used to analyze physics and astronomy.</p>
<p>Haha, alright thank you so much! I get it now and I’m actually really looking forward to learning college math now. Thanks for the informative information, I was actually interested in computer programming too cause I took AP Comp Sci this year, really interesting. huh.</p>
<p>Operating the Hubble Telescope requires a very extensive knowledge of math. Very advanced geometries play an important part there. It’s not easy to aim something like that. It’s not like sitting in your front yard pointing a telescope up at the sky. The people on the team that took the Ultra Deep Field images were PhD level astronomers that had a very extensive mathematical knowledge.</p>
<p>The physics of black holes is, in essence, General Relativity. GR requires not only introductory calculus, but also analysis, linear algebra, differential equations, tensor analysis, vector analysis…basically just a lot of math. As well as a formal education in General Relativity, which is also a lot of math.</p>
<p>So…the simple answer to your question is, no, there are not really any fields involving the study/research of space that aren’t very math heavy.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, how far have you gone in math? Math doesn’t really start to get cool until you get past the basics of the “plug these values into the formula and solve for x” type of math. When you really start to see how math can be used to model and explain everything in the world, it gets really cool.</p>
<p>Ahh I see I see, I’m going to be a senior this year, but I do intend to take Calculus and Statistics this year. Pre-Calc was a drag this year, cause it was a lot of plugging and chugging, so hopefully calc does become cooler.</p>
<p>A lot of that comes down to standardized curricula, and the methods they use to teach math in high school. The pre-calc topics have the potential to be very fascinating topics. Trig is awesome, and college algebra topics like exponential and logarithmic functions can be used to model all kinds of stuff in the real world. High schools are required to teach courses that ensure students know a certain array of things…but it could be done much more efficiently. I do a lot of math tutoring, and it never ceases to amaze me how many fresh out of high school students have to go back to elementary/intermediate algebra once they get to college, because they don’t really understand the math. Math gets a lot cooler in college because they explain the theory behind it, rather than just throw a list of formulas at you and tell you to memorize them.</p>
<p>edit-You’ll never really stop “solving for x,” but it’s a lot cooler when “x” represents something, rather than just being an arbitrary variable.</p>
<p>Wow, I see how it is. Thanks so much, but then again I’ve heard many rumours that our schools have the worst math teachers in the surrounding area. So I suppose it was just the way I was taught the math concepts that detracted me, cause I used to love math in middle school. Hopefully, college math turns out to be much better</p>
<p>That’s quite possible. The way math is taught early on has become a pretty big problem in the US. It’s taught in a way that makes it seem completely dry and boring. The teachers basically just show an endless string of examples, and tell you to solve for x. Some students actually want to know “why,” or they want to know what x represents. Solving a math problem is a lot more enjoyable if you see why you’re solving it, and what the equation represents. </p>
<p>Unless you’re one of those crazy people like me that sits around and does math in their spare time because they have nothing better to do.</p>
<p>I think you’ll enjoy college math a lot more. It obviously depends on the professor still, but in college, you tend to get a lot more application type problems where the equation actually represents something.</p>
<p>I’d say go for astronomy. Yes, it’s still got some math, but it’s much less than a pure physics or astrophysics degree. Like others have said above, you can learn to love it, especially in regards to the topic that you do love: space. Look into the math/pure physics requirements for an astronomy degree at a few different universities and see if you can find some that suit you. Good luck!</p>
<p>I remember hearing something along the lines of students struggling in Algebra, yet excelling in Calculus. I’m not sure if it relates to High School vs. College, but it could have something to do with what we’ve talked about so far.</p>