
Astrophysics

The Astrophysics master’s program at the Graduate Center offers students of all backgrounds an exciting route to doctoral study in astronomy and physics and to STEM careers.
Apply NowDegree Offered
M.S in Astrophysics
Full-time/Part-time
Admissions Deadlines
March 30 for fall 2022
From the microscopic structures of meteorites to the largest clusters of galaxies, the study of astrophysics spans a gigantic range of scales and addresses vast topics such as the origins of the universe and the origins of life.
Astrophysics master’s students explore these areas and more through advanced research with faculty mentors that involves observation, computation, statistics, and data analysis. Graduates are well-positioned to segue into doctoral programs and to transition into the STEM workforce.

A Galaxy of Top Faculty in NYC
The CUNY faculty members who teach and mentor in the Astrophysics master’s program are pioneering researchers. All are affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History, and many have appointments at other CUNY campuses. Students are also mentored by researchers at the Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics.
CUNY Faculty Members
Seeking Motivated, Diverse Students
The Astrophysics master’s program is designed to be a pathway to success for students of all backgrounds. In this bridge program, students get to pursue intensive research in a supportive environment. Professional development in writing, presenting, teamwork, and networking prepare students for doctoral work and for STEM jobs.
Admissions and Aid
Develop In-Demand STEM Skills
The demand for statisticians, data analysts and scientists, and mathematical scientists is rising. Astrophysics master’s students gain relevant skills, such as computer programming, big data analysis, statistics, and data visualization, that ready them for these growing careers.
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Choose Your Pathway
Students choose between physics and astronomy pathways as they follow the 30-credit curriculum. The physics pathway includes supplemental physics courses and helps students prepare for a physics Ph.D. program. The astronomy pathway focuses on special topics in astrophysics. All students undertake a research project.
CurriculumCUNY Community
CUNY Astro
The Graduate Center's Astrophysics program is part of CUNY Astro.
CUNY Astro is a community of City University of New York affiliated astronomers, astrophysicists, and astro-boosters who come together to collaborate in research, learning, teaching, and supporting each other in our love of the cosmos.
Latest News
Apr 25, 2022
A Book That Demystifies the Cosmos
Professor Charles Liu writes about the history of the universe so everyone can understand it.
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Feb 9, 2022
Simons Foundation Gives $4 Million to CUNY Graduate Center to Diversify Astrophysics Education
Astrophysics is one of the most popular science fields, igniting the imaginations of many as they learn about it from television shows or news of...
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