Astronomy colleges and programs are usually a subset of the physics department at major universities. Few colleges allow students to attain a degree in astronomy, instead offering physics or astrophysics, with an astronomy concentration. Los Angeles boasts a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs focused on astronomy.

Students with an interest in the way things work will take a liking to physics and astronomy -- sciences that seek to describe the functioning of our planet and the universe. Advanced mathematics is part of any astronomy program, so Los Angeles students who are good with numbers should check out these astronomy colleges.

Astronomy Colleges in Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles

• UCLA has a number of advanced teaching resources in its astronomy department, including regular telescopes, radio telescopes and a planetarium. The school offers a bachelor's in astrophysics and advanced graduate degrees in astronomy and astrophysics.

California State University, Los Angeles

• The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural and Social Sciences at Cal State LA offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Physics. Additionally, the college offers a Master's of Science in Physics.

California State University, Northridge

• While Cal State Northridge does not specifically offer an astronomy degree, the school does have undergraduate degrees available in astrophysics.

Career Outlook for Los Angeles Astronomy Students

Astronomers and astrophysicists can find employment in a wide variety of fields in the Los Angeles area. Pasadena is home to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where astronomy students can use their degrees to contribute to space exploration. Undergraduate astronomy students are likely to find employment in the development and design departments of a technology-oriented corporation. Students with advanced graduate degrees can find positions directing research and development, rather than serving in a support capacity.