Expert: Philip Stahl - 3/20/2008

Question
I am 32 yrs old in the Chicago land area working in the printing field doing prepress/desktop publishing.  I am looking to get my Associates in Science by studying Astronomy at my local Community College.  I have no education other than a GED and several years of attempted college classes which I failed at.  I have been tested for Learning Disability's and I do not have any.  I have chosen this field because I have always been interested in astronomy and have read books, watch shows, and viewed through my telescopes many times over the years. Due to work and family obligations, I don't plan on being able to complete my Associates until 4-5 yrs from now, with the possibility that I may have to take a few years off before i complete it if my wife and i have a child.  I also will most likely be unable to go on to get my BA for many reasons, one of them being a very poor GPA (I have already been re-accepted at my CC, but even though I may graduate from there by meeting their requirements, my record will show many years of many failures which the CC forgave, but others may not).  After doing extensive online research, I believe that I cannot get a job in the Astronomy field without a minimum of a Masters.  My questions are: Are there any job opportunities in Astronomy with only a Associates?  How about in the Chicagoland area?  If no, can I use the Associates for any other fields?  I do not like my current field at all, and an Associates will not help me in this field as I have already maxed out my pay.  I know that it could never 'hurt' to have an Associates, but I know that I will be very disappointed and upset if I spent all those years struggling to get something and it ends up being useless.  I would rather not get it at all if that was the case.  Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hello, and thanks for your inquiry!

First, it is very difficult right now in the whole field of astronomy, especially with the newly announced budget cutbacks in physical sciences. What has happened in the past 10-15 yrs. is that more and more astronomy graduates - many even with Ph.D.s - have had to go into non-research and even non-astronomy fields (including finance!)

Second, having said that, there may still be some hope if you can earn your AA degree and obtain grades of B or higher in doing so.

One job I can think of related to astronomy is a planetarium assistant. I believe, if I am not mistaken, that Chicago has at least one major planetarium, so you may be able to initiate inquiries there. (But I wouldn't until you have the AA well in hand. In the meantime you can do some research on the matter).

In another field, the only thing I can think of is perhaps a teacher's assistant in a public school. Maybe even a science teacher's assistant. Again, you would have to make inquiries about the availability of such positions in your area - and also see if they meet your pay-beneifts expectations.

Don't forget that even at the AA (community college) level course requirements for astronomy will be rigorous! You will probably have to take at least three semesters of calculus, at least one of differential equations and maybe another in numerical analysis. You will also probably have to take three semesters of calculus-based physics. Probably also a course in electromagnetic theory or optics, maybe modern physics too.

If you think you can handle that, then by all means go for it (check out textbooks in your local library in the meantime, such as standard calculus texts and Serway's 'Physics for Scientists and Engineers'- as an example of calculus-based physics.

Good luck!