Alfred University is home to the Stull Observatory and its seven independent telescopes, but relatively few students have chosen to take advantage of those resources in the form of a minor in astronomy. In the last 15 years, according to Assistant Professor of Astronomy Connor Robinson, fewer than five students have chosen to minor in the physics- and math-intensive subject.
That appears to be changing, with adjustments to the astronomy curriculum that faculty believe will make an astronomy minor more accessible to students with a deep interest in the subject but a reluctance to take on the study of higher mathematics, notably calculus.
“In the past, you had to take a ton of math and physics to be an astronomy minor,” Robinson says. “It was a pretty big barrier for a lot of students. So we’ve tried to fashion a new minor with paths that do not require calculus or calculus-based physics.”
Students interested in studying astronomy, without a mastery of the higher math skills, may now take introductory general physics, as well as introductory and intermediate astronomy courses. Course content will include the study of solar systems, stars, and galaxies; cosmology; general relativity; black holes; and observational astronomy.
Robinson, who joined the AU faculty two years ago, said the number of students choosing to minor in astronomy has jumped from zero to approximately five for the 2025-2026 academic year.
“Astronomy often acts as a ‘gateway science.’ It’s something people often already have a passing interest in. By studying astronomy, their appreciation of science as a whole is likely to grow, even if astronomy itself is not their life passion. At the end of the day, you really need physics and calculus to fully master astronomy. However, to just have a solid understanding that satisfies that passing interest, we’ve developed this alternative. Our new minor provides a foundation for the sophisticated lay-person’s understanding of the subject of astronomy.”
