Astronomy at RIT is shared in a collaborative sense between the Department of Physics and the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, two academic units in the College of Science. The RIT Observatory was established to promote the undergraduate teaching and research programs in astronomy, and was the first result of this collaboration. While astronomy is not a major at RIT, a minor in astronomy exists and is comprised of several undergraduate courses offered through the Department of Physics and the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science. The minor in astronomy is administered by the Department of Physics. Undergraduate research opportunities in astronomy can be found in both the Department of Physics and the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science.
RIT also has a Ph.D. program in Astrophysical Sciences and Technology , involving faculty from Physics, Mathematics and Imaging Sciences. Several graduate courses are offered every quarter, and students work directly with their advisors on research projects.
In addition to the RIT Observatory, we have limited access to the WIYN 0.9m Observatory at Kitt Peak, Arizona. RIT is one member of a consortium which operates this telescope and has roughly six nights of observing time each year. Both undergraduate and graduate students may apply to travel to a really dark site to carry out a research project.