First-Year Student Resources
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The College offers academic programs that encompass the full scope of human endeavor — humanities, arts, mathematics, the natural sciences, and the social sciences — with an emphasis on critical thinking.
48
undergraduate majors and 50+ minor options
50+
graduate programs and certificates
1,500+
courses offered across 90+ areas of study
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Discover What Inspires You
Start with what excites you. Select an area of interest below to hear stories from students, alumni, and faculty, and learn about interesting courses, extracurricular activities, internships, and career paths.
Northwestern to lead $20 million National AI Research Institute in Astronomy
The new institute will develop innovative, trustworthy AI tools for astronomy, which will be used to pursue breakthrough discoveries by analyzing large astronomy datasets, transform physics-based simulations and more.
Northwestern's 'Micro-X' rocket imaged supernova remnant
On Aug. 21, 2022, a NASA-funded Northwestern University team of astrophysicists launched its “Micro-X” rocket. The rocket spent 15 minutes in space — just enough time to snap a quick image of supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, a star in the Cassiopeia constellation that exploded approximately 11,000 light-years away from Earth.
How we could warm Mars
Since discovering Mars' cold, lifeless surface, scientists have sought ways to make it more habitable. In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Northwestern propose using engineered dust particles to warm Mars by over 50°F—bringing temperatures closer to supporting microbial life.
Dense, swirling winds help supermassive black holes grow
By studying a nearby galaxy, Northwestern University-led team of astronomers has discovered extremely powerful rotating, magnetic winds help the galaxy’s central supermassive black hole grow. The process is similar to the birth of new stars and planets, which are fed by swirls of gas and dust.
Stunning new time-lapse video shows 12 years of exoplanets orbiting their star
Astrophysicist Jason Wang of Northwestern University has unveiled a new time-lapse video of the HR8799 planetary system. The first extrasolar planetary system to be directly imaged in 2008, HR8799 boasts four Jupiter-sized planets that orbit its star.
Discover courses on space exploration
What can radio astronomy reveal about the hidden universe beyond what our eyes can see?
Is there life beyond Earth? Explore the search for life on Mars, exoplanets, and beyond.
Are we adrift in the aftermath of a cosmic explosion, or something even stranger?
News & Events
Events
Oct
6
2026
Northwestern Chemistry Faculty Seminar: Roel Tempelaar (Faculty Only)
12:00 PM Technological Institute, 2145 Sheridan Road
Department of Chemistry Faculty Seminars
Oct
6
2026
Political Theory Colloquium: Alisa Kessel (University of Puget Sound), When AI Meets Sex: Lessons from the Nonconsensual Style of U.S. Politics
12:00 PM 2001 Sheridan Road
Please join the Political Theory Colloquium as they host Alisa Kessel, Professor of Politics and Government at Universit...
Oct
6
2026
PS 490: Statistical Computing Workshop - Professor Qin Huang (Uni of Rhode Island), "Computational Typology: Classifying Regional Economies in China"
12:30 PM
Please join the Statistical Computing Workshop as they host Qin Huang, Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the...
News
Weinberg neurobiologist discovers how gut bacteria shape social behavior
March 31, 2026
Neurobiologist Thomas Bozza and his team at Weinberg College have mapped — for the first time — a complete pathway from gut microbiome to social behavior through the sense of smell.
ASTRON 106-0
A Brief Journey Through the Invisible Universe
About the Course
This course focuses on the invisible universe at radio wavelengths for non-science and science majors. Radio night sky and the solar system planets look very different than the visible night sky and planets. Studying the invisible universe provides an awe in the diversity of phenomena that our universe offers. The realm of the invisible includes the components of the fascinating history of radio astronomy, and numerous discoveries over the last 90 years (e.g., pulsars, quasars, the Big Bang background radiation, organic molecules) and fundamental differences between radio and optical telescopes.
Satisfies Requirements
- Natural Science Distribution Requirement or Foundational Discipline
ASTRON 111
Introduction to Astrobiology
About the Course
This course presents the modern scientific perspective on the question of life elsewhere in the universe, including the prospects for life on Mars, the discovery of extrasolar planets, and the search for extrasolar biospheres.
Satisfies Requirements
- Natural Science Distribution Requirement or Foundational Discipline
ASTRON 329-0-1
Extragalactic Astrophysics and Cosmology
About the Course
This course provides an introduction to modern cosmology, the science of the origin and evolution of the universe. We will cover the standard Big Bang model, including: calculations in an expanding universe, the thermal history of the universe, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the cosmic microwave background, and cosmic inflation.