We have ranked the best online Space Studies master's degrees, designed for students to be informed of college and degree options.
Online Space Studies programs teach students the historical, commercial, physical, political policy and technical aspects of space and space exploration.
Space Studies degrees are also known as Space Science degrees.
Space Studies graduate programs include teaching disciplines such as:
- astronomy
- aeronautical science
- astrophysics
- space law and public policy
- engineering
- economics
- physical and biological sciences
- propulsion systems
- project management
The time to completing for a master's degree is generally two years.
Graduates of Space Studies programs can potentially work in private industry, such as Space X, Blue Origin, or for the government, or in other capacities, including think tanks, non-profits, or other non-governmental organizations.
The Best Online Space Studies Master's Degrees
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota |
2 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, Colorado |
3 | American Public University System | Charles Town, West Virginia |
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
![University of North Dakota](https://successfulstudent.org/wp-content/uploads/University-of-North-Dakota.jpg)
University of North Dakota (UND) offers a Master of Science in Space Studies online and on-campus.
Credits: 33
This programs intertwines science, policy, and engineering. Students learn about space in these relevant domains:
- Space-related aspects of Business and Management
- Space Engineering
- Planetary Science
- Space History
- Space Policy and Law
- Life Support Systems
Students have the option of a thesis or non-thesis program.
According to the UND website, they have a one-of-a-kind program:
UND was the first university with a NASA-funded laboratory dedicated to designing and constructing space-exploration and planetary surface exploration suits. UND is also the first university with two fully operational spaceflight simulators and one of the few universities in the world to offer human spaceflight training.
UND is the first institution in the nation to become a part of U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program.
With close ties to U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, and NASA you'll have opportunities to engage with the cutting edge of space industry.
University of North Dakota
Students have access to the Space Studies Observatory, Human Spaceflight Laboratory, and their Spacecraft Simulator facility.
Colorado School of Mines
(Mines)
Golden, Colorado
![Colorado School of Mines](https://successfulstudent.org/wp-content/uploads/Colorado-School-of-Mines-1024x768.jpeg)
Colorado School of Mines offers the unique online Master of Science in Space Resources degree.
Credits: 30
This Space Resources program is interdisciplinary, teaching students about the social sciences, engineering, and physical sciences aspects of space resource exploration, extraction, and utilization.
Courses include:
- Power and Energy; Robotics, Autonomy, and Communications
- Planetary Geology
- Space Resources Fundamentals
- Remote Sensing and Resource Assessment
- Extraction, Processing, and Resource Utilization
- Economics, Law, and Policy
This degree is a non-thesis program.
American Public University System
School of Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math
Charles Town, West Virginia
![American Public University](https://successfulstudent.org/wp-content/uploads/American-Public-University-American-Military-University-1024x743.webp)
American Public University (APU) offers an online Master of Science in Space Studies.
Aerospace and Astronomy leaders teach students the relevant topics on studying space, which includes instruction in various domains, such as:
- Political
- Economic
- Legal
- Commercial
- Scientific
- Historical
- Technical
Credits: 36
There are four concentration options:
- Aerospace Science
- Astronomy
- Space Policy
- Earth and Planetary Sciences
credits: 18 (15 core requirements and 3 for the final capstone).
Students can use APU's remote controlled observatory online, which has a telescope with a 24 inch aperture.
No entrance exams and no application fees are required to apply.
Potential Jobs Opportunities with a Space Studies Master's Degree:
Graduates have a variety of potential career options for working in space, including working in the following organizations:
- NASA
- United States Air Force
- Lockheed Martin
- Blue Origin
- SpaceX
- United States Space Force
- Boeing Space
- Sierra Space
- United States Space Command
Graduates should be prepared to work in the following job descriptions:
- Planetarium Astronomer
- Observatory Telescope Operator
- Space Industry Administrator
- Military Space Systems Specialist
- Space Journalist
- Aerospace Operations Engineer or Technician
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atmospheric and Space Scientists have an annual average salary of $101,530.
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