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Studies & Degrees in Planetary Sciences

Planetary sciences study planets, moons, asteroids, comets and meteorites: how they formed, what they are made of and how their interiors, surfaces and atmospheres change over time. NASA states the aim of its planetary science programme as exploring the objects in our solar system to better understand its history and the distribution of life within it. The field also covers planets around other stars (exoplanets).

It is an interdisciplinary subject built on physics, chemistry, geology and mathematics. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says that its programmes apply physics, chemistry and mathematics to the study of the Earth and planets. The research areas of Purdue University show the range of the field: astrobiology, planetary atmospheres and climate, planetary geochemistry, planetary geophysics, planetary surfaces, the analysis of samples such as meteorites and Moon rocks, and solar system dynamics.

What students learn

Students work with several kinds of evidence. The Space and Planetary Science group of The University of Tokyo lists numerical simulation, laboratory experiments, the analysis of extraterrestrial materials such as meteorites, and observations from balloons, sounding rockets and spacecraft. Purdue University adds remote sensing, field studies on Earth of landscapes that resemble those of other planets, and data returned by spacecraft missions.

The undergraduate catalogue of Northwestern University describes courses that run from the atomic to the interplanetary scale and from the origin of the solar system to the present, with learning goals that include theoretical methods, data science, computer modelling, analytical laboratory skills and field training.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. Planetary science is usually taught inside a department of earth and planetary sciences, and less often as a named degree. Purdue University lists Planetary Science among its undergraduate majors, next to geology and geophysics and atmospheric science. MIT offers a bachelor's degree in earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences. McGill University in Montreal offers a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences with Major, Honours and Minor options; its honours programmes include supervised research projects, and its joint Physics and Geophysics major has 69 credits. Northwestern University offers a major and a minor in Earth and Planetary Sciences.
  • Master's degree. MIT awards master's degrees in fields that include geophysics, geochemistry and planetary sciences.
  • PhD. Most research posts require a doctorate. MIT offers doctoral degrees in planetary sciences, and at The University of Tokyo the Space and Planetary Science group is one of the research groups of the Department of Earth and Planetary Science.

Students who want to keep their options open can also start with a degree in physics, geology or astronomy and specialise later. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that a bachelor's degree in physical science or a related field is usually required to enter a graduate programme in physics or astronomy.

Where to study it

This directory lists 11 active schools for planetary sciences: seven in the United States, two in the United Kingdom, one in Canada and one in Japan. The schools in the United States include Purdue University in West Lafayette, Northwestern University in Evanston, MIT in Cambridge, Boston University, The University of California at Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Washington University in St. Louis. The two in the United Kingdom are University College London and the University of Surrey in Guildford. McGill University in Montreal and The University of Tokyo complete the list.

All of these universities are in countries where teaching is in English, except The University of Tokyo. When comparing departments, look at which research areas they cover and whether they take part in space missions, because that decides what data and laboratory work students can join. Purdue University, for example, states that its staff have been involved with NASA and international spacecraft missions.

Careers

Planetary scientists work in universities, research institutes and space agencies. There is no separate official statistic for planetary scientists. The BLS counts them within neighbouring occupations in the United States. Astronomers, who according to the BLS study planets, stars, galaxies and other celestial bodies, are grouped with physicists: the two occupations had 25,600 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. Geoscientists had 25,400 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 5 percent over the same period.

The level of degree matters. The BLS says physicists and astronomers typically need a PhD for jobs in research and academia, while geoscientists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation.

Frequently asked questions

Is planetary science the same as astronomy?

No. Astronomy studies stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole. Planetary science concentrates on planets and smaller bodies and uses the methods of geology, chemistry and atmospheric science as well as physics. That is why it is usually taught in earth science departments.

Do I need a PhD to work in planetary science?

For research and university posts, usually yes: the BLS says physicists and astronomers typically need a PhD for jobs in research and academia. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry level for geoscience occupations.

Which subjects should I be good at?

Physics, chemistry and mathematics. MIT describes its programmes as applying these three subjects to the study of the Earth and planets, and courses also include computer modelling and laboratory work.

Can I study planetary sciences as a first degree?

Yes, at some universities. Purdue University lists Planetary Science as an undergraduate major, and McGill University, MIT and Northwestern University offer bachelor's degrees in earth and planetary sciences.