The Pre-Major in Astronomy Program (Pre-MAP) is a new program housed in the University of Washington Astronomy Department that started Autumn 2005. Pre-MAP is for entering UW students who are interested in math and science and who are traditionally underrepresented in astronomy (women, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians/Pacific Islanders, low-income and first-generation college students). See our students page to meet the Pre-MAP students.

Graduating high school seniors and transfer students who wish to participate in Pre-MAP register for Astronomy 102, an introductory course taught in the Autumn quarter. They also register for a 3 credit seminar, Astronomy 192, led by a specially trained graduate student. See our page on how to join Pre-MAP for details.

Our Pre-MAP students have a unique opportunity to learn astronomical research techniques and apply them to research projects conducted in small groups. These projects involve the use of cutting edge facilities and/or data available to UW astronomers, such as the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico or the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) database. Check out the sample research projects page for some examples.

In addition, every Pre-MAP student receives one-on-one mentoring and peer support for at least the duration of the academic year, and has an opportunity to continue or expand their research project.

Interested? Then please fill out our online information form.

Pre-MAP is modelled on the UW's highly successful Freshman Interest Group (FIG) program, and was one of 13 programs recently funded by the UW's President's Diversity Appraisal Implementation Fund. Our proposal describes Pre-MAP in gory detail. Pre-MAP founders Andrew West, Kevin Covey, and Marcel Agüeros were recently honored by the National Society of Black Physicists for "Distinguished Personal Initiative on Diversity in Astronomy."