The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory was founded in 1960 to conduct fundamental research in planetary science, seeking to understand the Solar System's formation, evolution, and cosmic antecedents. The Department of Planetary Sciences was established in 1973 to provide graduate educations aimed primarily toward the Ph.D. degree. Because the challenges posed by planetary science involve several traditional academic disciplines - including astronomy, chemistry, geoscience, and physics - the faculty and students include scholars from these and related backgrounds.

The Department of Planetary Sciences is a part of the University of Arizona College of Science. We offer a PhD or MS in Planetary Sciences through the Graduate College. While there is no undergraduate major, we offer a number of undergraduate classes, many of which fulfill University requirements for general education.