It’s a real course of study, because astronomers have been looking for alien life throughout the vast regions of the cosmos ever since evolutionary astronomers began speculating that we are not alone in the universe.

For decades, there have been billions of dollars thrown at the concept that E.T. is out there somewhere, and all we need to do is listen long and hard enough and we will hear them calling. As these devices listened in vain, a brand spanking new discipline of astronomy was born. It is called “Astrobiology,” and it is defined as the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe: extraterrestrial life and life on Earth.

Although the NASA website explains they are leading the way with their own Astrobiology Institute. They have their own newsletter and they offer information about other lectures and meetings having to do with the possibility of life outside of what exists on our own planet. But if you want a more formal educational experience, you will be happy to hear that I found what appears to be the only accredited degree program offered in astrobiology, and it is right here at Florida Institute of Technology.

You can also find a Graduate Certificate in Astrobiology that is offered the University of Washington. It is a Dual-Title PhD curriculum that will allow students to pursue specialized concentrations that result in the degree “Doctor of Philosophy (Astrobiology).” It must be taken in conjunction with one of the affiliated departments PhD programs of study including Aeronautics & Astronautics, Astronomy, Atmospheric Sciences, Biology, Earth & Space Sciences, Environmental & Forest Sciences, Microbiology or Oceanography. I presume that is how they can lend legitimacy to a terminal degree program in a field of study that is more Sci Fi than science.

I guess these programs may get some attention, because these hopeful astronomers have discovered yet another habitable zone. NASA’s Spitzer space telescope has discovered the largest batch of Earth-size, habitable-zone planets around a single star yet to be discovered. They were discovered a mere 40 light-years (235 trillion miles) away. This is big news, but even better is that they believe that all of these planets have on them…wait for it…wait for it…liquid water! That’s very exciting for people who believe that life can spontaneously appear as long as there are certain basic ingredients present, the most important of these is H2O.

What we do know from the past is that every time man has discovered one of these Goldilocks planets they are devoid of life. Because these hopeful musings are based upon the evolutionary concept that life was not an act of special creation, but rather an incredibly serendipitous and entirely natural event, there is a possibility that it can happen again and again and again. But I digress.

Let’s not forget that these space explorers have an ace in the hole. Even if they fail to find life arising from purely naturalistic means, they believe there might be an advanced civilization out there somewhere to which we owe our very existence. That’s right, these hopeful evolutionists openly scoff at those who believe, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” Gen. 1:1, but are willing to give a college degree to anyone who will sign on to the idea that aliens may be responsible for life on this and/or any other planet in the universe.