Program Overview

Aerospace Engineering Program

The Aerospace Engineering program is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of aerospace engineering, as well as principles of engineering, physics, and mathematics. Students will have the opportunity to concentrate on either aeronautics or astronautics.

Program Overview

Aerospace engineers are at the forefront of technological evolution in both air and space and on the ground. The curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of aerospace engineering, and students will choose to concentrate on either aeronautics or astronautics.

Concentrations

• Aeronautics Concentration: focuses on the design, building, and testing of aircraft and related systems, including courses in low and high-speed aerodynamics, flight performance, propulsion systems, aircraft dynamics and control, wind tunnel testing, and aircraft design.
  • Prepares students for work in flight sciences, control, systems engineering, aerodynamics, structures, and propulsion.
  • Typical career paths include working with major aircraft producers, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, or with launch vehicle and missile manufacturers, including Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, and launch integrators like NASA and ULA.
• Astronautics Concentration: focuses on complex space-based systems, including courses in orbital mechanics, space environment, space environment laboratory, spacecraft propulsion systems, spacecraft attitude dynamics and control, spacecraft power and communications systems, and spacecraft design.
  • Prepares students for work in spacecraft systems engineering and design, orbital analysis, spacecraft structures and propulsion systems, and spacecraft launch integration and testing for major commercial or defense spacecraft producers, including SSL, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin.

Laboratories and Research

Laboratories are available for course work and research projects in:

• Aircraft and Spacecraft Design
• Aerothermodynamics
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Control Systems
• Finite Element Analysis
• Flight Simulation
• Nano-Satellite Design
• Orbital Debris Analysis
• Propulsion
• Space Environments and Testing Lab
• Structural Test and Analysis
• Subsonic and Supersonic Wind Tunnels
• Thermal Control
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Water Tunnel

Blended Programs

Aerospace engineering majors can participate in a blended program, earning their bachelor's and master's degrees simultaneously. Two blended programs are available:

• BS in Aerospace Engineering and MS in Aerospace Engineering
• BS in Aerospace Engineering and MS in Mechanical Engineering

Accreditation

The degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Career Opportunities

Aerospace Engineering graduates are employed in industries that design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or spacecraft. Major employers include NASA, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and United Launch Alliance.