Program Overview

Aerospace Engineering

Overview

Aerospace engineers advance space exploration and improve aircraft design. Aerospace and defense is one of the strongest industrial sectors in the United States; Arizona is a significant player, and the University of Arizona is a major pipeline for aerospace engineers. Students in the Aerospace Engineering Bachelor of Science program learn to design and maintain spacecraft, commercial aircraft, fighter jets, missiles, rockets and satellites. They graduate with working knowledge of aerodynamics, control system design, gas dynamics, solid and fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Undergraduates complete industry-sponsored capstone projects, some of which become commercial products. They also have opportunities to test materials in the university's array of wind tunnels – the newest of which shoots air at Mach 4 and Mach 5 to study the effects of flight at hypersonic speeds.

Program Details

Sample Courses

• AME211: Computer Aided Drafting and Manufacturing
• AME 321: Aircraft Performance
• AME 457: Orbital Mechanics and Space Flight

Career Fields

• Government agencies
  • Military
  • Defense
  • Aircraft design
  • Aircraft mechanics
  • Control systems

Level of Math

• Substantial Knowledge This strand involves skill and facility with calculus. The S-strand begins at one of two calculus options - MATH 122A/B (Functions for Calculus and First-Semester Calculus) or MATH 125 (Calculus I). Students who successfully complete the S-strand may continue on to MATH 129 (Calculus II), MATH 223 (Vector Calculus), or beyond. Those who choose but are not ready to begin the S-strand will be required to take preparatory work.

Level of Second Language

• None Second language is not required.

Pre-major Required?

• No

Additional Admissions Requirements

• This major has additional admission criteria. Please see the College of Engineering website for more information.

This Major's College

• College of Engineering

Degree

• Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Sample Plans

2025, Aerospace Engineering

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework
• Plan Ahead with a Transfer Pathway

First Year

• 1st Semester
  • ENGR 102A/B Introduction to Engineering or ENGR 102 (3)
  • ENGL 101 or 107 or 109H First Year Composition (3)
  • MATH 122A/B or MATH 125 Calculus I with Applications (3)
  • CHEM 151 General Chemistry I * or CHEM 161/163 (4)
  • Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1)
• 2nd Semester
  • PHYS 141 Introductory Mechanics or PHYS 161H (4)
  • MATH 129 Calculus II (3)
  • ENGL 102 or 108 First Year Composition (3)
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3)
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3)

Second Year

• 3rd Semester
  • AME 209 Computer Programming in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (3)
  • PHYS 241 Intro to Electricity and Magnetism or PHYS 261H (4)
  • MATH 223 Vector Calculus (4)
  • CE 214 Statics (3)
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3)
• 4th Semester
  • AME 211 Computer Aided Drafting and Manufacturing (3)
  • AME 220 Intro to Aerospace Engineering (3)
  • AME 230 Thermodynamics (3)
  • AME 250 Dynamics (3)
  • MATH 254 Differential Equations (3)
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3)

Third Year

• 5th Semester
  • AME 300 Instrumentation Lab (3)
  • AME 301 Engineering Analysis (3)
  • AME 320 Aerodynamics (3)
  • AME 324A Mech Behavior of Engineering Materials (3)
  • AME 324L Mechanics of Materials Laboratory (1)
  • AME 325 Materials Science in Aero. & Mech. Engineering (0)
• 6th Semester
  • AME 302 Numerical Methods (3)
  • AME 321 Aircraft Performance (3)
  • AME 323 Gasdynamics (3)
  • AME 324C Aerospace Structures (3)
  • AME 313 Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (1)
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3)

Fourth Year

• 7th Semester
  • AME 401 Senior Aerospace Laboratory (2)
  • ENGR 498A Interdisciplinary Capstone (3)
  • AME 425 Aerospace Propulsion (3)
  • AME 427 Stability and Control of Aerospace Vehicles (3)
  • AME 457 Orbital Mechanics and Space Flight (3)
  • AME 495S Senior Colloquium (1)
• 8th Semester
  • ENGR 498B Interdisciplinary Capstone (3)
  • AME 463 Finite Element Analysis w/ ANSYS or AME 431 Numerical Methods in Fluid Mech + Heat Trnsfr. (3)
  • Technical Elective (3)
  • Technical Elective (3)
  • GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3)
  • General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1)