Overview

About AEROAerospace engineers are concerned with the application of scientific principles and engineering concepts and practices to design, build, test and operate aerospace systems. The aerospace engineering curriculum is intended to provide students with a broad understanding of fundamental scientific and technological principles, and to develop the ability to use these principles in developing solutions to engineering problems.

The Educational Objectives of the Aerospace Engineering Program are:

  1. to provide our new graduates with the necessary analytical and communication skills either to pursue graduate study or to enter the aerospace workforce directly;
  2. to provide our alumni with an appreciation of the necessity to adapt, through life-long learning, to  both the constantly changing needs and demands of society and to their evolving personal career goals.

More specific objectives of the aerospace engineering program are: (1) to help students develop written and oral communication skills and to acquire a knowledge of history, literature and society; (2) to provide students a solid foundation in and a sound working knowledge of basic engineering principles; (3) to help students obtain an understanding of the engineering principles and skills specifically needed in the aeronautical and astronautical disciplines; and (4) to assist and encourage each student to develop an enhanced ability to learn and think creatively.

Required courses cover aeronautical and astronautical subjects. Students may also choose to emphasize either aeronautical or astronautical systems. Technical electives allow concentration in such areas as aerodynamics, astronautics, flight dynamics and control, propulsion, structures and structural dynamics. The design of aerospace components and systems is considered to be an integral part of the education of aerospace engineers. Hence, design is included throughout the curriculum, beginning with a sophomore course in aerospace fundamentals and cumulating in the senior design course sequence. Students are required to apply their theoretical knowledge of aerodynamics, dynamics, structures and propulsion to solve open-ended problems and to produce portions of preliminary designs.