Aerospace Engineering
Department Office: 306 Talbot Laboratory, 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, (217) 333-2651
Curriculum in Aerospace Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
The Aerospace Engineering curriculum provides a strong fundamental background in engineering, mathematics, and science, along with the ability to apply this fundamental knowledge to the analysis and design of future aircraft and spacecraft. It also prepares students for lifelong learning and the attainment of their career goals in the field of aerospace engineering and in a wide range of other areas. The concepts of system design are introduced early in the curriculum and culminate in the yearlong senior capstone design experience (AE 440, AE 441), in which students work in teams to respond to a design challenge from industry, government, or a professional engineering society. A total of 18 hours of technical and free electives allows the student to pursue an individualized program of study.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 134 hours for graduation and is organized as follows.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
Hours |
Requirements |
|---|---|
| (1) | AE 100—Intro to Aerospace Engineering 1,2 |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation 2 |
| 0 | Total |
2. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engrg Transfer Orientation instead.
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 3 | CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 2 | MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 3 | MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 34 | Total |
Aerospace Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of aerospace engineering.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 2 | AE 201 - Aerospace Flight Mechanics I |
| 2 | AE 252 - Aerospace Dynamics I |
| 3 | AE 302 - Aerospace Flight Mechanics II |
| 3 | AE 311 - Incompressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 312 - Compressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 321 - Aerospace Structures I |
| 3 | AE 322 - Aerospace Structures II |
| 3 | AE 352 - Aerospace Dynamics II |
| 3 | AE 353 - Aerospace Control Systems |
| 2 | AE 360 - Structures & Control Lab |
| 3 | AE 433 - Aerospace Propulsion |
| 3 | AE 440 - Aerospace Systems Design I |
| 3 | AE 441 - Aerospace Systems Design II |
| 2 | AE 460 - Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab |
| 3 | AE 470 - Aerospace Numerical Methods |
| 3 | CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 3 | ECE 205 - Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206 - Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 3 | GE 101 - Engineering Graphics & Design |
| 3 | ME 300 - Thermodynamics |
| 3 | MSE 280 - Intro to Eng Materials |
| 2 | TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics |
| 59 | Total |
Technical Electives
These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major subdisciplines of aerospace engineering.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 12 to include at least: | Selected from the departmentally approved list of Technical Electives, Categories A and B, satisfying these distribution requirements:
|
| 6 | Chosen from Category A |
| 6 | Chosen from Category A or Category B |
| 12 | Total |
Social Sciences and Humanities
The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 18 | Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition (satisfied by completing the sequence AE 440 and AE 441 in the Aerospace Engineering Technical Core ) | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 7 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work so that there are at least 134 credit hours earned toward the degree. |
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.
First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| (1) | AE 100—Intro to Aerospace Engineering1 |
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 3-4 | GE 101—Engineering
Graphics & Design or RHET 105—Principles of Composition2 |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I3 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 14-15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 104—General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II |
| 2 | MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4-3 | RHET 105—Principles
of Composition or GE 101 - Engineering Graphics & Design2 |
| 17-16 | Total |
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | AE 201—Aerospace Flight Mechanics I |
| 2 | AE 252—Aerospace Dynamics I |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 17 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 311—Incompressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 321—Aerospace Structures I |
| 3 | AE 352—Aerospace Dynamics II |
| 3 | Technical elective5 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 18 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 302—Aerospace Flight Mechanics II |
| 3 | AE 312—Compressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 322—Aerospace Structures II |
| 3 | AE 353—Aerospace Control Systems |
| 2 | AE 360—Structures & Control Lab |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 17 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 433—Aerospace Propulsion |
| 3 | AE 440—Aerospace Systems Design I6 |
| 2 | AE 460—Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab |
| 3 | AE 470—Aerospace Numerical Methods |
| 3 | MSE 280—Intro to Eng Materials |
| 3 | Technical elective5 |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 441—Aerospace Systems Design II6 |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206—Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 6 | Technical electives5 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 1 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
1. Entering freshmen are expected
to enroll for the fall term in AE 100 in either the fall or following spring term of the first year. Section topics vary each term; consult the Class Schedule or the departmental Web site of topics offered. This optional course may be used to help
meet free elective requirements.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first
year as authorized. The alternative is GE 101.
3. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree.
MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
4. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements
of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements
for social sciences and humanities.
5. Technical elective credits totaling twelve hours are required for graduation. Six hours of these must be 400-level aerospace engineering courses. The remaining six hours are to be chosen from a departmentally approved list of Technical Electives.
6. Sequence satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.