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 442, AE 443), 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 128 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 30 | 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 |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 202—Aerospace Flight Mechanics |
| 3 | AE 311—Incompressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 312—Compressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 321—Mechs of Aerospace Structures |
| 3 | AE 323—Applied Aerospace Structures |
| 3 | AE 352—Aerospace Dynamical Systems |
| 3 | AE 353—Aerospace Control Systems |
| 3 | AE 370—Aerospace Numerical Methods |
| 3 | AE 433—Aerospace Propulsion |
| 3 | AE 442 —Aerospace Systems Design I |
| 3 | AE 443 —Aerospace Systems Design II |
| 2 | AE 460—Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab |
| 2 | AE 461—Structures & Control Lab |
| 3 | AE 483—Aerospace Decision Algorithms
|
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206—Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 3 | IE 300—Analysis of Data1 |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 3 | MSE 280—Intro to Eng Materials |
| 2 | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics |
| 3 | TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics |
| 58 | 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, satisfying these distribution requirements:
|
| 6 | Chosen from AE Technical Electives
|
| 6 | Chosen from AE Technical Electives or Non-AE Technical Electives
|
| 12 | Total |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education social & behavioral sciences list.
|
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education humanities & the arts list.
|
| 6 | Electives either from a list approved by the college, or from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts.
|
| 18 | Total |
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition (satisfied by completing the sequence AE 442 and AE 443 in the Aerospace Engineering Technical Core ) | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, 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 |
|---|---|
| 6 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, so that there are at least 128 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 |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I2
|
| 3-4 | Liberal education elective3 or RHET 105—Principles of Composition4 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 14-15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4-3 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition4 or Liberal education elective3 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 16-15 | Total |
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 3 | MSE 280— Engineering Materials |
| 4 | PHYS 212—Univ Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3
|
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 202—Aerospace Flight Mechanics |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 3 | TAM 212— Introductory Dynamics |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 17 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 311—Incompressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 321—Mechs of Aerospace Structures |
| 3 | AE 352—Aerospace Dynamical Systems |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 3 | IE 300—Analysis of Data5 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 312—Compressible Flow |
| 3 | AE 323 —Applied Aerospace Structures |
| 3 | AE 353—Aerospace Control Systems |
| 3 | AE 370—Aerospace Numerical Methods |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3 |
| 15 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 433—Aerospace Propulsion |
| 3 | AE 442 —Aerospace Systems Design I6 |
| 2 | AE 460—Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab |
| 3 | AE 483—Aerospace Computing Systems
|
| 3 | Technical elective7 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | AE 443—Aerospace Systems Design II6 |
| 2 | AE 461—Structures & Control Lab |
| 9 | Technical electives7
|
| 3 | Free elective |
| 17 | Total |
1. Entering freshmen are expected to enroll 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 departmental Web site for topics offered. This optional course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
2. 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.
3 . Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
4. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is a liberal education elective.
5. STAT 400—Statistics and Probability I may be substituted.
6. Sequence satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
7. Technical elective credits totaling twelve hours, selected from the departmentally approved list of Technical Electives , satisfying these distribution requirements: (i) six hours of AE Technical Electives; (ii) six hours of AE Technical Electives or Non-AE Technical Electives.