AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Head of the Department: M. B. Bragg

Correspondence and Admission Information: Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, 306 Talbot Laboratory, 104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-2651; Fax: (217) 244-0720; E-mail: aae@uiuc.edu

URL: www.aae.uiuc.edu

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMs

The Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy. Study and research are planned to prepare graduates for fundamental and applied work in airplane, missile, and space flight engineering. Typical areas of concentration are aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, composite materials, structures, structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, stochastic dynamics, combustion and propulsion, chemical lasers, optimal orbit analysis, guidance and control, space mechanics, and solar and wind energy.

ADMISSION

Typically, the prerequisite for graduate study is the equivalent of the undergraduate curriculum required for a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering; however, graduates of curricula leading to degrees in other fields of engineering, the physical sciences, or mathematics may also be admitted to advanced study. Admission requirements of the Graduate College and the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering apply.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Candidates for the degree of master of science are required to complete a minimum of eight units of credit: seven units of coursework and one unit of thesis credit. At least three units must be in 400-level cou rses and two of these three units must be in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Only one of the seven units can be a special project class. All M.S. students must complete a core requirement by taking one introductory course from two of the following core areas: (1) Aerodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Combustion, and Propulsion (AFMCP); (2) Astrodynamics, Control, and Dynamical Systems (ACDS); and (3) Structural Mechanics and Materials (SMM). M.S. students also have a mathematics requirement of a minimum of one unit from an approved list (see AAE Guide to Graduate Studies). For M.S. students thesis and nonthesis programs are available. If a student starts in the M.S. thesis program, a petition is required to change to the

AGRICULTURAL AND CONSUMER ECONOMICS
nonthesis option. Students supported by research assistantships to perform research will generally not be approved for a nonthesis M.S. degree. Those not writing a thesis are require d to complete a minimum of nine units of credit. At least four units must be in 400-level courses and three of those four units must be in aeronautical and astronautical engineering.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Admission to the doctoral program is based upon coursework, the qualifying examination, and an assessment of the candidate's ability to conduct independent research. Although there is no specific GPA requirement to continue from M.S. to Ph.D., as a guide, the candidate will be expected to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA (A = 4.0) in courses taken in the M.S. program. All students desiring to enter the doctoral program are eligible to take the aeronautical and astronautical engineering qualifying examination during the term they earn their seventh unit of graduate credit, excluding thesis research. The exam is given twice a year. Students who enter with the master's degree typically take the qualifying examination during the first semester following their admission to the program.

Because of the wide range of interests in the field of aeronautical and astronautical engineering, there are no specific course requirements (except a mathematics requirement) for the program of study leading to the degree of doctor of philosophy. Each student plans a program in consultation with a departmental adviser. Courses offered by departments other than the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering may be included in the area of study when these courses are of particular value to the work that students desire to emphasize. The program of study must meet with the approval of the departmental adviser. Minimum requirements for the traditional Ph.D. degree consist of eight units of course credit beyond the master's degree, successful completion of the preliminary examination, and a satisfactory thesis developed from eight units of thesis research, and passing both the preliminary exam and final defense. Of the total course units, beyond the master of science course require ment, no more than two units can be special project classes. Of the total Ph.D. coursework requirements, at least six units must be at the 400 level, and four of these six units must be in aeronautical and astronautical engineering.

In addition to the traditional Ph.D., a "Direct" Ph.D. is available. This program allows a student with a bachelor's degree to go directly into the Ph.D. program without writing a M.S. thesis. For the Direct Ph.D., a B.S. student submits a graduate application. Students currently in the M.S. program may petition the AAE Graduate Policy Committee for entry into the Direct Ph.D. program before the end of the second semester after enrollment. The Direct Ph.D. requires a total of 24 units of credit, of which 14 units must be coursework. Of these coursework units, six units must at the 400 level, four of which must be AAE. Other requirements include two units of mathematics with one unit at the 400 level, one core course from each of two core areas (AF MCP, ACDS, SMM), and a maximum of two units of independent study. The qualifying examination must be taken by the third offering after enrollment, and the preliminary examination may be taken after the qualifying examination is passed.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid for graduate students is available in the form of fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and tuition waivers. A block grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration supports a multidisciplinary research and training program. Qualified candidates are considered for financial support upon application. In addition, graduate students making satisfactory progress toward their degrees may be considered for financial support.