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Head of the Department: M. B. Bragg
306 Talbot Laboratory
104 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2651
Fax: (217) 244-0720
E-mail: 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 32 graduate hours of credit: 28 hours of coursework and
4 hours of thesis credit. At least 12 graduate hours must be in 500-level
courses and 8 of these 12 hours 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 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 required to complete a minimum of 36 graduate
hours of credit. At least 16 graduate hours must be in 500-level courses
and 12 of those 16 graduate hours 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 28th hour 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 32 graduate
hours of course credit beyond the master’s degree, successful
completion of the preliminary examination, and a satisfactory thesis
developed from 32 graduate hours of thesis research, and passing both
the preliminary exam and final defense. Of the total course units,
beyond the master of science course requirement, no more than 8 graduate
hours can be special project classes. Of the total Ph.D. coursework
requirements, at least 24 graduate hours must be at the 500 level,
and 16 of these 24 graduate hours 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 96 graduate hours of credit, of which 56 graduate hours
must be coursework. Of these coursework units, 24 graduate hours must
at the 500 level, 16 of which must be AAE. Other requirements include
8 graduate hours of mathematics with four hours at the 500 level,
one core course from each of two core areas (AFMCP, ACDS, SMM), and
a maximum of 8 graduate hours 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.
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