Aerospace Engineering

Graduate Degree Programs

The Department of Aerospace 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 aerospace 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 Aerospace 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 aerospace engineering. Only 4 of the 28 hours 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 4 graduate hours from an approved list (see AE 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 aerospace 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 aerospace 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 aerospace 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 Aerospace 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 aerospace 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 AE 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 AE. 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.