Aerospace Engineering, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major 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. Technical and free electives allows the student to pursue an individualized program of study.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Aerospace Engineering
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours.
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.0
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by AE 443 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Orientation and Professional Development
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AE 100 | Intro to Aerospace Engineering | 2 |
| ENG 100 | Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar (External transfer students take ENG 300.) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| MATH 221 | Calculus I (MATH 220 may be substituted. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. 4 of 5 credit hours count towards degree.) | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | 3 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
Aerospace Engineering Technical Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AE 140 | Aerospace Computer-Aided Design | 2 |
| 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 |
| or AE 434 | Rocket Propulsion | |
| AE 442 | Aerospace Systems Design I | 3 |
| AE 443 | Aerospace Systems Design II | 3 |
| AE 460 | Aerodynamics & Propulsion Lab | 2 |
| AE 461 | Structures & Control Lab | 2 |
| AE 483 | Autonomous Systems Lab | 2 |
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci (CS 124 may be taken instead of CS 101.) | 3 |
| ECE 205 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| ME 200 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MSE 280 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| TAM 210 | Introduction to Statics | 2 |
| TAM 212 | Introductory Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 58 | |
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select from the departmentally approved list of Technical Electives. Student will choose 6 hours of AE Technical Electives and 6 hours of either additional AE Technical Electives or Non-AE Technical Electives. | 12 | |
| AE Technical Electives listed below | ||
| AE 402 | Orbital Mechanics | 3 or 4 |
| AE 403 | Spacecraft Attitude Control | 3 or 4 |
| AE 410 | Computational Aerodynamics | 3 or 4 |
| AE 412 | Viscous Flow & Heat Transfer | 4 |
| AE 416 | Applied Aerodynamics | 3 or 4 |
| AE 419 | Aircraft Flight Mechanics | 3 or 4 |
| AE 420 | Finite Element Analysis | 3 or 4 |
| AE 428 | Mechanics of Composites | 3 |
| AE 435 | Electric Space Propulsion | 3 or 4 |
| AE 451 | Aeroelasticity | 3 or 4 |
| AE 454 | Systems Dynamics & Control | 3 or 4 |
| AE 456 | Global Nav Satellite Systems | 4 |
| AE 468 | Optical Remote Sensing | 3 |
| AE 482 | Introduction to Robotics | 4 |
| AE 484 | UAV Performance, Design, and Fabrication | 3 |
| AE 485 | Spacecraft Environment and Interactions | 3 or 4 |
| AE 497 | Independent Study | 1 to 4 |
| AE 498 | Special Topics | 1 to 4 |
| ENG 491 | Interdisciplinary Design Proj (CU1 & CU2) | 1 to 4 |
| Non-AE Technical Electives below | ||
| ASTR 404 | Stellar Astrophysics | 3 |
| ASTR 405 | Planetary Systems | 3 |
| ASTR 406 | Galaxies and the Universe | 3 |
| ASTR 414 | Astronomical Techniques | 4 |
| ATMS 301 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ATMS 302 | Atmospheric Dynamics I | 3 |
| ATMS 303 | Synoptic-Dynamic Wea Analysis | 4 |
| ATMS 304 | Radiative Transfer-Remote Sens | 3 |
| ATMS 305 | Computing and Data Analysis | 3 |
| ATMS 306 | Cloud Physics | 3 |
| ATMS 313 | Synoptic Weather Forecasting | 4 |
| ATMS 406 | Tropical Meteorology | 4 |
| ATMS 410 | Radar Remote Sensing | 4 |
| CEE 310 | Transportation Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 330 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 360 | Structural Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 380 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 407 | Airport Design | 3 or 4 |
| CEE 412 | High-Speed Rail Engineering | 3 or 4 |
| CEE 451 | Environmental Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| CEE 471 | Structural Mechanics | 3 or 4 |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 3 or 4 |
| CHEM 233 | Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 236 | Fundamental Organic Chem I | 4 |
| CS 225 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 420 | Parallel Progrmg: Sci & Engrg | 3 or 4 |
| CS 461 | Computer Security I | 4 |
| CS 465 | User Interface Design | 4 |
| CSE 412 | Numerical Thermo-Fluid Mechs | 2 to 4 |
| ECE 210 | Analog Signal Processing | 4 |
| ECE 220 | Computer Systems & Programming | 4 |
| ECE 310 | Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE 311 | Digital Signal Processing Lab | 1 |
| ECE 329 | Fields and Waves I | 3 |
| ECE 330 | Power Ckts & Electromechanics | 3 |
| ECE 342 | Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| ECE 343 | Electronic Circuits Laboratory | 1 |
| ECE 385 | Digital Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| ECE 473 | Fund of Engrg Acoustics | 3 or 4 |
| ECE 486 | Control Systems | 4 |
| ENG 491 | Interdisciplinary Design Proj (Sections SAE and HYP) | 1 to 4 |
| MSE 401 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 440 | Mechanical Behavior of Metals | 3 |
| MSE 443 | Design of Engineering Alloys | 3 |
| MSE 498 | Special Topics (Section CM3) | 1 to 4 |
| SE 310 | Design of Structures and Mechanisms | 3 |
| SE 420 | Digital Control Systems | 4 |
| SE 423 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| IE 310 | Deterministic Models in Optimization | 3 |
| MATH 347 | Fundamental Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 402 | Non Euclidean Geometry | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 413 | Intro to Combinatorics | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 416 | Abstract Linear Algebra | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 442 | Intro Partial Diff Equations | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 446 | Applied Complex Variables | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 461 | Probability Theory | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 482 | Linear Programming | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 484 | Nonlinear Programming | 3 or 4 |
| MATH 489 | Dynamics & Differential Eqns | 3 or 4 |
| ME 320 | Heat Transfer | 4 |
| ME 360 | Signal Processing | 3.5 |
| ME 370 | Mechanical Design I | 3 |
| ME 400 | Energy Conversion Systems | 3 or 4 |
| ME 401 | Refrigeration and Cryogenics | 3 or 4 |
| ME 498 | Special Topics | 1 to 4 |
| MSE 450 | Polymer Science & Engineering | 3 or 4 |
| MSE 453 | Plastics Engineering | 3 |
| MSE 457 | Polymer Chemistry | 3 or 4 |
| NPRE 201 | Energy Systems | 2 or 3 |
| NPRE 402 | Nuclear Power Engineering | 3 or 4 |
| NPRE 470 | Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Sources | 3 |
| NPRE 475 | Wind Power Systems | 3 or 4 |
| NPRE 498 | Special Topics (Energy Storage and Conveyance) | 1 to 4 |
| PHYS 325 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 326 | Classical Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 435 | Electromagnetic Fields I | 3 |
| PHYS 485 | Atomic Phys & Quantum Theory | 3 |
| PHYS 486 | Quantum Physics I | 4 |
| STAT 428 | Statistical Computing | 3 or 4 |
| STAT 448 | Advanced Data Analysis | 4 |
| TAM 324 | Behavior of Materials | 4 |
| TAM 451 | Intermediate Solid Mechanics | 4 |
| TAM 456 | Experimental Stress Analysis | 3 |
| TAM 470 | Computational Mechanics | 3 or 4 |
| TE 401 | Developing Breakthrough Projects | 1 to 4 |
| TMGT 461 | Tech, Eng, & Mgt Final Project | 4 |
Free Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional course work,subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives,so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. | 10 | |
| Total Hours of Curriculum to Graduate | 128 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Aerospace Engineering
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence. The curriculum sequence can also be viewed via dynamic and static curricular maps, which include prerequisite sequencing.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements.
Free Electives: Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| AE 100 | 2 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 1 | MATH 225 | 2 |
| MATH 221 (MATH 220 may be substituted) | 4 | PHYS 211 | 4 |
| CHEM 102 | 3 | CS 101 | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | 1 | General Education (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course) or Composition I course | 3-4 |
| AE 140 | 2 | ||
| Composition I or General Education (Choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science) course | 4-3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 241 | 4 | MATH 285 | 3 |
| PHYS 212 | 4 | ME 200 | 3 |
| TAM 210 | 2 | AE 202 | 3 |
| MSE 280 | 3 | TAM 212 | 3 |
| General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 | General Education courses (choose Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science courses with Cultural Studies designation) | 6 |
| 16 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| AE 311 | 3 | AE 312 | 3 |
| AE 321 | 3 | AE 323 | 3 |
| AE 352 | 3 | AE 353 | 3 |
| ECE 205 | 3 | AE 370 | 3 |
| General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 | Language Other Than English (3rd level) course | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| AE 442 (442 + 443 fulfills Advanced Composition requirement) | 3 | AE 443 (442 + 443 fulfills Advanced Composition requirement) | 3 |
| AE 433 | 3 | AE 461 | 2 |
| AE 460 | 2 | Technical elective courses | 9 |
| AE 483 | 2 | Free elective course | 1 |
| Technical elective course | 3 | ||
| Free elective course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 128 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Aerospace Engineering
Student learning outcomes are based on learning outcomes in line with the ABET accreditation process.
Aerospace Engineering graduates will have:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Aerospace Engineering