Aerospace Engineering, B.S.A.E.

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Program Mission

The mission of the Aerospace Engineering program is to provide an excellent educational experience for its students, with an emphasis on preparing graduates for professional practice in engineering and/or graduate school.

Educational Objectives

The Aerospace Engineering program seeks to prepare its students for productive, rewarding careers in the engineering profession. During their careers our alumni

will become successful practicing engineers in a wide range of aerospace engineering fields and will advance professionally by accepting responsibilities and, potentially, pursuing leadership roles;
will advance their knowledge of engineering, both formally and informally, by engaging in lifelong learning experiences; and
will, as contributing members of multidisciplinary engineering teams, successfully apply the fundamentals of engineering analysis and engineering design to the formulation and solution of emerging technical problems.

The engineering design experience is distributed over the entire engineering curriculum. The curricular sequence ensures that there is one-half year of credits devoted to design content, which begins in the first-year course in Engineering and Design and continues through the senior year’s Capstone Design Sequence. The majority of the design work is incorporated into the junior and senior years to ensure that the students have taken sufficient preparatory engineering science courses.

Basic concepts of physics, chemistry, and mathematics, create the foundation on which all engineering education is built. Basic tools of engineering practice, such as graphic communication, computer-aided drafting/design, and computer programming, including applications and simulation, are also required knowledge. The basic engineering sciences, such as statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, flight mechanics, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electrical circuits, aerospace structures, and gas dynamics, complete the introductory phase of the program.

Extensive laboratory experience enhances the theoretical course work. There are several required laboratory courses in the sciences and engineering. Written and oral communication of laboratory results is required.

Oral presentation by the students is introduced in the first year and continues through to the capstone design course, as well as in several other required advanced and elective courses.

Through participation in the University Interdisciplinary Studies (UIS) Curriculum and in additional elective courses in the humanities and/or social sciences, students are given the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and to take part in the larger learning community of the University. It is imperative that engineers understand and appreciate the special role that technology plays in our society and the interactions between and among the various components of our society.