BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Junior Year in Aerospace Engineering
In the junior year the focus is on discipline-specific depth. This is consistent with making a choice to create more depth in your education on the space side or the aircraft side. In reality, the two options aren't that much different. The difference is primarily based in the idea of using examples of technology in the classroom based on aircraft in the Aeronautics Option and spacecraft in the Astronautics Option.
Aeronautics or Astronautics?
There are some differences however, for instance in the Aeronautics side of Aerospace Engineering students take more Aerodynamics, Stability and Control of Aircraft, and the Turbine-Based Propulsion courses. On the Astronautics side of Aerospace Engineering students take Spacecraft Attitude and Control, and Space Systems. Both are rewarding options enabling students to learn more about their passion, whether based in flight in the atmosphere or flight in space.
Aerodynamics, Structures, and Thermal Sciences
By now students entering the junior year have mastered the mathematics and physics and have depth in engineering science. The junior year is where students provide depth within their discipline. The Aerodynamics and Structures series provide depth in these two fields. Students are also introduced to the thermal sciences during the junior year.
Hands-on Experience
In addition, multiple hands-on laboratories are introduced in the junior year. Students are asked to not only study theory and design but also experimental methods. The new Aerospace Experimentation and Fabrication Building (AXFAB) is designed specifically to enhance the laboratory experience for Aerospace Engineering students.
Coops and Internships
Often the junior year is when students start thinking about jobs, or more correctly, this is when they should start thinking about jobs. One of the best ways to ensure employment upon graduation is to pursue a coop experience or internship with one of the many aerospace companies with which we have partnerships. Students spend a semester or summer getting paid by what might end up being their future employer. It's a great way to get to know the industry and have a company get to know a student.
Below we list the junior year for students pursuing the Astronautics option as well as those pursuing the Aeronautics option.
Junior Year (Aeronautics Option)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AE 301 | Aerodynamics I | 3 |
| AE 302 | Aerodynamics II | 3 |
| AE 304 | Aircraft Structures I | 3 |
| AE 314 | Experimental Aerodynamics | 1 |
| AE 315 | Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| AE 404 | Aircraft Structures II | 3 |
| AE 413 | Airplane Stability and Control | 3 |
| EC/STG | Lower-Level Economics | 3 |
| ES 305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ES 320 | Engineering Materials Science | 2 |
| ES 321 | Engineering Materials Science Laboratory | 1 |
| EE 335 | Electrical Engineering I | 2 |
| EE 336 | Electrical Engineering I Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 105 | General Chemistry | 4 |
| Total Credits | 33 |
Junior Year (Astronautics Option)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AE301 | Aerodynamics I | 3 |
| AE304 | Aircraft Structures I | 3 |
| AE313 | Space Mechanics | 3 |
| AE325 | Experimental Space Systems Eng. | 1 |
| AE326 | Experimental Space Systems Eng. Laboratory | 1 |
| EC/STG | Lower-Level Economics | 3 |
| EP394 | Space Systems Engineering | 3 |
| ES305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ES320 | Engineering Materials Science | 2 |
| ES321 | Engineering Materials Science Laboratory | 1 |
| EE 335 | Electrical Engineering I | 2 |
| EE 336 | Electrical Engineering I Laboratory | 1 |
| MA441 | Advanced Engineering Mathematics I | 3 |
| PS105 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Total Credits | 33 |
