Navigating the Skies: A Comprehensive Guide to the Aeronautical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum
The field of aerospace engineering is concerned with the design, production, operation, and support of aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers conduct research to solve problems and improve processes for the aerospace industry. The aerospace engineer is concerned with the design, production, operation, and support of aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers conduct research to solve problems and improve processes for the aerospace industry. Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the design, development, testing, and production of aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems and equipment. The field has traditionally focused on problems related to atmospheric and space flight, with two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Aerospace engineers develop leading-edge technologies and integrate them into aerospace vehicle systems used for transportation, communications, exploration, and defense applications. This involves the design and manufacturing of aircraft, spacecraft, propulsion systems, satellites, and missiles, as well as the design and testing of aircraft and aerospace products, components, and subassemblies.
This article provides an in-depth exploration of the aeronautical engineering undergraduate curriculum, offering insights into its structure, core components, and the opportunities it presents.
A Historical Perspective
The Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) has a rich history of graduating exceptional mechanical and aerospace engineers. The Mechanical Engineering program, one of the founding departments of the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2009. The Aeronautical Engineering program, starting as an aeronautical option within mechanical engineering, was founded in 1946. It later evolved into the Aerospace Engineering program, which merged with Engineering Science and Mechanics in 1969. In 2002, all these programs united (or reunited). Today, MAE remains a vibrant and intellectually diverse program at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Curriculum Overview
The undergraduate curriculum in Aerospace Engineering is a fully accredited baccalaureate program that provides a broad education with a strong foundation in mathematics, science, and basic engineering sciences. Advanced courses in aeronautics and astronautics complete the degree. The undergraduate curriculum provides a broad education with a strong foundation in mathematics, science and basic engineering sciences. Pass assessment in two courses of individual assignments targeted to each learning outcome.
Core Focus
The Bachelor of Science (BS) program in Aerospace Engineering emphasizes the design of aerospace vehicles and components. This is accomplished in a four-year academic program. As a graduate of the aeronautical engineering program, you'll have the knowledge, theory and skills needed to succeed in the field.
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Foundational Years
The first year of the program consists of basic sciences, mathematics, and communication courses. These courses form the key foundation for the rest of the program. Also, you will take an Introduction to Aerospace Engineering course that will give you an overview of the BS program. In the second year, students continue with basic mathematics and science, along with engineering science courses. The engineering science courses apply the principles you have mastered in the basic sciences and mathematics to the solution of engineering problems.
Specialization Years
In the third year, students learn the unique nature of aerospace problems. These courses cover the major subdivisions of Aerospace Engineering - fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and flight dynamics. You will also have courses in complementary topics including computer graphics and instrumentation. The curriculum includes traditional courses in aerodynamics, flight dynamics and control, propulsion, structures, manufacturing, instrumentation, and spacecraft systems. These listings include the prerequisites, current textbooks, course topics, and faculty coordinator. Students should check in the AE Department Office to find out which courses are available for each semester.
The fourth year offers the opportunity to see how all the individual specialized technologies are used to design a vehicle. Inyour fourth year, you have the opportunity to see how all the individual specialized technologies are used to design a vehicle.
Technical Electives
The purpose of the Technical Elective courses is to allow the student to select advanced courses in one or more areas that are of special interest. Each student must take at least six hours of Technical Electives of which a minimum of three hours must be Aerospace Engineering courses. The satisfaction of this requirement can be accomplished by several methods as listed below.
If a student wants to take a course not listed in Approved Technical Electives, the student needs the approval of their advisor and must document this by filing a Course Substitution Petition with the Department secretary, signed by their advisor. This form will be filed in the student’s academic folder.
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Integrated Programs
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) actively participates in the combination BS/MS degree program that allows students to double-count graduate courses toward both degrees. The combination-degree program reduces the cost for both degrees and enhances the student’s marketability for career advancement.
A dual major in Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering is available to students who follow a prescribed program that can be completed in eight semesters. This major emphasizes the analysis, design, and operation of aircraft and spacecraft. Students learn the theories and practices in the fundamental subjects of aeronautics, astronautics, aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, aerospace materials and structures, dynamics and automatic control, aircraft stability and control and/or orbital and attitude dynamics and control, air-breathing and rocket propulsion, aircraft systems design and /or spacecraft systems design. All of these place significant weight on the development and use of teamwork and communications skills for effective problem-solving.
Curriculum Structure Example
Below is an example of a four-year curriculum structure.
First Year
- Fall Semester (17 credits):
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
- ENGR 1100 - Introduction to Engineering Analysis Credit Hours: 4
- ENGR 1200 - Engineering Graphics and CAD Credit Hours: 1
- MATH 1010 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
- PHYS 1100 - Physics I Credit Hours: 4
- Spring Semester (Credits Vary):
- Courses and credit hours vary.
Second Year
- Fall Semester (16 credits):
- SoE 2…. Engineering Design Elective
- ENGR 1300 - Engineering Processes Credit Hours: 1
- ENGR 2530 - Strength of Materials Credit Hours: 4
- MANE 2710 - Thermodynamics Credit Hours: 3
- MATH 2400 - Introduction to Differential Equations Credit Hours: 4
- Spring Semester (17 credits):
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
- ENGR 2600 - Modeling and Analysis of Uncertainty Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 2110 - Numerical Methods and Programming for Engineers Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 2720 - Fluid Mechanics Credit Hours: 3
- MATH 2010 - Multivariable Calculus and Matrix Algebra Credit Hours: 4
Third Year
- Fall or Spring Semester (16 credits):
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
- STSS 4100 Professional Development II Credit Hours: 2
- MANE 4500 - Modeling and Control of Dynamic Systems Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 4900 - Aeroelasticity and Structural Vibrations Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 4910 - Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Credit Hours: 2
- MANE 4920 - Aerospace Structures and Control Laboratory Credit Hours: 2
Fourth Year
- Fall Semester (16 credits):
- MANE 4…. Computation Elective Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 4…. Flight Mechanics Elective Credit Hours: 4
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
- MANE 4080 - Propulsion Systems Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 4510 - Control Systems Laboratory Credit Hours: 2
- Spring Semester (15 credits):
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
- HASS Core Elective Credit Hours: 4
- MANE 4…. Capstone Design Elective Credit Hours: 3
- MANE 4…. Aerospace Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3
- ENGR 4010 - Professional Development: Leadership Competencies Credit Hours: 1
Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) Electives
The HASS Core for engineering students is based on institute and School of Engineering requirements. Students must be certain that they understand these graduation requirements. Beyond meeting these requirements, MANE students are encouraged (but not required) to: Choose at least one HASS course that further develops their ability to make informed judgements that consider the impacts of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and/or societal contexts; and take HASS courses that will improve their communication skills beyond the one required HASS communication-intensive course. Students desiring minors in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences must consult the school or department in which the courses are offered to obtain further information and specific requirements.
Academic Standing
An Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering student whose cumulative, upper-division or department grade point average falls below a 2.0 or whose critical-tracking grades do not meet department requirements will be placed on academic probation and required to complete a probation contract with an MAE academic advisor. Students normally are allowed a maximum of two terms (consecutive or non-consecutive) on academic probation. Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses.
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Overlap with Mechanical Engineering
There is great overlap between the aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering curriculum. The first six semesters of the two degree programs are identical. Through proper selection of electives, students can earn dual mechanical engineering/aerospace engineering BS degrees with one semester of additional work.
Research Opportunities
The department's active research programs are sponsored by private industry, the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, NASA, National Institutes of Health and other agencies. Our graduate programs provide outstanding research opportunities across a broad spectrum of topics, and encompass both computational and experimental research approaches.
Career Prospects
Aerospace engineers work primarily in the aerospace industry, at systems and software suppliers, corporate labs, government labs, and universities. Their skill set is extremely broad and multidisciplinary, and the experience of aerospace engineers as systems architects and engineers allows them to make contributions in many diverse sectors.
Design Tracks
During the junior year, the student elects to pursue one of two design tracks, atmospheric flight or space flight. Both tracks are complemented by general education courses and courses offered in other engineering disciplines. In addition, the student may choose electives that increase the breadth of the program or that provide additional depth within one or more subdisciplines within the department.
Also called aeronautics, this track provides the student with a well-rounded program of study emphasizing the major disciplines of aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, design, performance, flight mechanics, and control of aircraft. These subjects are treated at a fundamental level that lays a foundation for work in a broad variety of specialties in the aircraft industry.
Also called astronautics, this track offers a well-rounded program of study that provides a background in the traditional areas of materials, structures, propulsion, and controls, while also giving the student a chance to learn about the space environment, attitude determination and control, orbital mechanics, mission design, and spacecraft systems engineering. These subjects are treated at a fundamental level that lays a foundation for work in a broad variety of specialties in space-related industries.
Flight Mechanics/Capstone Track
- Aeronautical Engineering students should start planning for their Flight Mechanics/Capstone track prior to the Arch summer.
- Space Flight Track. Plan to take MANE 4100 Spaceflight Mechanics during junior year fall or spring semester (in place of the free elective). Plan to take MANE 4250 space Vehicle design senior year fall semester, though a limited number of seats will be available in the spring semester of senior year. Spaceflight Mechanics is not a prerequisite for Space Vehicle Design but it is strongly recommended.
- Fixed-wing track. Plan to take MANE 4090 Flight Mechanics junior or senior year fall semester. Plan to take MANE 4230 Air Vehicle Design senior year spring semester. Flight Mechanics is a prerequisite for Air Vehicle design, though in select cases this may be waived with the instructor’s permission.
- Rotocraft track. In the junior or senior year plan to take either MANE 4120 Helicopter Aerodynamics and Performance in fall of an even-year or MANE 4130 Multirotor Aerial Vehicles in fall of an odd year. (interested students may choose to take both, applying the second to the Aerospace Technical elective and/or free Elective credits.) Plan to take MANE 4210 VTOL Aircraft Design senior year spring semester. One of either Helicopter Aerodynamics and Performance or Multirotor Aerial Vehicles must be taken as a prerequisite to VTOL Aircraft Design, though in select cases this may be waived with the instructor’s permission.
Key Disciplines
- Aerodynamics and Propulsion: This subdiscipline involves fluid motion, propulsion, lift and drag on wings and other bodies, high-speed heating effects, and wind tunnel investigation of these problems.
- Structural Mechanics: This subdiscipline includes the study of airplane, spacecraft, and missile structures, the materials that make them efficient, and methods for testing, analysis, and design of new structural systems.
- Flight Mechanics and Orbital Mechanics: Flight mechanics involves the analysis of the motion of aircraft, missiles, rockets, reentry vehicles, and spacecraft that are subjected to gravitational, propulsive, and aerodynamic forces; the study of uncontrolled motion of satellites and coasting spacecraft is usually referred to as orbital mechanics.
- Control Theory: Control theory is applied in aerospace engineering to the development of automatic flight control systems for aircraft (autopilots and stability augmentation systems), attitude control systems for satellites, and guidance and control systems for missiles, rockets, reentry vehicles, and spacecraft.
Experiential Learning
From flight testing to building functioning prototypes of RC airplanes, quadcopters and more, experiential learning is a huge part of the aeronautical engineering program. The department offers students the opportunity to participate in special projects such as student-built radio-controlled aircraft competitions and student satellite-building projects. These time-intensive projects are open to all aerospace engineering students with at least 15 semester hours of University credit toward the degree and a grade point average of at least 2.50. Academic credit for participation in departmentally approved student projects is available on the pass/fail basis through the course Aerospace Engineering 128.
Program Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Aerospace and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. 30, 2024).
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