Degree Requirements

All Graduate Degrees

All entering students must be proficient in mathematics, engineering analysis, and computer programming. Students not meeting these requirements may be admitted on a probationary basis and given a plan of remedial undergraduate coursework. No graduate credit will be granted for these courses. Normally, all master's and doctoral candidates in aerospace engineering shall enroll in the Graduate Seminar (AE 5101) a minimum of three times (see course description). Repeat enrollments shall require an oral presentation of thesis/dissertation results. All candidates are required to select a Supervising Professor and obtain an approved program of work in the second full semester or after 12 hours are completed.

Master of Science or Master of Engineering

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers both the Master of Science and the Master of Engineering degrees in Aerospace Engineering.

The Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering is a research-oriented program in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. A minimum of 30 cThe Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering is a research-oriented program in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. A minimum of 33 credit hours is required as follows: two core courses (one course from either core areas one or two and one course from another of the four core areas listed below, six credit hours), two math or engineering analysis courses (six credit hours), four courses (twelve credit hours) related to a specialty in aerospace engineering, six credit hours of thesis, and three credit hours of Seminar (AE 5101). The student must enroll in AE 5398 or AE 6297 every semester in which the student is actively involved in thesis preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in AE 5698 in the semester of graduation. redit hours is required as follows: two core courses (one course from either core areas one or two and one course from another of the four core areas listed below, six credit hours), two math or engineering analysis courses (six credit hours), four courses (twelve credit hours) related to a specialty in aerospace engineering, and six credit hours of thesis. The student must enroll in AE 5398 or AE 6297 every semester in which the student is actively involved in thesis preparation or research, except that the student must enroll in AE 5698 in the semester of graduation.

The Master of Engineering Degree in Aerospace Engineering is an engineering practice-oriented program. A minimum of 37 credit hours is required as follows: three core courses (one course each from core areas one and two and a third course from either areas three or four, nine credit hours), two math/engineering analysis courses (six credit hours), seven elective courses (21 credit hours) in engineering, mathematics, and/or science relating to the student's interest areas, and one credit hour of Seminar (AE 5101). The elective courses may include as many as six hours of special project courses (AE 5391).

Both Master's degree plans require completion of an aerospace engineering core, consisting of courses from the following four areas:

• Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics and Propulsion: AE 5313 Fluid Dynamics, AE 5342 Gas Dynamics, AE 5326 Air-Breathing Propulsion

• Solid Mechanics and Structures: AE 5330 Finite Element Methods, AE 5340 Structural Aspects of Design, AE 5331 Structural Dynamics

• Flight Mechanics and Controls: AE 5302 Advanced Flight Mechanics

• Flight Vehicle Design: AE 5368

In addition to the core courses, a minimum of three credit hours of graduate seminar are also required for the M.S. degree program, and a minimum of one semester hour of graduate seminar for the M.Engr. degree program.

Both Master's degree plans also require completion of six credits in a minor area. In most cases, the minor is satisfied by completing the following two courses:

• AE 5351 Analytical Methods in Engineering

• AE 5352 Engineering Analysis

For students with exceptional mathematics background, the minor may be composed of two courses selected by the student and Supervising Professor that are deemed supportive of the student's area of concentration and meet approval of the Graduate Advisor.

The balance of the required coursework hours may be chosen by the Supervising Professor to meet the student's needs and interests. Normally these additional elective courses should be selected from the offerings of the Program in Aerospace Engineering or the Program in Mechanical Engineering. Courses taken outside the two programs require approval of the student's Supervising Professor as well as the Graduate Advisor.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 24 hours of graduate-level course work beyond the MS degree, and will include a scholarly dissertation that provides an original contribution to the literature in aerospace engineering. The Ph.D. degree course requirement can be tailored to satisfy the individual student’s aspirations in choice of the area of specialization. However, to meet the educational goals of a broad-based technical background in aerospace engineering, it is expected that each student will take sufficient course work to obtain in-depth knowledge in at least two areas of aerospace engineering. Students whose background is in a field other than aerospace engineering must satisfy the MS core requirements. There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D.

Final course requirements are determined by the student's supervising committee. In addition, a student must pass three examinations before being awarded the Ph.D. degree: the Diagnostic Exam, the Comprehensive Exam, and the Final Exam (or Dissertation Examination).

All students entering the Ph.D. program are required to take the Ph.D. Diagnostic Exam: The diagnostic evaluation report must be filed in the Graduate School by the student's Graduate Advisor during the student's first year of doctoral program work but no later than the completion of the first 18 semester hours of coursework beyond appropriate master's level coursework, or the equivalent. This exam is offered twice per year, during the week preceding the start of classes for the fall and spring semesters. Possible outcomes of this evaluation are: 1) continuation in the doctoral program, 2) approval to continue with certain specified remedial work, 3) failure with approval to retake, 4) termination in the program.

Students are eligible to take the comprehensive examination after satisfying all requirements stipulated by the Diagnostic Exam Committee and giving evidence to their doctoral committee of adequate academic achievement by having completed all or most coursework requirements. The comprehensive examination is used to determine if the student has the necessary background and specialization required for the dissertation research and if the student can organize and conduct the research. An applicant must pass this examination to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.