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 Engineering or Master of Science
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers
both the Master of Engineering and the Master of Science 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 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, 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 36 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), and seven elective courses (21 credit hours) in engineering, mathematics, and/or science relating to the student's interest areas. 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:
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Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics and Propulsion: AE 5313 Fluid Dynamics, AE 5342 Gas Dynamics, AE 5326 Air-Breathing Propulsion
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Solid Mechanics and Structures: AE 5330 Finite Element Methods, AE 5340 Structural Aspects of Design, AE 5331 Structural Dynamics
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Flight Mechanics and Controls: AE 5302 Advanced Flight Mechanics
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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:
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AE 5351 Analytical Methods in Engineering
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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 can be tailored to satisfy the individual student's
aspirations in choice of the area of specialization, while at the
same time providing a broad range of knowledge in the major technical
areas comprising the field of aerospace engineering. The program
will generally require two to three years of full-time study beyond
the Master's degree and will include a scholarly dissertation that
provides an original contribution to the literature in aerospace
engineering.
All entering the Ph.D. program are required to take, at the first
opportunity, the Ph.D. Diagnostic Exam: this is offered once per
year on the first Saturday in October. 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.
The grade of R (research in progress) is a permanent grade; completing
course requirements in a later semester cannot change it. To receive
credit for an R-graded course, the student must continue to enroll
in the course until a passing grade is received.
An incomplete grade (the grade of X) cannot be given in a course
that is graded R, nor can the grade of R be given in a course that
is graded X. To receive credit for a course in which the student
earned an X, the student must complete the course requirements.
Enrolling again in the course in which an X was earned cannot change
a grade of X. At the discretion of the instructor, a final grade
can be assigned through a change of grade form.
Three-hour thesis courses and three- and six-hour dissertation
courses are graded R/F/W only (except social work thesis courses).
The grade of P (required for degree completion for students enrolled
in thesis or dissertation programs) can be earned only in six- or
nine-hour thesis courses and nine-hour dissertation courses. In
the course listings below, R-graded courses are designated either
"Graded P/F/R" or "Graded R." Occasionally,
the valid grades for a course change. Students should consult the
appropriate Graduate Advisor or instructor for valid grade information
for particular courses. (See also the sections titled "R"
Grade, Credit for Research, Internship, Thesis or Dissertation Courses
and Incomplete Grade in the Graduate Catalog.)
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