An Aerospace Engineering student who chooses to take specific electives will be awarded with a specialization that will appear on their transcript and diploma. They may also note the accomplishment on their resume/CV, and employers may contact the department for verification, if requested.
Note:
- Specializations are optional and students are only eligible for one specialization. (Students on a pre-FA23 academic plan will be automatically updated to the FA23 academic plan when they request to switch to a new AE major with specialization.)
- In order to declare a specialization, please submit a request through the Major and Minor tool. (Search under Aerospace Engineering, followed by the name of the specialization.)
Due to the fact that some specialization courses may be only offered one time a year, students are HIGHLY encouraged to begin planning for their specialization as least 2 years before graduation in order to complete all needed courses.
IMPORTANT: If students cannot complete the requirements within four years or three years for transfer students, they must return to the major without a specialization.
Students Admitted Directly into an AE Major w/Specialization
Students will follow either the freshman 4-year AE plan or the transfer 3-year AE plan and will take 4 out of their required 5 technical electives (TEs) from the list of approved specialization courses below.
As for the 5th and final TE, students have the choice to take another course from the list of approved specialization courses or choose a TE from the general list of approved TEs here.
Note: The schedule of TEs varies from year to year. Students are recommended to check the course offerings webpage at the beginning of each academic year to see which TEs will be offered and then plan accordingly.
Astrodynamics and Space Applications (MC36) - The specialization in astrodynamics and space applications is designed for students who are interested in the fundamentals of astronautical engineering and its applications to space flight, mission analysis, navigation, and human space exploration.
Students must complete all of the aerospace engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must include MAE 180, Orbital Mechanics, and three courses selected from the list below:
- MAE 108. Probability and Statistical Methods for Mechanical Engineering
- MAE 114. Space Propulsion
- MAE 181. Space Mission Analysis and Design
- MAE 182. Spacecraft Guidance and Navigation
- MAE 184. Flight Simulation Techniques
- MAE 240. Space Flight Mechanics
Aerothermodynamics (MC37) - The specialization in aerothermodynamics is designed for students who are interested in the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and heat transfer, including compressibility effects, and their applications to the design of propulsion and aerodynamic components and systems.
Students must complete all of the aerospace engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must include MAE 101C, Heat Transfer, and three courses selected from the list below:
- MAE 101D. Intermediate Heat Transfer
- MAE 110. Thermodynamic Systems
- MAE 114. Space Propulsion
- MAE 184. Flight Simulation Techniques
- MAE 185. Computational Fluid Dynamics
- MAE 201. Mechanics of Fluids
- MAE 202. Thermal Processes
- MAE 212. Introductory Compressible Flow
Flight Dynamics and Controls (MC35) - The specialization in flight dynamics and controls is designed for students who want to understand the fundamentals of flight mechanics and controls, including optimization, and their applications to the design of flight simulation systems and autonomous aerial vehicles.
Students must complete all of the aerospace engineering requirements described above and four of the five technical electives must include MAE 184, Flight Simulation Techniques, and three courses selected from the list below:
- MAE 108. Probability and Statistical Methods for Mechanical Engineering
- MAE 130. Advanced Vibrations
- MAE 144. Embedded Control and Robotics
- MAE 145. Introduction to Robotic Planning and Estimation
- MAE 146. Introduction to Machine Learning Algorithms with Python
- MAE 148. Introduction to Autonomous Vehicles
- MAE 200. Controls