Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering Degrees

A requirement for anyone who wishes to work on the science and design of aircraft is an aerospace engineering degree. There are two most important areas of aerospace engineering, which are called astronautical and aeronautical. Astronautical is focused on aircraft outside of the earth’s atmosphere, and aeronautical focuses on aircraft close to earth. The choice of a specialization between the two is generally based on the personal interest of the student. You should keep in mind that the employment opportunities for an aeronautical engineer are less limited than for an astronautical engineer.

There are four main requirements in order to obtain an aerospace engineering degree: the student should complete the course work, pay tuition, meet the admissions requirements, and select a school. The astronautical program is available in a very limited number of institutions, while the aerospace degree is offered at a wide range of universities. These schools are tending to be placed near government space laboratories or programs.

When the student is selecting an engineering school, they should look at the depth and breadth of courses which are available. The first year of engineering degree programs are generally based on common courses laid across all the engineering disciplines. The second and third years is when the specialization occurs. The wider the course offering, the larger amount of resources is available to support the engineering program.

The student should search for a school which offers a doctoral and graduate program in aerospace engineering. These schools are goilg have a higher caliber of professors, because they have enough senior level courses to support research activities. You should review the brochures with care, since it’s a specialized field.

The Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements for an aerospace engineering degree are including high school courses in technology, English, geometry, algebra and calculus. A large amount of students has a pronounced interest in flight and could have participated in science fairs or other competitions. If a student adds these achievements to their application, it shows a dedication to the subject and strong interest.

Tutoring for engineering programs is generally more expensive than a Bachelor of Arts. The expectation is, as a professional program, that the student is going to obtain a well-paid position directly upon graduation. The standards and tuition are much higher, as a result.

The coursework for an aerospace engineering degree is very broad. There are advance courses in material sciences, design, flight, physics, and math. If the student wants to be successful in this area, they will need excellent study and organization skills. The most common reason for failure in this type of program is a lack of self-discipline and poor time management. The student should do the hard work and focus on the goal necessary to achieve it.

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

The Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering prepares the graduating student for a broad range of engineering positions in government or industry and provides a wide exposure to engineering fundamentals. The program at the same time is an excellent preparation for graduate school in a ladge number of disciplines.

Mission-Oriented Vehicles

The engineering of mission-oriented vehicles for space and atmospheric flight is the program’s primary focus. The student, additionally to the general education requirements, will study design, structures, electrical fundamentals, propulsion, space systems, controls, computer applications, materials, instrumentation, orbital mechanics, and aerodynamics.

Capstone Design Project

Students can choose to integrate their knowledge in either a spacecraft or aircraft capstone design project. Design projects in a large number of courses will refine and develop the students’ ability to work in a team environment, communicate both verbally and in writing, and integrate their knowledge. A large amount of hands-on experiences is going to expose the student to practical engineering to balance the theoretical analysis required to understand spacecraft and aircraft systems.

Program Goals for Aerospace Engineering Degree Program in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Specific objectives for the Aerospace Engineering Degree Program include:

• Graduates are going to be able to demonstrate depth in studied discipline in astronautics, propulsion, aeronautics, or structures and have deep knowledge in experimental, computational, and theoretical methods.
• Graduates are going to be able to demonstrate the ability to design a system and assimilate topics from multiple sources.
• Graduate are going to be able to demonstrate an understanding and philosophy which promotes engineering practice founded in global awareness, environmental, social and ethics responsibility, and technical integrity.
• Graduate will demonstrate skills in engineering fundamentals, science, and math.