What Classes Will I Need to Take to Become an Aerospace Engineer?

<p>Aerospace engineering involves the designing and testing of aerospace, aeronautical, and aviation vehicles and systems. Therefore, becoming an aerospace engineer requires different coursework than other kinds of engineers, such as <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Civil_Engineering_5_Steps_to_Becoming_a_Civil_Engineer.html">civil engineer</a> or a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Robotics_Engineering_Become_a_Robotics_Engineer_in_5_Steps.html">robotics engineer</a>. </p> <p>Entry-level aerospace engineers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in the field and students in these undergraduate programs are usually required to complete coursework in calculus, basic engineering, programming, and science. In addition to these required courses, students often take aerospace coursework in areas like: </p> <ul><li>Aerospace materials </li><li>Flight dynamics </li><li>Space mechanics </li><li>Aerospace structures </li><li>Aircraft design </li><li>Aerodynamics </li><li>Propulsion </li><li>Spacecraft design </li><li>Compressible flow </li><li>Feedback control systems </li></ul><p>These course topics help equip aspiring aerospace engineers with the technical, mathematical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills necessary to design, evaluate, and test missiles, aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites. Concepts and theories, such as principles of physics in aerodynamics and flight dynamics, taught in these courses help these engineers ensure that these products can fly and operate safely and effectively. At the bachelor's level, students can usually pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Aerospace Engineering or a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (BAE). </p> <h3 id="section---GraduateCourses">Graduate Courses</h3> <p>Although aerospace engineers may only need a bachelor's degree, master's degrees are also common in the field and are usually offered as Master of Aerospace Engineering (MAE) or Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (MSAE) degrees. These programs may allow students to further specialize in a concentration area within the field, which may also determine what coursework students take. In general, students studying aerospace engineering at the master's level may take advanced courses in areas similar to those found in a bachelor's program, as well as courses in areas like: </p> <ul><li>Combustion </li><li>Optimal aerospace systems </li><li>Control systems </li><li>Fluid dynamics </li><li>Theory </li><li>Introduction to robotics </li><li>Advanced gas dynamics </li><li>Dynamical systems theory </li></ul><p>These courses may provide advanced training in aerospace engineering that would allow graduates to teach at the postsecondary level and/or pursue a career in research and development. Aerospace engineers with advanced education and/or experience may also be able to move into more managerial positions overseeing teams of engineers. </p> <p>Students may also choose to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aerospace Engineering. These programs often give students more freedom with coursework and allow for further specialization through coursework and research. Some common classes and topics of study at the Ph.D. level include rocket propulsion, experimental thermo-fluid sciences, and dynamics of control. Those with a Ph.D. may also teach at the postsecondary level and/or participate in research in the field. </p> <h3 id="section---OtherAerospaceEngineeringDegreeRequirements">Other Aerospace Engineering Degree Requirements</h3> <p>At the bachelor's level, students may be able to choose a specialization track or technical area to take electives in, such as propulsion, space flight, or atmospheric flight. Bachelor's degree programs also typically require students to complete hands-on training through laboratory coursework and may offer special opportunities, like project laboratories and competitions. </p> <p>Graduate-level degree programs in aerospace engineering typically have additional research requirements. Master's students can commonly choose from a thesis or non-thesis track and usually select a concentration area from subjects like structure and materials, aerodynamics and propulsion, or dynamics and control. Students still participate in laboratory coursework for hands-on learning. </p> <p>Doctoral programs in aerospace engineering typically require students to complete qualifying and preliminary exams and a dissertation. Students may be able to further focus their studies in areas of concentration and/or in additional areas of research, such as aeroacoustics, smart materials, space mission design, and rocket propulsion. </p> <h3 id="section---AerospaceEngineeringColleges">Aerospace Engineering Colleges</h3> <p>There are many institutions throughout the country that offer undergraduate and/or graduate degree programs in aerospace engineering. These institutions include both private and public schools. Explore some of the top aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical undergraduate engineering colleges for 2020, according to <i>U.S. News and World Report</i>. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th>School Name</th><th>School Type</th><th>Location</th></tr> <tr><td>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</td><td>4-year, Private not-for-profit</td><td>Cambridge, MA</td></tr> <tr><td>Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University</td><td>4-year, Private not-for-profit</td><td>Daytona Beach, FL</td></tr> <tr><td>Purdue Global-Main Campus</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>West Lafayette, IN</td></tr> <tr><td>Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Atlanta, GA</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Texas at Austin</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Austin, TX</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Champaign, IL</td></tr> <tr><td>Stanford University</td><td>4-year, Private not-for-profit</td><td>Stanford, CA</td></tr> <tr><td>California Institute of Technology</td><td>4-year, Private not-for-profit</td><td>Pasadena, CA</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)</i></p>