What Types of Degrees are Available in Aerospace Engineering?

<h3 id="section---DegreeProgramsInAerospaceEngineering">Degree Programs in Aerospace Engineering</h3> <p>Degrees in aerospace engineering are offered at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. The following sections cover the specifics of each degree. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutAerospaceEngineeringEducation">Important Facts About Aerospace Engineering Education</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Online Availability</td><td>Full coursework online for master's; some coursework online for bachelor's</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification</td><td>Optional Professional Engineer (PE) certification may increase employment opportunities</td></tr> <tr><td>Continuing Education</td><td>Required by many states to maintain certification</td></tr> <tr><td>Key Skills</td><td>Math, analytical, problem-solving, critical-thinking</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---BachelorSDegree">Bachelor's Degree</h3> <p>Individuals can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering. The first couple years of the B.S. program typically include coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics and general engineering principles, while advanced coursework in the junior and senior years covers aerodynamics, propulsion, control systems, space systems and flight mechanics. Courses that students take include a laboratory component to teach them how to design, evaluate and test different systems and theories. Some schools require students to complete an internship or a co-op to gain hands-on experience before they graduate. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterSDegree">Master's Degree</h3> <p>Students can also earn a Master of Science or a Master of Engineering degree in aerospace engineering. An M.S. degree focuses on research, typically requiring students to complete a thesis or another research project, while an M.Eng. program focuses more on the practical applications of aerospace engineering. Sometimes, programs offer specialization options, including materials mechanics, thermal-fluid science, astronautics, robotics, nanoengineering and biomechanics. Program coursework is usually determined by students and advisors to fit students' particular interests within the field. </p> <h3 id="section---DoctoralDegree">Doctoral Degree</h3> <p>Some universities offer Ph.D. programs in aerospace engineering, which can prepare students for careers in teaching and research. Students must complete an original dissertation based on their research interests. To prepare, they take coursework related to their area of interest, which could be in propulsion, aerodynamic systems or aerospace structures, among other topics. </p> <h3 id="section---CareerInformation">Career Information</h3> <p>With a bachelor's degree, individuals can seek entry-level employment with government agencies, aerospace manufacturing industries. A master's degree can prepare individuals for jobs in research, design and development, or it could help them advance in their current careers. With a doctoral degree, one can lead research teams and may also teach at the university level. </p> <p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment opportunities in aerospace engineering should increase by an as-fast-as-average rate of 6% between 2021 and 2031, resulting in approximately 3,700 additional jobs. Engineers who have skills in robotics, modeling, simulation and/or computational fluid dynamics software may stand out in the job market, and those who specialize in propulsion or engines will also be in demand. Also reported by the BLS, the median annual salary of aerospace engineers was $122,270 as of 2021.</p>