Aerospace Engineering

The faculty in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offer graduate programs leading to the MS, MSE, and PhD degrees in Aerospace Engineering. A number of areas of study may be pursued, including aerodynamics, design, dynamics and control, propulsion, space systems, and structures. The faculty also offer graduate degree programs in Mechanical Engineering. All of the department’s graduate programs stress a sound foundation leading to a specialized area of study.

The application deadline for admission in the fall semester is December 1. Applications received after that date and before July 1 are considered for admission in the spring semester.

Graduate Record Examination.. All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination; the subject test in Engineering is highly recommended but not required.

See Master’s Degrees, for general requirements.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers an integrated, five-year BSE-MS degree. The program is designed for students with strong academic backgrounds who are motivated to pursue independent research. Students have the opportunity to work in a laboratory/research environment and engage in theoretical and/or experimental work with faculty and doctoral student mentors. Undergraduates, majoring in mechanical or aerospace engineering, who have completed a minimum of two semesters of full-time enrollment in MAE and have completed at least 90 semester hours of applicable course work are eligible for the program. Applicants must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. Students normally submit applications following the completion of their junior year. For more information, contact the department’s Graduate Advising Office.

See Master of Science in Engineering, for information on the Master of Science in Engineering degree.

The faculty also participate in the Arizona Master of Engineering partnership. See Master of Engineering.

The PhD degree is conferred upon evidence of excellence in research leading to a scholarly dissertation that is an original contribution to knowledge in the field of aerospace engineering. See Doctor of Philosophy, for general requirements.

Program of Study. The program of study must be established no later than the first semester after successfully completing the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Criteria. The purposes of the qualifying criteria are to assess if the student is prepared to continue in the doctoral program and to detect deficiencies in the student’s background that can be corrected by appropriate course work and individual study. Within the first year of graduate studies at ASU, a graduate student pursuing a PhD program of study in Aerospace Engineering must complete three 500-level core courses, preferably in the major area of interest, and one 500-level mathematics course, both with an average GPA of 3.25 or higher. Specific qualifying course requirements for each major area are available from the department.

Foreign Language Requirements. None.

Comprehensive Examinations. Written and oral comprehensive examinations are required. The examinations are administered by the program committee.

Dissertation Requirements. A dissertation based on original work demonstrating creativity in research and scholarly proficiency in the subject area is required.

Final Examination. A final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is required.

Research in Aerospace Engineering is aimed at advancing the design and performance of aircraft, helicopters, and space systems. Specific topics being investigated include aeroacoustics; aeroelasticity; airbreathing and space propulsion; aircraft crashworthiness; flow control; composite structures; flight dynamics, guidance, and controls; fracture mechanics and fatigue; high-speed aerodynamics; hydrodynamic stability; multidisciplinary optimization; satellite design; smart structures; structural dynamics and vibrations; and unsteady aerodynamics. State-of-the-art laboratory and computational facilities are available to assist in the development of research skills. For more information access the department Web site at fulton.asu.edu/mae.