PROFESSOR DENNIS K. McLAUGHLIN, Head, Department of Aerospace Engineering

This major field of study is designed primarily for students who are interested in the analysis, design, and operation of aircraft and space vehicles. Depending upon the technical course selections made in the senior year, a student may emphasize aeronautics or astronautics, and specific technical areas within these fields, including aerodynamics, structural mechanics, flight mechanics, propulsion, and controls. Course work throughout the curriculum includes material that leads up to the senior design courses in the student's choice of either aircraft or spacecraft design.

If E MCH 012(3), CMPSC 201C GQ(3) or 201F GQ(3), MATH 220 GQ(2), 230(4), and 251(4) or equivalent need to be completed by the start of the junior year, or it is doubtful that graduation requirements can be met in the following two years; i.e., more than four years will be required to complete the program. Otherwise, the first two years of study are similar to those of other engineering majors and provide the student with a basic education for the engineering profession.

Six of the 9 credits of technical courses taken in the senior year must be aerospace engineering courses; however, the requirement may be waived for students with special interests.

For the B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, a minimum of 137 credits is required.

Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem:1-2)

GENERAL EDUCATION: 46 credits
(21 of these 46 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin. Note: The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) does not permit the use of skills courses to satisfy the Arts category of General Education.)

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 113 credits
(This includes 21 credits of General Education courses: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GS courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (90 credits)
CHEM 012 GN(3), ED&G 100(3), MATH 140 GQ(4), 141 GQ(4), PHYS 201 GN(4) (Sem: 1-2)
E MCH 011(3)[1], 012(3)[1], 013(3)[1], M E 030(3), MATH 220 GQ(2), 230(4), 251(4), PHYS 202 GN(4), 204 GN(4) (Sem: 3-4)
AERSP 301(3), 302(3), 304(3), 306(3)[1], 309(3)[1], 311(4), 312(4), 313(3)[1], E E 305(3), E MCH 215(2), 216(1) (Sem: 5-6)
AERSP 405W(2), 406W(2), 410(3), ENGL 202C GWS(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (13 credits)
ECON 002 GS(3), 004 GS(3), or 014 GS(3) (Sem: 1-2)
CMPSC 201C GQ(3) or 201F GQ(3) (Sem: 7-8)
AERSP 401A(2), 401B(2); or AERSP 402A(2), 402B(2) (Sem: 7-8)
AERSP 413 or 450(3) (Sem: 7-8)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (9 credits)[27]
Select 9 credits of technical courses from department list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.) (Sem: 7-8)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
[27] These courses may have to be chosen so that the engineering design or engineering science requirements for the major are met.

The Pennsylvania State University ©1998

The University reserves the right to change the requirements and regulations listed here and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met its requirements for admission or graduation, and to reject any applicant for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant's qualifications to pursue higher education. Nothing in this material should be considered a guarantee that completion of a program and graduation from the University will result in employment.

Last Revised by the Department: Summer Session 1996

Blue Sheet Item #: 24-06-035

Review Date: 6/3/99 (General Education Update)