The Aerospace Engineering Minor provides students with a strong foundation in the analysis and design of systems operating in high-speed and extreme environments. The program focuses on aerodynamics, propulsion, and structural response under aerospace-relevant conditions, integrating core mechanical engineering principles with applications in air and space systems.

Students gain expertise in fields such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, composite mechanics, and structural analysis, developing the skills necessary to model, test, and design advanced aerospace components. Through specialized coursework and hands-on experience, students prepare for careers and graduate studies in aerospace systems and structures.

The program requires 18 credits, consisting of several aerospace-related course options, allowing students to tailor the minor to their specific interests.

Eligibility
The Aerospace Engineering Minor builds on topics such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and structural mechanics, making it particularly well-suited for students majoring in Mechanical Engineering. However, students from other engineering or closely related disciplines may also pursue the minor, provided they meet the prerequisites for the minor’s courses.

Required Courses (6-9 credits) Students must complete at least two of the following aerospace courses.
MCE 457 – Aerodynamics (3 credits)
MCE 458 – Aeroelasticity (3 credits)
MCE 569 – Shockwaves & Structures (3 credits)

Aerospace Elective Courses (3-12 credits) Students must complete at least one of the following aerospace courses.
MCE 437 – Turbomachinery Design (3 credits)
MCE 440 – Mechanics of Composite Materials (3 credits)
MCE 474 – Space Nuclear Propulsion and Power (3 credits)
MCE 539 – Chemical Rocket Propulsion (3 credits)

General Elective Courses (0-9 credits) Students can choose from the following electives to complete the 18-credit requirement. These courses provide additional depth in different areas relevant to aerospace engineering.

Structural Mechanics Electives
MCE 426 – Advanced Mechanics of Materials (3 credits)
MCE 466 – Introduction to Finite Element Method (3 credits)

Fluids/Thermo Electives
MCE 455 – Advanced Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
MCE 471 – Nuclear Reactor Engineering (3 credits)
OCE 518 – Computational Hydrodynamics (3 credits)

System Dynamics Electives
MCE 431 – Control Systems (3 credits)
MCE 464 – Vibrations (3 credits)

Robotics Electives
MCE 433 – Mechatronics (3 credits)
MCE456 – Foundations of Robotics (3 credits)

Conditional Elective The following courses may count toward the Aerospace Engineering minor as electives if the project or research topic is focused on aerospace applications and demonstrates a direct connection to the physical principles covered in the minor’s required and core courses.
MCE 491 or 492 – Special Problems (up to 3 credits)

In the event that a non-Mechanical Engineering major pursues this minor, the student may substitute their department’s equivalent design or independent study courses, provided the project meets the same aerospace-focused criteria and has written support from the course instructor.