Mar 28, 2024  
2009-2011 Graduate Catalog 
    
2009-2011 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Aerospace Engineering M.S.A.E.


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The objectives of the M.S.A.E. degree are to provide a quality graduate educational program that will complement the existing undergraduate and graduate curricula in mechanical engineering. The aerospace graduate program will improve and enhance the capabilities of those students seeking careers in the aerospace field and supporting engineering work for the aerospace and aviation technology community. The majority of students seeking the M.S.A.E. degree will have undergraduate degrees in the fields of mechanical or aerospace engineering, or closely related fields of engineering, applied physics, or applied mathematics; some will already have graduate degrees in the more conventional areas of engineering or the sciences. Those individuals with engineering (as well as physical science) interests will use the M.S.A.E. to develop careers as well as improve their skills in the aerospace and aviation industry. Students enrolling in the program on a full-time basis will likely assist engineering faculty in obtaining sponsored project funding and performing innovative aerospace and aviation engineering research.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate College, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related discipline. Students with non-engineering backgrounds will be required to complete a set of course work requirements that will assure successful completion of the M.S. specialization and qualify the student to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. The Graduate Program Committee (GPC) will decide upon special cases.

The Integrated BS-MS degree program is designed to provide high-achieving MEG undergraduate students with the opportunity to be exposed to graduate courses and to encourage them to continue with graduate degree by reducing the time needed for degree completion. Up to nine credit hours of approved graduate-level course work can be taken as technical electives for the grade of B or better during the senior year and those credit hours will be waived for the graduate degree. The following conditions are needed to enroll in the Integrated BS-MS program:

  1. A minimum of two semesters of full-time enrollment in B.S. of Mechanical Engineering program is required.
  2. Applications are normally submitted with two semesters remaining in the senior year.
  3. A minimum of 90 credit hours of course work applicable to the B.S. of Mechanical Engineering degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher must be completed before beginning the joint degree program.
  4. Student has to choose the thesis option.

Degree Requirements


 

Procedures and requirements for the M.S.A.E. will be prescribed by the Graduate College under Academic Policies, with additional provisions as follows:

  1. At least 15 credits must be from 700-level courses, and at least 15 credits must be from engineering courses.
  2. Students may choose, subject to approval by the student’s graduate committee, one of the two options listed below.
    Thesis Option: Requires 24 credits of approved graduate courses plus six credits of work associated with the master’s level thesis, for a total of 30 credits. The final examination will include a defense of thesis.
    Non-Thesis Option: Requires 33 credits of approved graduate courses. At least 18 credits must be earned from 700-level courses, of which 15 must be in engineering. To complete the Non-Thesis option, students must also successfully complete the Design Project course (ME 796 - Design Project in Mechanical Engineering ) or pass a comprehensive written and oral exit exam before receiving their degree.
  3. Satisfactory progress is defined as filing an approved program before the completion of nine credits of course work, completion of at least six credits of the approved program per calendar year, maintenance of a GPA of 3.00 (4.00 scale), no grades below C, (C- is not acceptable) and compliance with the letter and spirit of the Graduate Catalog and published policies of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation and will have one semester to raise it to 3.00 or above.
  4. Only those courses in which a student received a grade of C or better may be used for graduate credit. Students must comply with Graduate College policy.
  5. Each student’s program should show suitable breadth and coherence. As specified in the Graduate Catalog, the program of study will be developed by the student and advisor and filed with the Graduate College. Prior to filing, the program  just receive approval by the student’s committee. An approved program must be filed before the completion of nine credits of course work after admission (regular or provisional). The responsibility rests with the student. Students will be dropped from the graduate engineering program if they neglect this requirement.

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