Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2009-2010 
    
Undergraduate Record 2009-2010 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Aerospace Engineering


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Aerospace engineering is concerned with the science and technology underlying the behavior and design of vehicles and systems that operate within the atmosphere and in space. It requires knowledge of a wide range of subject areas, including the basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences as well as specialized studies in aerodynamics, propulsion systems, structures, materials, flight dynamics, astronautics, planetary atmospheres, and computational methods. This broad background qualifies the graduating engineer not only to handle problems that are special to the aerospace field, but also to meet challenges of an interdisciplinary nature facing society, such as those involving the environment, transportation, and energy resources.

With the changing climate in industry and educational units, increasing pressure is being placed on academic institutions to prepare students properly for the future workplace. Students need different experiences than they did ten years ago in order to be competitive in the changing industrial atmosphere. Rapidly expanding, global industries no longer have the resources for extensive “on the job” training. As indicated by discussions with recruiters and industry leaders, graduating students are now expected to have some practical and/or unique experience that they will be able to apply in an industry in the near term. These experiences may come from either laboratory work at the University, from a co-operative education (co-op) program or from summer jobs or internships with industry.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering implemented a co-op program in 1996 that is currently placing students with 40 industries. This program builds self-confidence and helps define career goals. The co-op experience often helps students obtain senior thesis topics through industrial projects, eases transition to the industrial world, and enhances the student’s marketability. Salaries for co-op students are typically two-thirds of those for B.S. level engineers. It takes four and one-half years to complete the co-op program, including one extended stay (summer plus semester) in industry, with one or more summers possible. Requirements include third year academic standing and a grade point average of at least 2.000. Participation is optional and non-credit; details can be obtained from the school or department.

Program Objectives


Graduates of the Aerospace Engineering program at the University of Virginia have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that allow them to make tangible contributions, meet new technical challenges, contribute effectively as team members, and be innovators in the analysis and design of aerospace vehicle systems.  They communicate effectively and interact responsibly with colleagues, clients, employers and society.

 

Minor


A minor in aerospace engineering is comprised of five courses and requires MAE 2010 and two courses from List A and two courses from List B. List A: MAE 2100, 2300, 2310, 2320, and 3210. List B: 3010, 3220, 3310, 3420, 3610, 3730, 3820, 4120, and 4130.

Aerospace Engineering Curriculum (128 credits)


Second Semester Credits: 17


  • Science elective I Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 3 below)
  • HSS elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)

Third Semester Credits: 16


  • HSS elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)

Fourth Semester Credits: 16


  • STS - 2xxx/3xxx elective Credits: 3

Fifth Semester Credits: 18


  • Unrestrictive elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 1 below)

Sixth Semester Credits: 16


  • Technical elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 2 below)
  • Unrestrictive elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 1 below)

 

Seventh Semester Credits: 15


  • HSS elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 4 below)

Eighth Semester Credits: 15


  • Technical elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 2 below)
  • Technical elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 2 below)
  • Unrestrictive elective Credits: 3
    (See Footnote 1 below)

Footnotes


(1) Unrestricted electives may be chosen from any graded course in the University except mathematics courses below MATH 1310 and courses that substantially duplicate any others offered for the degree, including PHYS 2010, 2020; CS 1010, 1020; or any introductory programming course. Students in doubt as to what is acceptable to satisfy a degree requirement should get the approval of their advisor and the dean’s office, located in A122 Thornton Hall. APMA 1090 counts as a three-credit unrestricted elective.

(2) Chosen from the MAE Department’s approved Technical Electives List except for MAE courses required for the AE degree.

(3) Chosen from: BIOL 2010, 2020; CHEM 1620; ECE 2066; PHYS 2620; and MSE 2090.

(4)  Chosen from the approved list available in A122 Thornton Hall.

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