What it’s about:
As an aeronautical/ aerospace engineering major, you study the design and development of high- speed transportation vehicles such as aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, launch vehicles, deep space probes, dirigibles, hang gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and space habitats. In addition, you examine the physics of the flow of air, water, and plasma around these vehicles.
What the study of this major is like:
For all engineers, the academics program usually consists of two years of science and engineering basics, followed by two years of speciality courses. In the aeronautical/aerospace engineering major, most of your general education electives and required course (such as English, history, and social science) are taught in the lecture format, but some of the science courses also have labs. You will probably be required to take four semesters of calculus, two semesters of physics, one semester of differential educations, and courses in computer programming and in numerical methods.
Most likely, your engineering studies will begin with an overview course, often containing team projects and report. You then take statics/dynamics, thermodynamics, electrical science, and exams, and sometimes project reports. Advanced general engineering courses, such as computer programming, graphics, strength of materials, and controls, are also taught as lectures, but they often have lab sessions in which you work with a team on experimental or computer projects and on fourth-year capstone course featuring team experimental or vehicle design projects.
You can probably specialize in either aeronautics (aircraft) or astronautics (spacecraft) at the undergraduate level. Although most programs cover both areas, usually with less emphasis on space, some colleges, such as propulsion, flight mechanics, avionics, and they often contain open-ended design projects (including reports) that you can do on your own or with a team. Technical and experimental electives – such as GAD, FEM as (finite element methods), courses from other engineering department, and aerospace-specific courses such as space mission design and robotics lab – have varied formats featuring lectures, lab experiment, or design work.
As an aeronautical/aerospace engineering major, you need to sharpen your ability to visualize in three dimensions, in order to understand complex physical systems. The required work, as you would expect, is harder than in high school. New college students are not always good at budgeting their time, or at studying on their own; developing these skills in high school will give you a leg up. You must also learn how to work with a team. The demands of this major (including project reports and computer projects) leave little time for extracurricular activities. But if you have the time, you can usually join a technical society or a design/build/fly team. Tech societies often organize trips to aerospace companies or professional conferences.
There are four types of aeronautical/aerospace engineering programs approved by the Accreditation Board For Engineering and technology (ABET): aeronautical engineering programs with a brief introduction to space; space programs with a short introduction to aeronautical engineering aeronautics and astronautics programs that cover the two areas more or less equally; and aerospace options in fields such as mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics. Accredited programs regularly undergo standardized outside review. On the other hand, some of the best programs in the united states do not seek accreditation. Programs may also differ in their emphasis. Some colleges stress open-ended problems (design) rather than questions with specific answers (analysis).some programs may include more hands-on experiences, and others, more computer simulation. Even standard aeronautical/aerospace engineering programs may sometimes set a particular emphasis, such as on intelligent systems, information technology, or space telecommunications.
Career options and trends:
Design engineer*; project engineer*; fighter pilot; flight test engineer; research engineer.
Majors usually enter the aerospace industry, which loosely includes the prime aerospace contractors and their chief supplier, the propulsion industry, academia, NASA the Federal Aviation Administration, department of Defense research and development (R&D) other government agencies, and the airlines (to be a pilot, you need rigorous training and licensing). Careers fall into the following areas: R&D manufacturing maintenance, marketing/planning, and computer applications technology. Engineers generally work in groups devoted to specific discipline, such as systems engineering, structures, aerodynamics, controls, and human factors.
The aeronautical/aerospace engineering industry tends to be cyclical but is projected to grow over the next decade or so: continued defense spending and the need to replace much if the commercial fleet with “next-generation” aircraft are creating job opportunities for graduates. The aerospace industry is distributed across the country, from the West Coast (Seattle, Los Angeles) to the Midwest (St. Louis and Forth Worth) and the south (Atlanta). Workplaces are normally in or near large cities and cultural centers.
Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors
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