Undergraduate PeNn STATe Engineering
M aj o r i n
For more information, contact:
Professor George Lesieutre
Head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
229 Hammond Building
University Park, PA 16802-1401
Tel: 814-865-2569
E-mail: g-lesieutre@psu.edu
Web: www.aero.psu.edu
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The goal of the aerospace engineering major is
to prepare students for the design, analysis, and
testing of aerospace vehicles including satel-
lites, space stations, and launch vehicles, as well
as propeller-driven and jet-powered airplanes,
helicopters, and even gliders. Students take
courses in aerodynamics, propulsion, structures,
and controls as applied to aircraft and spacecraft.
They also have a liberal choice of technical elec-
tives to expand their knowledge in these areas, as
well as in more specialized aerospace subjects,
such as V/STOL aerodynamics, flight testing,
space propulsion, composites, and numerical
methods. In the senior year, students may select
either the aircraft or spacecraft design option and
the appropriate controls course to accompany it.
The aerospace engineering major leads to the
bachelor of science degree. All engineering
students take courses in mathematics, physics,
chemistry, solid mechanics, and general engi-
neering. The curriculum is broadened by courses
in communication skills, arts, humanities, social
sciences, and other engineering disciplines. Stu-
dents who qualify can participate in the Schreyer
Honors College and graduate with honors in
aerospace engineering.
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
The College of Engineering’s Cooperative Educa-
tion program is available in this major. Beginning
with the junior year, co-op students alternate
semesters of work and study (using the summer
sessions preceding the junior and senior years) to
Aerospace Engineering
A erospace engineers develop leading-edge technology and
integrate it into high-performance aircraft and spacecraft
systems. They design, analyze, and flight-test aeronautical and
astronautical vehicles and their components, including airplanes,
helicopters, launch vehicles, missiles, satellites, and other space-
craft, as well as gas turbine and rocket propulsion systems.
Graduates find employment in a wide range of manufacturing,
service, and software companies, governmental organizations,
and research laboratories. With solid grounding in aerodynam-
ics, propulsion, structures, controls, and information technol-
ogy, aerospace engineering graduates also have the broad, mul-
tidisciplinary understanding needed to play important roles as
architects and integrators of increasingly sophisticated vehicle
systems.
accrue a year’s work experience. Typically, co-op not required in the aerospace industry, it may be
delays graduation by at least one semester to earn necessary for certain consulting positions and is
a bachelor of science degree, with a Certificate a desirable credential for any engineer. Students
in Engineering Cooperative Education. For more may begin the certification process by taking the
information about the Aerospace Engineering Fundamentals of Engineering examination during
Cooperative Education Program, contact: their senior year.
PROFESSOR DENNIS MCLAUGHLIN With the rapidly evolving technology in com-
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY mercial and defense aviation, the development of
229 HAMMOND BUILDING commercial exploitation of space, and NASA’s
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA 16802-1401 continued space exploration, the future of
E-Mail: dkm2@psu.edu aeronautics and astronautics promises to be as
exciting as its history. Aerospace engineering
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
will continue to offer rewarding careers with
Aerospace graduates typically work in indus-
opportunities for advancement and original con-
tries involved in aircraft or spacecraft design
tribution to the sciences and to human welfare
and manufacturing, as well as those in engine
and progress.
manufacturing, power generation, and others
concerned with various applications of fluid flow. DEPARTMENT STATISTICS
Many join various government laboratories deal- The Department of Aerospace Engineering
ing with aeronautics and astronautics or work in consists of 15 faculty, about 250 undergraduate
consulting firms that support these and industrial students, and 110 graduate students. Degrees
activities. Most work involves analysis, testing, offered include B.S., M.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D.
development, or research in support of design.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Some graduates may go into more specialized
To be eligible for entrance into the aerospace
work such as management, sales, consulting, or
engineering major, a student must have com-
teaching.
pleted, with a grade of C or better, the following
A bachelor’s degree is adequate for most entry- requirements: CHEM 110, MATH 140, MATH 141,
level positions. A master’s degree is helpful in and PHYS 211.
obtaining more responsible positions, or for
entering research activities. A doctoral degree
is often necessary for more advanced work in
Aerospace Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation
research and is generally required for teaching
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market
at the college and university level. While the Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410-347-7700;
Professional Engineer (P.E.) license is generally www.abet.org.
 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
First Semester CR
(a) CHEM 110 Chemical Principles 3
(b) ENGL 015 Rhetoric and Composition 3
First-Year Seminar 1
(a) MATH 140 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 4
(a) PHYS 211 General Physics: Mechanics 4
Total 15
Third Semester CR
(c) AHS 3
CMPSC 201 Computer Programming for Engineers Using C++ 3
(d) E MCH 210 Statics and Strength of Materials 5
MATH 220 Matrices 2
MATH 230 Calculus and Vector Analysis 4
Total 17
Fifth Semester CR
(e) AERSP 301 Aerospace Structures I 3
(e) AERSP 309 Astronautics 3
(e) AERSP 311 Aerodynamics I 3
(e) AERSP 313 Aerospace Analysis 3
ENGL 202C Technical Writing 3
(g) Health and Physical Activity 1.5
Total 16.5
Seventh Semester CR
AERSP 401A or 402A Vehicle System Design I 3
AERSP 410 Aerospace Propulsion 3
AERSP 413 or 450 Flight Vehicle Dynamics 3
(h) AERSP Technical Elective 3
(h) AERSP Technical Elective 3
PHYS 214 General Physics: Wave Motion and Quantum Physics 2
Total 17
(a) Course requires a grade of C or better for entrance to any College of Engineering major.
(b) ENGL 015 and ECON 002, 004, or 014 may be taken either the first or second semester.
(c) An elective course to satisfy requirements in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.
(d) 132 credits include 3 credits of E MCH 211 and 3 credits of E MCH 213 instead of E MCH
210 for 5 credits available at University Park. Therefore the official total is 131 credits as
shown for the University Park start plan.
(e) Course requires a grade of C or better for graduation.
(f) ME 201 preferred, if available.
(g) Students may substitute up to 3 credits of ROTC for health and physical activity credits.
(h) Students may substitute up to 3 credits of ROTC or up to 6 credits of co-op courses for
technical elective credits.
Second Semester CR
(c) AHS 3
(b) ECON 002 Microeconomic Analysis and Policy or
ECON 004 Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy or
ECON 014 Principles of Economics (Social Science) 3
EDSGN 100 Introduction to Engineering Design 3
(a) MATH 141 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 4
PHYS 212 General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism 4
Total 17
Fourth Semester CR
CAS 100A/B Effective Speech 3
(e) E MCH 212 Dynamics 3
E MCH 315 Mechanical Response of Engineering Materials 2
E MCH 316 Experimental Determination of Mechanical Response
of Materials 1
(f) M E 201 Introduction to Thermal Science 3
MATH 250 Ordinary Differential Equations 3
Total 15
Sixth Semester CR
AERSP 304 Dynamics and Control of Aerospace Systems 3
AERSP 305W Aerospace Technology Laboratory 3
(e) AERSP 306 Aeronautics 3
AERSP 312 Aerodynamics II 3
(c) AHS 3
(g) Health and Physical Activity 1.5
Total 16.5
Eighth Semester CR
AERSP 401B or 402B Vehicle System Design II 2
AERSP 440 Software Engineering for Aerospace Engineers or
E E 210 Circuits and Devices or
E E 212 Introduction to Electronic Measuring Systems 3
(h) AERSP Technical Elective 3
(c) AHS 3
(c) AHS 3
Limited Elective (from department list) 3
Total 17
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity,
and the diversity of its workforce.
U.Ed. ENG 07-76 (rev. 11/5/2007)