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The minor in aerospace engineering provides a foundation for students who intend to pursue a career in the aerospace industry. This minor will also provide sufficient technical background in aerospace studies for undergraduates who plan to enter graduate programs in this field. The minor requires a minimum of 15 credits from the following course selection:

~REQUIRED COURSES~

ME 255 -- Introduction to Aerospace Engineering (3)
Properties of the atmosphere, aircraft design and performance basics including estimation of lift and drag of aerodynamic bodies. Concepts of stall and service ceiling of aircraft along with propulsive forces, stability and control.

MECH 326 -- Aerodynamics (3)
Application of fluid dynamics to flows, past lifting surfaces. Normal force calculations in inviscid flows. Use of conformal mappings in two-dimensional airfoil theory. Kurta condition at a trailing edge; physical basis. Viscous boundary layers. Thin airfoil theory. Section design; pressure profiles and separation. Lifting line theory. Compressible subsonic flows; Prandtl-Glauert Rule. Airfoil performance at supersonic speeds. Prerequisites: ME 231 and MATH 208.

MECH 328 -- Fundamentals of Aircraft Design (3)
Review of aerodynamics; Weight and balance, stability, loads; Basics of propellers; Power and performance; International Standard Atmosphere; Introduction to aerospace composites; Introduction to FAA Regulations. Prerequisite: MECH 12.

~ELECTIVE COURSES~
ME 322 Gas Dynamics (3)
ME 331 Advanced Fluid Mechanics (3)
MECH 312 Finite Element Analysis (3)
MECH 305 Advanced Mechanics of Materials (3)
ME 348 Computer-Aided Design (3)
ME 309 Composite Materials (3)
ME 343 Control Systems (3)
ME 333 Propulsion Systems (3)


For more information, contact:

Prof. Terry Hart
Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics