Aerospace Engineering Courses

Aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they must create and test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design. They often specialize in areas such as aerodynamic fluid flow, and instrumentation systems. Aerospace engineers can further specialize in designing different types of aerospace products, such as commercial or military airplanes and helicopters, and rotorcraft.

These specialists are involved primarily in designing aircraft and propulsion systems and in studying the aerodynamic performance of aircraft and construction materials. They work with the theory, technology, and practice of flight within the Earth's atmosphere. Astronautical engineers, on the other hand, work on small satellites such as cubesats, and the design of spacecraft propulsion systems.

A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one's career. An initial certifying exam, the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, can be taken after earning a bachelor's degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering. Each state issues its own licenses, although most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state's requirements meet or exceed their own.

Engineering Tests

Aerospace Engineering Department Rankings - Undergraduate

Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or another field of engineering or science related to aerospace systems. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance. U.S. citizenship may be required for certain types and levels of clearances. Aerospace engineers now spend more of their time in an office environment than they have in the past, because modern aircraft design requires the use of sophisticated computer equipment and software design tools, modeling, and simulations for tests, evaluation, and training.

Bachelor's degree programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies in subjects such as general engineering principles, propulsion, stability and control, structures, mechanics, and aerodynamics, which is the study of how air interacts with moving objects. At some universities, a student can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree upon completion. A graduate degree will allow an engineer to work as an instructor at a university or to do research and development. Programs in aerospace engineering are accredited by ABET.

Aerospace Engineering & Computer Jobs

Aerospace engineers held about 69,600 jobs in 2017. The median annual wage for aerospace engineers was $109,650 in May 2017. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $69,150, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $160,290. Engineers who direct projects must often work extra hours to monitor progress, to ensure that designs meet requirements, to determine how to measure aircraft performance, to see that production meets design standards, and to ensure that deadlines are met.

Employment of aerospace engineers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2017 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Aircraft are being redesigned to cause less noise pollution and have better fuel efficiency, which will help sustain demand for research and development. Also, new developments in small satellites, such as cubesats, which are used for many purposes such as communications or gathering data, are now coming into greater commercial viability. Aerospace engineers will be well positioned to benefit from their increased use. The growing commercial viability of unmanned aerial systems will also help drive growth of the occupation.

Most of the work of aerospace engineers involves national defense–related projects or the design of civilian aircraft. Research-and-development projects, such as those related to improving the safety, efficiency, and environmental soundness of aircraft, also will help drive demand. Aerospace engineers who work on engines or propulsion will continue to be needed as the emphasis in design and production shifts to rebuilding existing aircraft so that they are more fuel efficient. The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones will create more opportunities for aerospace engineers as uses for them proliferate, such as finding missing persons, delivering parcels, or measuring snow pack and other water resources.