Aerospace Undergraduate Course Descriptions
Listed below are detailed descriptions of the undergraduate courses. These listings include the prerequisites, current textbooks, course topics, and faculty coordinator. Students should check in the AE Department Office to find out which courses are available for each semester. If students have any questions concerning a particular course they should talk to their advisor or the course coordinator.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
Graduate Course Descriptions
Engineering Management Course Descriptions
Course Numbering System
100-299 Courses designed for freshman and sophomores.
300-499 Courses designed for juniors and seniors.
500-699 Courses designed primarily for juniors and seniors, but can also be taken by graduate students who have fewer than 30 hours of graduate credit.
700-799 Courses designed primarily for graduate students who have fewer than 30 hours of graduate credit, but can also be taken by undergraduates.
800-900 Courses designed primarily for graduate students who have fewer than 30 hours of graduate credit.
Course Topic Designations
_0_ Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials
_1_ Advanced Mathematics
_2_ Design
_3_ Instrumentation and Testing
_4_ Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics
_5_ Dynamics and Control
_6_ Astronautics
_7_ Propulsion
_8_
_9_ Projects & Thesis
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
AE 211 Basic MATLAB, Simulink and Stateflow(3)
Programming in MATLAB and modeling in Simulink and Stateflow for aerospace and other engineering applications. Course is offered within a computer laboratory environment. Contents include: Plotting and Graphics, Toolboxes, Cells, Structures, and M-Files, Handle Graphics and User Interfaces, MEX-files, LTI Viewer and SISO Design Tool, S-Functions, and Solvers
Prerequisite: MATH 121, LAB
AE 241 Private Flight Course (1)
One hour of academic credit is given upon the awarding of the private pilot’s license by the Federal Aviation Administration. Required documentation includes a letter from the FAA designated examiner giving the check ride and a copy of the private license. The Department of Aerospace Engineering provides no ground or flight instruction.
Prerequisite: Aerospace Engineering students only, with consent of instructor
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: None
AE 242 Private Flight Aeronautics (3)
Three hours of academic credit is given for the successful completion of the FAA private pilot’s written examination. Required documentation is a copy of the written examination score. Available only to Aerospace Engineering transfer students as a course substitute for AE 245. Note: The Department of Aerospace Engineering does not provide any ground school classes.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: None
AE 245 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering (3)
Basic aeronautical and astronautical technology with focus on aerospace vehicle performance and design. Open enrollment.
Co-requisite: Math 104.
Coordinator: Dr. David R. Downing
Topics: 1) Aerospace History, 2) Engineering & Mathematical Concepts, 3) Operational Environments, 4) Gasdynamics, 5) Propulsion Systems, 6) Materials & Structures, 7) Stability & control, 8) Navigation & Guidance, 9) Flight Path and Performance Determination, 10) Flight Safety, and 11) Vehicle Design.
AE 290 Aerospace Colloquium (0.2)
This is a required course for all aerospace engineering majors each fall semester. Topics of importance and new developments are discussed by aerospace industry representatives and representatives of FAA, DOT, DOD, NASA, related sciences and engineering disciplines. A forum for student activities at all levels. Technical films. Open Enrollment.
Coordinator: Dr. Ray Taghavi
Topics: Various aspects of aerospace engineering
AE 291 Aerospace Colloquium (0.3)
A spring term continuation of AE 290. Open enrollment.
AE 292 Aerospace Industrial Internship (1)
Engineering internship in an approved company. Internship hours do not satisfy any course requirements for the bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering but will appear on the official transcript.
Prerequisite: Completion of freshman year.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: Introduction to engineering procedures
AE 345 Fluid Mechanics (3)
Study of fundamental aspects of fluid motions and basic principles of gas dynamics with application to the design and analysis of aircraft. Open enrollment.
Corequisites: CE 301 and AE 245
Coordinator: Dr. Ray Taghavi
Goals: This course is designed to provide sophomores in aerospace engineering basic principles in fluid mechanics with a view toward the application in aerodynamics.
Topics: 1) Fluid properties, 2) Fluid Statics, 3) Fluid Dynamics, 4) Fluid Kinetics, 5) Control volume analysis, 6) Differential analysis, 7) Dimensional analysis, 8) Viscous effects, 9) Flow over immersed bodies.
AE 360 Introduction to Astronautics (3)
The history of astronautics, including rocketry and space flight. Fundamentals of astronautics, including space environment, astrodynamics and the analysis and design of spacecraft systems. Design, construction and launch of a prototype earth-satellite using a high-altitude balloon.
Prerequisite: MATH 220
Textbook: Understanding Space: An Introduction to Astronautics, Sellers, J., et al., McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing
Coordinator: Staff
Topics: 1) Rocketry and Spacecraft History, 2) The Environment of Space, 3) Astrodynamics (the 2-body orbital problem), 4) Spacecraft Propulsion, 5) Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control, 6) Spacecraft Electrical Power, 7) Spacecraft Thermal Control, 8) Spacecraft Configuration, Structures, and Mechanisms, 9) Spacecraft Communications, 10) Spacecraft Command, Telemetry & Data Handling, 11) Design, construction and flight of a prototype space vehicle
Estimated Content: Math & Basic Science .25 credits or 8%, Engineering Topics 2.25 credits or 75%, Engineering Design .5 credits or 17%
AE 390 Aerospace Industrial Internship (1)
Engineering internship is an approved company. Summer session. Internship hours do not satisfy any course requirements for the bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering but will appear on the official transcript.
Prerequisite: Completion of sophomore year.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: Assisting in design or system study
AE 421 Aerospace Computer Graphics (4)
Elements of tow- and three-dimensional descriptive geometry with emphasis on spatial visualization and applications to aerospace vehicles and systems.
Coordinator: Dr. Rick Hale
Topics: Various aspects of engineering graphics.
AE 430 Aerospace Instrumentation Laboratory (3)
Review and hands-on laboratory experiments with basic electronic elements (resistors, capacitors, conductors, transistors, linear circuits, logic devices and integrated circuits). Overview and hands-on laboratory experiments using various experimental techniques available to the aerospace engineers (pressure probes, thermocouples, strain gauges, hot-wire anemometer, Laser Doppler velocimeter & flow visualization techniques).
Prerequisite: AE 445 and EECS 316 & 318.
Coordinator: Dr. Ray Taghavi
Topics: 1) Introduction and overview 2) AC and DC circuits 3) Resistors 4) Capacitors 5) Conductors 6) Transistors 7) Logic devices 8) Integrated circuits 9) Pressure probes 10) Temperature probes 11) Strain gauges 12) Hot wire anemomtry 13) Laser Doppler velocimetry 14) Flow visualization techniques (smoke, dye, helium bubbles, schlieren, shadowgraph) 15) Special projects 16) Tests
AE 441 Advanced Flight Training (1-3)
One hour of academic credit is given for the successful completion of advanced flight training beyond the private pilot rating. One hour is given for each of the following: commercial, instrument rating, certified flight instructor. The Aerospace Engineering Department provides no ground or flight instruction.
Prerequisite: AE 241.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: None
AE 445 Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance (3)
Study of airfoil and wing aerodynamics component drag, static and special performance, and maneuvers of aircraft. Open enrollment.
Prerequisite: AE 345 and CE 301
Coordinator: Staff
Topics: 1) Atmospheric properties, 2) Basic aerodynamic principles and applications, 3) Airfoil theory, 4) Wing theory, 5) Airplane drag, 6) Airplane propulsion systems, 7) Propeller theory, 8) Fundamentals of flight mechanics, 9) Climb performance and speed, 10) Take-off and landing performance, 11) Range and endurance, 12) Maneuvers and flight envelope, 13) Laboratory.
AE 490 Aerospace Industrial Internship (1)
Engineering internships in an approved company. Summer semester, Internship hours do not satisfy any course requirements for the bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering but will appear on the official transcript.
Prerequisite: Completion of junior year.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: Design and analysis problems
AE 507 Aerospace Structures I (3)
Introduction to the analysis and design of aerospace structure. Analysis topics include: stress, deflection and (buckling) stability analysis of aerospace structures undergoing extension, torsion and bending. Design exercises focus on highly stressed structural components, which tend to be strength-limited, as well as wing and fuselage structures, which tend to be buckling-limited. Introduction to material selection and manufacturing.
Prerequisites: CE 310.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: 1) Production of Aerospace Structures, 2) Aerospace Loads, 3) Strength of Aerospace Materials, 4) Design of Connections, 5) Design of Beams (especially tubes) in Extension, Bending and Torsion, 6) Stress and Deflection Analysis of Thin-Walled Beams, 7) Stress and Deflection Analysis of Semimonocoque Structures, 8) Buckling of beams (especially tubes), panels, and stiffened panels, 9) Design of wing and fuselage structures.
AE 508 Aerospace Structures II (3)
Indeterminate structures, basic structural principles, matrix notation, Castigliano’s theorems, displacement method. Rod, beam, shaft, membrane elements; two and three dimensional trusses, curved beams, spar elements, membrane element.
Prerequisite: AE 507.
Coordinator: Dr. Rick Hale
Topics: 1) Matrix algebra 2) Computer calculations 3) Castigliano’s theorems, 4) Displacement method, 5) Springs, rods, beams, membranes, 6) Large scale structure
AE 510 Materials and Processes (4)
Material behavior of materials used in aerospace vehicles, especially alloys of aluminum, iron (steel), titanium, and nickel as well as ceramics, plastics and composites. Material selection criteria. Manufacturing processes common to the aerospace industry. Material selection and manufacturing process design exercises.
Coordinator: Dr. Rick Hale
Topics: 1) Material behavior and selection criteria for metal alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites, 2) Material selection exercises, 3) Manufacturing processes, to include forming, material removal, joining, surface treatment, measurement, testing and inspection, automation, computer-aided manufacture, safety, and economics, 4) Design of manufacturing processes.
AE 521 Aerospace Systems Design I (4)
Preliminary design techniques for an aerospace system. Aerodynamic design, drag prediction, stability and control criteria, civil and military specifications. Weight and balance, Configuration integration, design and safety, design and ethics.
Prerequisite: AE 421, AE 508, AE 551, AE 572.
Coordinator: Dr. Ron Barrett
Topics: 1) Configuration sizing to a given specification, 2) Configuration layout design, 3) Initial tail and control surface selection, 4) Weight and balance calculation, 5) Drag prediction, 6) Design for stability and control, 7) Inboard profile development, 8) Landing gear layout design, 9) Structural layout design, 10) Performance calculation, 11) V-N diagrams loads estimation
AE 522 Aerospace Systems Design II (4)
Preliminary design project of a complete aerospace system.
Prerequisite: AE 521.
Coordinator: Dr. Ron Barrett
Topics: 1) Organization of technical work, 2) Organization of technical groups, 3) Management theory and practice, 4) PERT theory and application, 5) How to motivate engineers, 6) Engineering liability
AE 523 Spacecraft Systems Design I (4)
Preliminary design project of a complete spacecraft system.
Prerequisite: AE 521, AE 560 and PHSX 313
Coordinator: Staff
Topics: 1) Mission design, 2) Spacecraft environment, 3) Astrodynamics, 4) Spacecraft propulsion, 5) Launch systems, 6) Atmospheric flight, 7) On-board power systems, 8) Thermal Control, 9) Attitude control, 10) Communication systems, 11) Command systems, 12) Structures, 13) Configuration design, 14) Cost estimation
AE 524 Propulsion Systems Design I (4)
Preliminary design project of a complete propulsion system, including airframe.
Prerequisite: AE 521.
Coordinator: Dr. Saeed Farokhi
Topics: Aerodynamic and structural design of aircraft engine components including inlets, compressors and fans, combustion chamber, turbines, afterburners, mixers, and exhaust systems. This course often includes aircraft design and engine matching studies.
AE 545 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics (5)
Basic gas dynamic equations, potential flow for airfoils and bodies, airfoil transformations, thin airfoil theory, finite wing, subsonic similarity rules, one and two dimensional supersonic flow, boundary layers, heat transfer and laboratory experiments.
Prerequisite: AE 445, ME 312, and MATH 220.
Coordinator: Dr. Saeed Farokhi
Topics: 1) Basic gasdynamic equations. 2) Potential flow for airfoils and bodies, 3) Thin airfoil theory, 4) Finite wing, 5) Introduction to compressible fluids, 6) One dimensional compressible flow, 7) Waves, 8) Wings in compressible glow, 9) Laminar flow, 10) Transition, 11) Turbulent flow, 12) Laboratory
AE 550 Dynamics of Flight I (3)
General equations of motion of rigid airplanes and reduction to steady state flight situation. Steady state forces and moments. Stability derivatives. Static stability, control and trim. Trim envelope. Relationships with handling quality requirements. Engine-out flight. Effects of the control system. Implications to airplane design. Prerequisite: AE 445, MATH 220, and MATH 290.
Coordinator: Dr. Richard Colgren
Topics: 1) Equations of motion of a rigid airplane and specialization to steady state flight, 2) Development of mathematical and physical models for the aerodynamic and thrust forces and moments; stability derivatives, 3) Static stability and control and airplane trim; trim envelope and design implications, 54) Engine-out flight, 5) Effects of the flight control system, 6) Handling qualities, 7) General four dimensional trim formulation, 8) Nosewheel lift-off
AE 551 Dynamics of Flight II (4)
General equations of motion of rigid airplanes and reduction to perturbed state flight situations. Perturbed state forces and moments. Stability derivatives. Dynamic stability, phugoid, short period, dutch roll, roll, spiral and other important modes. Transfer functions and their application. Relationships with handling quality requirements. Fundamentals of classical control theory and applications to automatic flight controls. Implications to airplane design.
Prerequisite: AE 550 and a course in differential equations (MATH 220 or MATH 320).
Coordinator: Dr. David Downing
Topics: 1) General equations of motion of a rigid airplane and specification to perturbed state flight, 2) Development of mathematical and physical model for the aerodynamic and thrust perturbed forces and moments dimension less and dimensional stability derivatives, 3) Dynamic stability of airplanes: Phugoid, short period, spiral, roll, dutch roll. Degenerate modes. Design specifications, 4) Transfer functions and applications, 5) Handling qualities and relation to design, 6) Frequency response of linear systems, bode plots and example applications, 7) Classical closed loop control theory, bode method, root locus method and example applications, 8) Basic stability augmentation systems: angle-of=attack and angle or sideslip feedback, yaw dampers, pitch dampers, 9) Basic autopilot modes: pitch angle hold, bank angle hold, heading hold
AE 560 Spacecraft Systems (3)
Fundamentals of spacecraft systems and subsystems. Spacecraft systems engineering, space environment; basic astrodynamics; and the following spacecraft subsystems; attitude determination and control; electrical power; thermal; propulsion; structures and mechanisms; command, telemetry, and data handling; and communications.
Prerequisite: AE 507, EECS 316 & 318, MATH 223, and ME 312 or equivalent.
Coordinator: Dr. Craig McLaughlin
Topics: 1) Spaceflight History 2) Spacecraft Systems Engineering 3) Space Environment 4) Basic Astrodynamics 5) Spacecraft Propulsion 6) Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control 7) Spacecraft Electrical Power 8) Spacecraft Thermal Control 9) Spacecraft Configuration, Structure, and Mechanisms 10) Spacecraft Communications 11) Spacecraft Command, Telemetry & Data Handling 12) Spacecraft Reliability and Quality Assurance
AE 571 Fundamentals of Airplane Reciprocating Propulsion Systems (3)
Study of the basic principles of operation and systems of internal and external combustion engines with emphasis on airplane reciprocating engines. Cycle analysis, propeller theory, propeller selecting and performance analysis.
Prerequisite: AE 445 and ME 312 or equivalent.
Coordinator: Dr. Ray Taghavi
Topics: 1) Introduction and overview, 2) Review of thermodynamics principles, 3) Air Standard cycles, 4) Fuel-air-cycles, 5) Actual engine cycles, 6) Airplane engine components, 7) Propeller (theory, operation, types & selection, 8) Carburetion, 9) Aviation fuels and engine knocks, 10) Ignition systems, 11) Lubrication systems, 12) Induction systems, supercharging and exhaust systems, 13) Laboratory
AE 572 Fundamentals of Jet Propulsion (3)
Lecture and laboratory, study of basis principles of propulsion systems with emphasis on jets and fan systems., Study of inlets, compressors, burners, fuels, turbines, jets, methods of analysis, testing, performance; environmental considerations.
Prerequisite: AE 545 and AE 571.
Coordinator: Dr. Saeed Farokhi
Topics: 1) Introduction to jet propulsion and combustion chemistry, 2) Propulsion fundamentals, 3) One dimension steady compressible flow: isentropic, adiabatic, heat addition, frictional, 4) Shock waves and supersonic flow, 5) Boundary layer and heat transfer, 6) Thermodynamics of air breathing jet propulsion systems: ramjet, turbojet, turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft, 7) Inlets: subsonic and supersonic, 8) Nozzles: axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric, 9) Combustors, 10) Axial compressors, 11) Centrifugal compressors, 12) Turbines, 13) Matching turbine/compressor, 14) Laboratory
AE 590 Aerospace Seminar (1)
Presentation and discussion on Career Planning, Human Behavior, Decision Analysis, Management, Planning and Decision Making, Technical Communications, Project Management, Engineering Economics, Personal Financial Planning, and Engineering Ethics.
Coordinator: Dr. Mark Ewing
Topics: 1) Career Planning, 2) Human Behavior, 3) Decision Analysis, 4) Management, Planning and Decision Making, 5) Technical communications, 6) Project Management, 7) Engineering Economics, 8) Personal Financial Planning, and 9) Engineering Ethics.
AE 592 Special Projects in Aerospace Engineering (1-5)
Directed design and research projects in aerospace engineering.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Coordinator: Staff
Topics: Student choice with faculty approval
Note: A maximum of 3 hours of AE 592 credit can be used to satisfy the technical elective degree requirement.
