Program Overview
The Aerospace Engineering BS program at SJSU provides a solid foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering science, preparing students for careers in aircraft and space systems research, design, development, testing, and integration. The program is accredited by ABET and offers a range of courses in aerospace structural analysis, dynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, and vehicle dynamics and control. Students can choose from two capstone options in aircraft or spacecraft design and select technical electives to tailor their studies to their interests.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Aerospace Engineering BS, offered by the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is based on a strong core of mathematics, science, and engineering science and is designed to prepare students for professional careers in aerospace engineering fields, such as aircraft and space systems research, design, development, testing, and integration. It also provides excellent preparation for graduate study. The Aerospace Engineering Bachelor of Science degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Program Criteria and the Aerospace and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
Outline:
Major-Specific Graduation Requirements:
Students in this major must complete all courses in Required in the Major (All courses in Preparation, Core, and Concentration/Specialization) with a “C or better” to graduate.
University Requirements
Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).
Core Lower Division General Education (15 units):
Of the 39 units required by the university, 24 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below and General Education waivers . Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details. Of the 39 units, the following 15 units are not satisfied in the major:
- GE Area A1 3 unit(s)
- GE Area A2 3 unit(s)
- GE Area C1 3 unit(s)
- GE Area C2 3 unit(s)
- GE Area F 3 unit(s)
Upper Division General Education
Of the 9 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with a major advisor for details.
American Institutions (6 units)
Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas. The American Studies sequence (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) or Humanities Honors course (HUM 2B ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details). Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.
Physical Education
The Physical Education Requirement is waived for this major.
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.
Major Preparation (36 units)
To qualify for a baccalaureate degree in Aerospace Engineering, a student must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses in preparation for the major.
- CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (B1+B3)
- ENGL 1B - Argument and Analysis 3 unit(s) (C2) (or equivalent second semester composition course.)
- MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (B4)
- MATH 31 - Calculus II 4 unit(s) (B4)
- MATH 32 - Calculus III 3 unit(s) (B4)
- MATH 33A - Ordinary Differential Equations for SCI & ENGR 3 unit(s)
- MATH 39 - Linear Algebra I 3 unit(s)
- PHYS 50 - General Physics I: Mechanics 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
- PHYS 51 - General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
- PHYS 52 - General Physics III: Waves, Light, Heat 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
Major Requirements (63 units)
To qualify for a baccalaureate degree in Aerospace Engineering, a student must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses required for the major.
Core Courses (13 units)
- EE 98 - Introduction to Circuit Analysis 3 unit(s)
- ENGR 10 - Introduction to Engineering 3 unit(s) (E)
- ENGR 100W - Engineering Reports 3 unit(s) (WID+R)
- AE 20 - Computer-Aided Design for Aerospace Engineers 2 unit(s)
- AE 30 - Computer Programming for Aerospace Engineers 2 unit(s)
Required Courses (39 units)
- AE 112 - Aerospace Structural Analysis I 4 unit(s)
- AE 114 - Aerospace Structural Analysis II 3 unit(s)
- AE 138 - Vector-Based Dynamics for Aerospace Applications 3 unit(s)
- AE 140 - Rigid Body Dynamics 3 unit(s)
- AE 157 - Aerospace Automatic Control Systems Design 3 unit(s)
- AE 160 - Aerodynamics I 3 unit(s)
- AE 162 - Aerodynamics II 3 unit(s)
- AE 164 - Aerothermodynamics 5 unit(s)
- AE 165 - Aerospace Flight Mechanics 3 unit(s)
- AE 167 - Aerospace Propulsion 3 unit(s)
- AE 168 - Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics and Control 3 unit(s)
- AE 169 - Computational Fluid Dynamics 3 unit(s)
Capstone (8 units)
Complete one of the following options:
- Option 1: Aircraft Design
- AE 171A - Aircraft Design I 3 unit(s) (S)
- AE 171B - Aircraft Design II 3 unit(s) (V)
- ENGR 195A - Global and Social Issues in Engineering 1 unit(s) (S)
- ENGR 195B - Global and Social Issues in Engineering 1 unit(s) (V)
- Option 2: Spacecraft Design
- AE 172A - Spacecraft Design I 3 unit(s) (S)
- AE 172B - Spacecraft Design II 3 unit(s) (V)
- ENGR 195A - Global and Social Issues in Engineering 1 unit(s) (S)
- ENGR 195B - Global and Social Issues in Engineering 1 unit(s) (V)
Technical Electives (3 units)
A technical elective may be chosen from the following list:
- AE 110 - Space Systems Engineering 3 unit(s)
- AE 142 - Astrodynamics 3 unit(s)
- AE 149 - Advanced Dynamics and Simulation 3 unit(s)
- AE 166 - Rocketry 3 unit(s)
- AE 173 - Uncrewed Air Vehicle Design 3 unit(s)
- AE 180 - Individual Studies 1-3 unit(s) (project must be approved by AE Department Chair)
- AE 199 - Special Topics in Aerospace Engineering 1-4 unit(s) (course must be approved by AE Department Chair) Students with GPA 2.7 or higher may take an MSAE course as their elective Non-AE courses from any of the topical lists below are also eligible
- Design/Manufacturing
- Management/Economics
- Mathematics, Numerical Methods & Modeling
- Materials
- Physics
- Structures
