Aeronautical Engineering Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Electives

The HASS Core for engineering students (described under “Schools/School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences”, elsewhere in this catalog) is based on institute and School of Engineering requirements. Students must be certain that they understand these graduation requirements.

Beyond meeting these requirements, MANE students are encouraged (but not required) to:

• Choose at least one HASS course that further develops their ability to make informed judgements that consider the impacts of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and/or societal contexts; and
• take HASS courses that will improve their communication skills beyond the one required HASS communication-intensive course.

Students desiring minors in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences must consult the school or department in which the courses are offered to obtain further information and specific requirements.

Footnotes

1. These required courses may be taken in any order in the academic year shown (or in a previous year) given the prerequisites are met.

2. Choice of ENGR 1200   Engineering Graphics and CAD, ENGR 1400   Engineering Communication, or CIVL 1200   Engineering Graphics for Civil Engineers; ENGR 1200   Engineering Graphics and CAD is preferred for Aerospace Engineers.

3. The five HASS Electives may be taken in any semester; it is recommended to schedule one in each of the first two semesters and at least one in the Arch Summer Semester.
   • Students are required to schedule a HASS Inquiry course during their first year; for a  listing of HASS Inquiry courses go to https://info.rpi.edu/hass-inquiry.
   • Students should complete a HASS Communications Intensive course during their first three semesters; refer to the link “Communications Intensive (CI) Requirement” on the Registrar’s “Academic Planning” web page.
   • Students are recommended to complete their Pathway by the end of their fifth semester; for a listing of HASS pathways go to https://info.rpi.edu/pathways.

4. Any 1-credit engineering exploration elective (e.g., “Introduction to [major]”) may be substituted.

5. Choice of ENGR 2050   Introduction to Engineering Design or MANE 2220   Inventor’s Studio 1; both have ENGR 1010   Professional Development I embedded in them.

6. These courses may be taken in the Arch Summer semester (if the summer schedule permits).

7. For a list of courses that satisfy the PD II requirement refer to the link “Professional Development II Courses” on the Registrar’s “Academic Planning” web page. It should be completed before the capstone design course.

8. These three laboratory courses may be taken any semester in the junior or senior year, provided all prerequisites have been completed.

9. Aeronautical Engineering students should start planning for their Flight Mechanics/Capstone track prior to the Arch summer.
   • Space Flight Track. Plan to take MANE 4100   Spaceflight Mechanics during junior year fall or spring semester (in place of the free elective). Plan to take MANE 4250   Space Vehicle Design senior year fall semester, though a limited number of seats will be available in the spring semester of senior year. Spaceflight Mechanics is not a prerequisite for Space Vehicle Design but it is strongly recommended.
   • Fixed-wing track.  Plan to take MANE 4090   Flight Mechanics junior or senior year fall semester.  Plan to take MANE 4230   Air Vehicle Design senior year spring semester.  Flight Mechanics is a prerequisite for Air Vehicle design, though in select cases this may be waived with the instructor’s permission.
   • Rotocraft track. In the junior or senior year plan to take either MANE 4120   Helicopter Aerodynamics and Performance in fall of an even-year or MANE 4130   Multirotor Aerial Vehicles in fall of an odd year.  (interested students may choose to take both, applying the second to the Aerospace Technical elective and/or free Elective credits.)  Plan to take MANE 4210   VTOL Aircraft Design senior year spring semester.  One of either Helicopter Aerodynamics and Performance or Multirotor Aerial Vehicles must be taken as a prerequisite to VTOL Aircraft Design, though in select cases this may be waived with the instructor’s permission.

10. Choice of MANE 4140   Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (spring only), MANE 4240   Introduction to Finite Elements (fall, spring, and summer), or MANE 4280   Numerical Design Optimization (Fall only).

11. Choice of MANE 4090   Flight Mechanics, MANE 4100   Spaceflight Mechanics, MANE 4120   Helicopter Aerodynamics and Performance, or MANE 4130   Multirotor Aerial Vehicles.

12. Choice of MANE 4210   VTOL Aircraft Design, MANE 4230   Air Vehicle Design, or MANE 4250   Space Vehicle Design.

13. Aerospace Technical Elective
    • The Aerospace Technical Elective is a MANE 4000-level or higher course or research related to Aerospace Engineering that is taken for 3 credits or more.
    • Aerospace Technical Electives may not be taken on a Pass/No Credit basis.

Dual Major Programs

A dual major in Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering is available to students who follow a prescribed program that can be completed in eight semesters. General requirements and procedures for dual degrees are described in more detail in the MANE handbook (emailed to students when they declare a major in MANE, and available from the MANE Student Services office, JEC 2012).