Nov 17, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Rensselaer Catalog 2024-2025

Aerospace Engineering, B.S.


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Freshmen or sophomores who have identified aerospace engineering as their major may follow the baccalaureate program below in lieu of the general core engineering program.  Dual major programs which lead to a single baccalaureate degree embracing two fields are also available and are described in more detail in the MANE Handbook (emailed to you when you declare a major in MANE, and available from the MANE Student Services Office, JEC 2012).  

First Year


Fall Semester (17 credits)


Spring Semester (17 credits)


Second Year


Fall Semester (16 credits)


Spring Semester (17 credits)


Third Year


Please note: The third year of the program varies depending upon which semester the student chooses to take away following The Arch Summer Semester classes. Please note the following differences in curriculum:

  • If students are going to be away during the Fall semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Fall Away Track for year three of their program.
     
  • If students are going to be away during the Spring semester of their junior year, they should take the listed courses for each term and any courses under the Spring Away Track for year three of their program.

ARCH Semester (16 credits)


*For more information on the ARCH process, please click here: The Arch 

Fall or Spring


Fourth Year


Fall Semester (15 credits)


Spring Semester (16 credits)


Footnotes


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

2 Choice of ENGR 1200  , ENGR 1400  , or CIVL 1200  ; Engineering Graphics & 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 one in the Arch Summer. 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 (“Introduction to [major]”) may be substituted.

5 Choice of ENGR 2050  or MANE 2220 ; both have ENGR 1010  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 Space Vehicle 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 Aerospace Engineering students must be in residence during spring junior year and thus are  expected to complete the Arch-Away requirement in fall junior year.  Plan to take MANE 4100  during junior year spring semester.  Plan to take MANE 4250   senior year fall semester.  Note that Spaceflight Mechanics is not a prerequisite for Space Vehicle Design but it is strongly recommended.  Interested students may also take Flight Mechanics and Air Vehicle Design as an Aerospace Technical Elective or Free Elective, but MANE 4100 and MANE 4250 are required for the Aerospace degree.

10  Choice of MANE 4140  , MANE 4240  , or MANE 4280 .

11 MANE 4100  is required for Aerospace Engineering majors.

12 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.

13 MANE 4250  is required for Aerospace Engineering majors

14 ADMN 1030  is a zero-credit course that may be taken in the second-year fall or spring term (or possibly first year for ACCEL students); satisfactory completion is a graduation requirement.  Another graduation requirement is satisfactory completion of an ILEA 4400 , usually in the fall of the  third year.

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