Aerospace Engineering

Mission

To provide internationally recognized leadership in aerospace engineering education, through a continuously improving educational program that graduates students with strong engineering science fundamentals while incorporating applied engineering aspects.

Goals

• Educate students who are widely known for exceptional strength in technical fundamentals across all aerospace disciplines, who are cognizant of modern aerospace technologies, and who are sought after by top graduate schools and by aerospace and related industries worldwide.
• Support vibrant and highly recognized research programs that serve the educational goals of the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, that make major contributions to the knowledge base in aerospace sciences and technology, and that are turned to by industry and government for solutions.
• Create an environment of intellectual challenge and excitement that at the same time is collegial and conducive to higher learning.
• Take full advantage of knowledge, technology, facilities and resources at the University of Michigan.

Objectives

• Educate students in the following fundamental disciplines of aerospace engineering and how to apply them: aerodynamics, aerospace materials, structures, aircraft and rocket propulsion, flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, and aircraft stability and control.
• Educate students in the methodology and tools of design, and the synthesis of fundamental aerospace disciplines necessary to carry out the design of an aerospace vehicle or system.
• Educate students in the basics of instrumentation and measurement, laboratory techniques, and how to design and conduct experiments.
• Help students learn to function on multi-disciplinary teams, and provide them with teamwork experiences throughout their curriculum.
• Help students learn to communicate effectively.
• Expose students to environmental, ethical and contemporary issues in aerospace engineering.
• Expose students to other disciplines of engineering beyond the aerospace field.

Outcomes

The outcomes we desire are that graduates of the University of Michigan Aerospace Program demonstrate:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• An ability to design a system, component or process to meet desired needs;
• An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
• An ability to communicate effectively;
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context;
• A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
• A knowledge of contemporary issues;
• An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice;
• A knowledge of aerodynamics, aerospace materials, structures, aircraft and rocket propulsion, flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, and aircraft stability and control;
• Competence in the integration of aerospace science and engineering topics and their application in aerospace vehicle design.