Graduate Degrees

• Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) in Aerospace Engineering
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Aerospace Science
• Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Space Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aerospace Engineering
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aerospace Science

M.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering

This degree is designed for students who desire a curriculum that is focused on the scientific aspects of Aerospace Engineering. A total of 30 credit hours is required (typically 10 classes). Of these, 15 credit hours must be 500-level classes in Aerospace Engineering, and 6 credits must be from approved courses in mathematics. A thesis is optional. Consult the official university publications for specific degree requirements.

Admission requirements include a strong performance in an undergraduate program in engineering or science and submission of acceptable Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores. Students have substantial flexibility in selecting courses, but courses must be approved by a Graduate Advisor.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult with faculty in their intended areas of specialization to discuss the composition of their program.

M.Eng. in Space Engineering (MEngSE)

The MEngSE provides a comprehensive set of courses and training in space-related science and engineering, and the systems approach to design and manage complex space systems. The M.Eng. in Space Engineering requires 30 credits of course work, of which 18 must be at the 500-level or higher and 24 must be graded (not P/F).

Course elections must include:

• Depth in a main area (9 credits). For example, a student could select dynamics and control, structures or propulsion.
• Breadth by crossing engineering/science boundaries (9 credits)
• Systems engineering (6 credits)
• Team design experience (6 credits)

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering

Study towards the Ph.D. degree requires a strong background in an area of specialization and an ability to carry out independent research. Students must complete, in order:

Precandidacy Status

A student must apply for and be admitted to precandidacy status before taking the Preliminary Exam. There are two ways to enroll as precandidate:

1. By requesting a change of program from Master to Precandidate after at least one term of enrollment in the MSE/MS program.
2. By applying for admission into the doctoral program with a BSE/BS degree or a MSE/MS degree or equivalent.

To be admitted as a precandidate, the student's GPA must be above 6.5 out of 9.0 (equivalent to 3.5/4.0) in relevant courses. Admission is determined by the Graduate Committee.

Students admitted directly to the doctoral program may also earn a Master degree, by fulfilling the Master degree requirements concurrently with the Doctoral degree.

Preliminary Exam

To become a Ph.D. candidate, a student must demonstrate a high level of competency by passing a Preliminary Exam. To take the exam the student must: (i) be accepted as a Precandidate, and (ii) have had research experience as a Research Assistant or have completed successfully three credits of directed study (AE 590) supervised by a faculty member in the department. Precandidates must be registered in the department during the term in which the exam is taken.

Candidacy

Candidacy status is achieved upon successful completion of the Preliminary Exam. Students must also meet other academic credit requirements as described in the Rackham Student Handbook.

The Dissertation

The student must perform original research, present a written dissertation, and defend the dissertation at a final oral presentation. The research is done under the supervision of a faculty adviser in the Aerospace Engineering department and a dissertation committee. Students are encouraged to begin research in their first year of graduate study.

Ph.D. Degree

The Ph.D. degree is awarded upon successful completion of a Ph.D. dissertation, a Ph.D. defense, and other academic credit requirements. See the Rackham Student Handbook for details. Students should have taken a minimum of 16 graduate courses beyond the bachelor's degree. There is no foreign language requirement, and there are no specific course requirements.