Department of Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
The aerospace engineer is concerned with the design, production, operation, and support of aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers conduct research to advance air flight and space exploration, by solving problems, developing products, and improving processes for the aerospace industry. Aerospace engineers typically work for aircraft and space vehicle industries, national research laboratories, commercial airlines, and federal government agencies. The curriculum includes traditional courses in aerodynamics, flight dynamics and control, propulsion, structures, manufacturing, instrumentation, and spacecraft systems.
VISION
KU Aerospace Engineering (KUAE) is a world-class community of choice for outstanding students, educators, and researchers shaping the next generation of aerospace systems.
MISSION STATEMENT
KUAE fosters a world-class community of choice for students, educators, researchers, and industry partners by strategically aligning our teaching, research, and service missions to prepare students for successful professional careers by providing them with foundational knowledge in and experience with aerospace engineering disciplines and interdisciplinary systems integration while advancing the state-of-the-art
- We are an international leader in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing aerospace education, balancing theory and practice to best prepare our graduates for professional practice and for higher education
- We provide world-class graduate and undergraduate research experiences focused on designing, simulating, building, testing, and flying aerospace vehicles and systems, including practical experience in applying aerospace fundamentals to interdisciplinary research and advancing knowledge.
- We invest in research infrastructure and select and develop outstanding and diverse students, faculty, and staff to maintain an intellectually stimulating and collegial atmosphere in which to conduct globally significant basic and applied research
- We support the aerospace profession by educating the public through outreach, educating working professionals through the KU Aerospace Short Course program and advising policy-makers in government, industry, and professional organizations.
- We partner with the aerospace industry through directed research, internships, and professional mentoring to ensure that our graduates are recognized and hired as those best prepared for professional success.
KUAE STRATEGIC GOALS
To support our teaching mission:
- Attract, develop, and retain the highest quality students representing broad demographics
- Provide immersive, experiential learning opportunities integrated across the curriculum
- Expand the number and frequency of higher-level graduate course offerings
- Attract, advance, and retain an outstanding and diverse technical staff to support cutting-edge, holistic, education and research
- Achieve and maintain a state-of-the-art distance education capability to expand educational outreach to remote learners and increase access to remote expertise for local learners
- Develop and modernize facilities appropriate to providing intellectually stimulating curricular experiences
To increase the quality and volume of funded research:
- Attract, advance, and retain a diverse and continuously growing number of world-class faculty and research staff
- Attract and develop the highest quality graduate students representing broad demographics, with a particular emphasis on increasing the number of doctoral students
- Develop high-quality, state-of-the-art research facilities appropriate to enabling globally significant basic and applied research
- Attract, advance, and retain an outstanding and diverse technical staff to support cutting-edge, holistic, education and research
- Strategically target and transition technologies of national importance to enhance interdisciplinary, collaborative research
- Expand partnerships with industry leaders in directed research
To provide service:
- Be leaders in preparing our graduates for successful professional careers
- Be leaders in national and international technical and academic societies and editorial boards
- Expand the internationally renowned KU Aerospace Short Course and distance learning programs
Undergraduate Programs
The curriculum includes traditional courses in aerodynamics, flight dynamics and control, propulsion, structures, manufacturing, instrumentation, and spacecraft systems. Capstone design courses are offered in aircraft, propulsion, and spacecraft design.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Aerospace Engineering offers traditional Master of Science (MSAE) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhDAE) programs which emphasize original analytical and experimental research. In addition, two unique programs are offered: the Master of Engineering (MEAE) and the Doctor of Engineering (DEAE), which emphasize system design and management. Each of these programs provide excellent preparation for employment in industry or in private and government laboratories. The doctoral programs also prepare for an academic career in teaching and research. The Master of Science and Master of Engineering programs have options for an in-person or online degree.
Graduate course work is available in the following areas of aerospace engineering:
- aerodynamics
- computational fluid dynamics
- propulsion
- structures
- flight dynamics and control
- aircraft design
- spacecraft design
- orbital mechanics
Graduate courses are taught by faculty with a strong background in graduate education and in industry and government laboratory experience. All faculty are currently active in funded or unfunded research in their areas of expertise. Department research programs are typically funded by: NASA, DOD, DOE, NSF, FAA, and the Aerospace industry.