Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
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Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise manufacture of these products. They explore advances in air flight and space exploration. Aerospace engineers typically work for aircraft, guided missile and space vehicle industries, national research laboratories, commercial airlines, and federal government agencies.
Undergraduate Admission to the School of Engineering
Admission to the KU School of Engineering (and its degree programs) is selective. Students may be admitted to an engineering or computer science degree program as freshmen (first year) students, but all admissions, for both in-state and out-of-state students, are selective. Applications are judged on several factors, such as high school record, scores on national tests, academic record at college or university level, and trend of grades and more. High school transcripts are required.
Minimum Academic Standards for Admission to the School of Engineering
To be considered for admission to the School of Engineering, beginning first-year students must meet or exceed the following minimum standards:
- Must be admissible to the University of Kansas by assured admissions or individual review, AND
- Have a 3.0+ high school GPA, AND
- Demonstrate mathematics preparedness by:
- Obtaining a mathematics ACT score of 22+ (or math SAT score of 540+), or
- Achieving a ‘B’ or better in ‘college algebra’ or a more advanced mathematics course, or
- Achieving a ‘C’ or better in a high school calculus course; or
- Earning credit via IB or AP credit for the above-mentioned courses in accordance with KU placement credit requirements; or
- Achieving at minimum a qualifying score for MATH 104 on the ALEKS mathematics placement exam.
Minimum Academic Standards for Direct Admission into Degree Program for incoming Freshmen
Students with a 26+ Math ACT (600+ Math SAT) or meet eligibility requirements for MATH 125 (Calculus I) may be admitted directly into their chosen major, with the exception of those seeking admission into the Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Interdisciplinary Computing (EECS) majors. For EECS program admission, students must:
- Be admissible to the University of Kansas by assured admissions or individual review, AND
- Have a 3.0+ high school GPA, AND
- Demonstrate mathematics preparedness by:
- Obtaining a mathematics ACT score of 28+ (or math SAT score of 660+), or
- Achieving a ‘C’ or better in a high school calculus course; or
- Earning credit via IB or AP credit for the above-mentioned course in accordance with KU placement credit requirements; or
- Achieving at minimum a qualifying score for MATH 125 on the ALEKS mathematics placement exam.
Students who are not admissible to their desired major are admitted to the School of Engineering as undecided engineering undergraduate students.
Exploring Engineering
Students not admitted directly to the School of Engineering or their major but who are admissible to the university may be admitted to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as an Undecided student. They can later re-apply to the School of Engineering during the semester they are completing the admission requirements for transfer students.
Transfer Admission Standards
Applications from all transfer students, whether from other institutions or from other academic schools at the University of Kansas, are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Transfer students must be admissible to KU AND have a cumulative college transferable grade-point average of 2.5+ to be considered. In addition, students must have grades of "C" or better in those courses in math (must include MATH 125 Calculus I or equivalent), science, and engineering applicable to the engineering degree.
Current KU Students admitted to other academic units may apply to the School of Engineering by completing a Change of School form.
Already Applied to KU, But Not Engineering?
Don't worry. It's not too late to change your mind if you’ve already applied to KU and selected a major outside the School of Engineering. If you think one of the 12 engineering or computer science majors is a better fit for your talents, you can still change your requested major — preferably before May 1 — and be considered for admission to the School of Engineering and all the benefits that go with it.
To update your application, visit Undergraduate Admissions and click on “Change application term, major, mailing address, and/or email address.”
Please contact a member of our recruitment team, 785-864-3881, if you have any difficulty.
Application Deadlines For New Freshman and Transfer Applicants
Semester | Applicants | Deadline |
---|---|---|
September 15 | Priority deadline for current KU students to apply for spring admission to Engineering. | |
November 1 | Final deadline for scholarship consideration for incoming freshmen planning to enter in fall or summer semesters. | |
December 1 | Final deadline to apply for the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program for incoming freshmen | |
February 1 | Final deadline for scholarship consideration for transfer students planning to enter in fall or summer semesters. Applications available for the Engineering Learning Community | |
February 15 | Priority deadline for current KU students to apply for summer or fall admission to Engineering. | |
May 1 | Enrollment Deposit due. |
Four Year Degree Completion Plan
The following are recommended enrollments:
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
AE 245 | 3 | AE 211 | 3 |
AE 290 | 0.25 | AE 290 | 0.25 |
MATH 125H* | 4 | MATH 126H* | 4 |
CHEM 150*** | 5 | EPHX 210 | 3 |
Written Communication (KU Core GE 2.1)* | 3 | PHSX 216 | 1 |
Written Communication (KU Core GE 2.1)* | 3 | ||
KU Core (GE3H, ECON, AE4.1, or AE4.2)* | 3 | ||
15.25 | 17.25 | ||
Sophomore | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
AE 290 | 0.25 | AE 290 | 0.25 |
AE 345 | 3 | AE 360 | 3 |
CE 260H | 5 | AE 445 | 3 |
MATH 220H | 3 | MATH 127H* | 4 |
PHSX 212 | 3 | CE 310 | 4 |
PHSX 236 | 1 | ME 212 | 3 |
KU Core (GE3H, ECON, AE4.1, or AE4.2)* | 3 | ||
18.25 | 17.25 | ||
Junior | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
AE 290 | 0.25 | AE 290 | 0.25 |
AE 507H | 3 | AE 421 | 3 |
AE 550 | 4 | AE 508H | 3 |
AE 545H | 4 | AE 551H | 4 |
AE 571 | 3 | AE 572H | 3 |
MATH 290H | 2 | EECS 316 | 3 |
16.25 | 16.25 | ||
Senior | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
AE 290 | 0.25 | AE 290 | 0.25 |
AE 510 | 4 | AE 430 | 3 |
AE 521 or 520 | 4 | AE 522, 523, or 524 | 4 |
AE 590 | 1 | Technical Elective** | 3 |
Technical Elective** | 3 | KU Core (GE3H, ECON, AE4.1, or AE4.2)* | 3 |
KU Core (GE3H, ECON, AE4.1, or AE4.2)* | 3 | ||
15.25 | 13.25 | ||
Total Hours 129 |
Requirements for Enrollment in Junior-Level Aerospace Courses
Enrollment in junior-level aerospace courses is limited to students who have received grades of C- or higher in all first- and second-year courses in mathematics, physics, ME 212, CE 260, CE 310,AE 211, AE 245, AE 345, and AE 445.
Curriculum Notes
*Students must ensure the electives they choose fulfill all remaining KU Core requirements.
**Technical electives are selected from upper-level aerospace courses, approved courses from other engineering departments, or approved math courses.
***Students with credit in CHEM 130 may add CHEM 149 to meet the CHEM 150 requirement.
H Honors equivalent course is available.
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering Degree Requirements
The typical number of credit hours required for a Bachelor's of Science in Aerospace Engineering is 129 hours:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Aerospace Engineering Courses | ||
AE 245 | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | 3 |
AE 290 | Aerospace Colloquium | 2 |
AE 345 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
AE 360 | Introduction to Astronautics | 3 |
AE 421 | Aerospace Computer Graphics | 3 |
AE 430 | Aerospace Instrumentation Laboratory | 3 |
AE 445 | Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance | 3 |
AE 507 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
AE 508 | Aerospace Structures II | 3 |
AE 510 | Aerospace Materials and Processes | 4 |
Select one of the following Design I options: | 4 | |
Space Systems Design I | ||
Aerospace Systems Design I | ||
Select one of the following Design II options: | 4 | |
Aerospace Systems Design II | ||
Space Systems Design II | ||
Propulsion Systems Design I | ||
AE 545 | Fundamentals of Aerodynamics | 4 |
AE 550 | Dynamics of Flight I | 4 |
AE 551 | Dynamics of Flight II | 4 |
AE 571 | Fundamentals of Airplane Reciprocating Propulsion Systems | 3 |
AE 572 | Fundamentals of Jet Propulsion | 3 |
AE 590 | Aerospace Senior Seminar | 1 |
Engineering Science Courses | ||
AE 211 | Computing for Engineers | 3 |
CE 260 | Statics and Dynamics | 5 |
CE 310 | Strength of Materials | 4 |
ME 212 | Basic Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 |
EECS 316 | Circuits, Electronics and Instrumentation | 3 |
Science Courses | ||
CHEM 150 | Chemistry for Engineers | 5 |
PHSX 210 | General Physics I for Engineers | 3 |
PHSX 216 | General Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
PHSX 212 | General Physics II | 3 |
PHSX 236 | General Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
Mathematics Courses | ||
MATH 125 | Calculus I | 4 |
MATH 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
MATH 127 | Calculus III | 4 |
MATH 220 | Applied Differential Equations | 3 |
MATH 290 | Elementary Linear Algebra | 2 |
KU Core | ||
KU Core GE 2.1 Written Communication* | 6 | |
KU Core GE 3H Humanities | 3 | |
KU Core AE 4.1 Human Diversity | 3 | |
KU Core AE 4.2 Global Awareness* | 3 | |
ECON 104 | Introductory Economics | 3 |
or ECON 142 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
or ECON 144 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
Technical Electives | ||
Technical Electives are selected from upper level aerospace courses, approved courses from other engineering departments, or approved math courses. | 6 | |
Total Hours | 129 |
Credit for ROTC Courses: A student enrolled in one of the ROTC programs can receive 3 hours of technical electives if the ROTC program is completed.
*The Written Communication and Global Awareness goals can be satisfied in ways other than standard coursework. See http://kucore.ku.edu/ for your options.
Departmental Honors
To complete the departmental honors program, an aerospace engineering undergraduate student must
- Graduate with a KU grade-point average of 3.5.
- Take at least 2 departmental honors courses and earn a grade of B or better in each. At least one course of which must include an independent research component
- An AE 700-level technical elective can be used for one of these courses
- The departmental honors courses are
Course List Code Title Hours AE 506 Aerospace Structures I, Honors 3 AE 509 Honors Aerospace Structures II 3 AE 546 Aerodynamics, Honors 4 AE 552 Honors Dynamics of Flight II 4 AE 573 Honors Propulsion 3 AE 593 Honors Research 1-5
Students require permission of instructor to enroll in honors courses. The Application for Departmental Honors form must be completed by April 1 during the year of graduation in order to be recognized.