The BSE Aerospace Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Aerospace and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Criteria.

Learning Outcomes

The program is intended to train students in the field of aerospace engineering such that they are well prepared for a career as a multidisciplinary engineer in the aerospace industry or any other industry that requires the abilities specified by ABET for engineers at the BS level:

1. Students shall have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. Students shall have an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. Students shall have an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. Students shall have an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. Students shall have an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. Students shall have an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. Students shall have an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Academic Standards

Program GPA

Program GPA requirement policies are described in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing section of this bulletin. For the purpose of these policies, the following courses are used to determine the Program GPA for the Aerospace Engineering B.S.E. program: all Lower Division Engineering courses, all Aerospace Engineering Major courses, and all Aerospace Engineering Elective courses.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

Admission requirements and processes for freshman, transfer students, and former students seeking readmission are managed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges and universities must have a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA on a 4.00 scale to enter the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. Current University of South Carolina students, and former students seeking readmission, must have an institutional GPA of 2.50 or better on at least 15 hours earned at USC.

Degree Requirements (125-134 hours)

See College of Engineering and Computing for progression requirements and special academic opportunities.

Program of Study

Program Summary

Requirements	Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core	34-43
2. College Requirements	0
3. Program Requirements	46
4. Major Requirements	45

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (34-43 hours)

CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)- 

• ENGL 101 - must be passed with a grade of C or higher
• ENGL 102

ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (8 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

• MATH 141
• MATH 142

SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

• CHEM 111 & CHEM 111L 
• PHYS 211 & PHYS 211L 

GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language  (0-6 hours)

Score two or better on foreign language placement test; or complete the 109 and 110 courses in FREN, GERM, LATN or SPAN; or complete the 121 course in another foreign language.

• CC-GFL courses

GHS – ​Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours) 

• any CC-GHS course

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)

• any CC-GSS course

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

• any CC-AIU course

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component¹ (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course

INF – Information Literacy¹ (0 hours)

• ENGL 102

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility¹ (0-3 hours)

• any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course

¹

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours for this program must add up to a minimum of 34 hours.

2. College Requirements (0 hours)

No college-required courses for this program.

3. Program Requirements (46 hours)

Supporting Courses (46 hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Foundational Courses
CHEM 112	General Chemistry II	3
CHEM 112L	General Chemistry II Lab	1
ELCT 220	Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors	3
or ELCT 221	Circuits
MATH 241	Vector Calculus	3
MATH 242	Elementary Differential Equations	3
MATH 344	Applied Linear Algebra	3
STAT 509	Statistics for Engineers	3
Lower Division Engineering
AESP 101	Introduction into Aerospace Engineering	3
or ENCP 101	Introduction to Engineering
EMCH 111	Introduction to Computer-Aided Design	3
or ENCP 102	Introduction to Computer-Aided Design
EMCH 200	Statics (must be passed with a grade of C or higher)	3
or ENCP 200	Statics
EMCH 201	Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods	3
or ENCP 201	Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods
EMCH 260	Solid Mechanics	3
or ENCP 260	Introduction to the Mechanics of Solids
EMCH 290	Thermodynamics	3
or ENCP 290	Thermodynamic Fundamentals
Aerospace Engineering Electives
Select nine hour from the following:		9
AESP 460	Special Problems: Aerospace Engineering
AESP 543	Aerospace Propulsion
ELCT 221	Circuits
ELCT 222	Signals and Systems
ELCT 321	Digital Signal Processing
ELCT 331	Control Systems
ELCT 361	Electromagnetics
ELCT 371	Electronics
ELCT 531	Digital Control Systems
ELCT 562	Wireless Communications
ELCT 564	RF Circuit Design for Wireless Communications
ELCT 572	Power Electronics
EMCH 332	Kinematics
EMCH 354	Heat Transfer
EMCH 377	Manufacturing
EMCH 516	Control Theory in Mechanical Engineering
EMCH 530	Introduction to Engineering Optimization
EMCH 532	Intermediate Dynamics
EMCH 535	Robotics in Mechanical Engineering
EMCH 544	Compressible Fluid Flow
EMCH 554	Intermediate Heat Transfer
EMCH 560	Intermediate Fluid Mechanics
EMCH 578	Introduction to Aerodynamics
EMCH 585	Introduction to Composite Materials
EMCH 592	Introduction to Combustion
Total Credit Hours		46

4. Major Requirements (45 hours)

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
AESP 265	Aerodynamics I Incompressible Flow	3
AESP 314	Air-Breathing and Rocket Propulsion Technologies	3
AESP 350	Aerospace Systems	3
AESP 361	Aerospace Laboratory I	3
AESP 362	Aerospace Laboratory II	3
AESP 365	Aerodynamics II: Compressible Flow	3
AESP 415	Aircraft Design Part I Basics	3
AESP 420	Flight and Orbital Mechanics	3
AESP 428	Design I	3
AESP 466	Flight Dynamics and Control	3
EMCH 308	Introduction to Finite Element Stress Analysis	3
EMCH 310	Dynamics	3
or ENCP 210	Dynamics
EMCH 330	Mechanical Vibrations	3
or ENCP 330	Introduction to Vibrations
EMCH 371	Materials	3
EMCH 577	Aerospace Structures I	3
Total Credit Hours		45

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Aerospace Engineering, B.S.E.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credit Hours
ENGL 101	Critical Reading and Composition	3
MATH 141	Calculus I 3	4
CHEM 111	General Chemistry I	3
CHEM 111L	General Chemistry I Lab	1
AESP 101 or ENCP 101	Introduction into Aerospace Engineering (fall only) or Introduction to Engineering	3
Carolina Core AIU 4		3
	Credit Hours	17
Spring
ENGL 102	Rhetoric and Composition	3
MATH 142	Calculus II	4
CHEM 112	General Chemistry II	3
CHEM 112L	General Chemistry II Lab	1
PHYS 211	Essentials of Physics I	3
PHYS 211L	Essentials of Physics I Lab	1
EMCH 111 or ENCP 102	Introduction to Computer-Aided Design or Introduction to Computer-Aided Design	3
	Credit Hours	18
Second Year
Fall
EMCH 200 or ENCP 200	Statics or Statics	3
EMCH 201 or ENCP 201	Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods or Introduction to Applied Numerical Methods	3
ELCT 220 or ELCT 221	Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors or Circuits	3
MATH 241	Vector Calculus	3
Carolina Core GSS 4		3
	Credit Hours	15
Spring
EMCH 290	Thermodynamics	3
EMCH 260	Solid Mechanics	3
MATH 242	Elementary Differential Equations	3
STAT 509	Statistics for Engineers	3
Carolina Core VSR 4		3
Carolina Core CMS 4		0-3
	Credit Hours	15-18
Third Year
Fall
AESP 265	Aerodynamics I Incompressible Flow (fall only)	3
EMCH 310	Dynamics	3
EMCH 371	Materials	3
EMCH 308	Introduction to Finite Element Stress Analysis (fall only)	3
MATH 344	Applied Linear Algebra	3
	Credit Hours	15
Spring
AESP 361	Aerospace Laboratory I (spring only)	3
AESP 365	Aerodynamics II: Compressible Flow (spring only)	3
AESP 350	Aerospace Systems (spring only)	3
EMCH 330 or ENCP 330	Mechanical Vibrations (spring only) or Introduction to Vibrations	3
EMCH 577	Aerospace Structures I (spring only)	3
	Credit Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
AESP 314	Air-Breathing and Rocket Propulsion Technologies (fall only)	3
AESP 362	Aerospace Laboratory II (fall only)	3
AESP 415	Aircraft Design Part I Basics (fall only)	3
AESP 420	Flight and Orbital Mechanics (fall only)	3
Aerospace Engineering Elective 5		3
Carolina Core GFL 6		0-3
	Credit Hours	15-18
Spring
AESP 428	Design I	3
AESP 466	Flight Dynamics and Control (spring only)	3
Aerospace Engineering Elective 5		3
Aerospace Engineering Elective 5		3
Carolina Core GHS 4		3
Carolina Core GFL 6		0-3
	Credit Hours	15-18
	Total Credit Hours	125-134

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA. 

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses.  Courses indicated in this column are included in the program GPA of 2.00 for this program. 

³

Students who place into MATH 115 will be required to successfully complete it before taking MATH 141. 

⁴

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. 

⁵

Aerospace Engineering Electives (9 hours): AESP 460, 543; ELCT 221, 222, 321, 331, 361, 371, 531, 562, 564, 572; EMCH 332, 354, 377, 516, 530, 532, 535, 544, 554, 560, 578, 585, 592. 

⁶

Students in the College of Engineering and Computing are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 121 course by 1) a score of two or better on the foreign language placement test; or 2) completion of the 109 and 110 courses in FREN, GERM, LATN, or SPAN or completion of the 121 course in another foreign language.  Students who do not place out of the GFL requirement may need to take additional hours to meet this requirement. 

 Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• A student cannot repeat courses from the College of Engineering and Computing in which they earned a grade of C or better.  In addition, a student cannot repeat any course from the College a second time.  No more than four courses from the College of Engineering and Computing may be repeated in order to satisfy the requirements for any degree from the College, regardless of satisfactory work.  For this purpose, withdrawal from a course with a grade of W is not regarded as enrollment in that course.  A student that does not satisfactorily complete a degree-required College course within two attempts must change major or transfer out of the College of Engineering and Computing.
• The last 25% of a student’s degree must be completed in residence at the University, and at least half of the hours in the student’s major courses and in the student’s minor courses (if applicable) must be taken at the University.