Aerospace Engineering, B.S.E.
Program Educational Objectives
Within a few years of graduation, our graduates are expected to achieve the following milestones:
- Advance professionally in the aerospace industry, automotive industry, technical consultancy or in any other chosen career field
- Earn advanced degrees in aerospace engineering, (or a related technical discipline such as automotive engineering), business or law
- Attain leadership positions in today’s rapidly changing, increasingly technological, global society.
- Be agents of innovation and function effectively as responsible members of professional teams.
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:
- Students shall have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- 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.
- Students shall have an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- 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.
- 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.
- Students shall have an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- 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 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 Track Electives 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 cumulative 2.75 GPA on a 4.00 scale to enter the College of Engineering and Computing. In addition, transfer applicants for the Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering majors must also have completed a four semester-hour calculus course equivalent to MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or better.
Current University of South Carolina students who wish to enter the College of Engineering and Computing, and former students seeking readmission, must have an institutional GPA of 2.50 or better on at least 15 hours earned at UofSC. In addition, such applicants for the Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering majors must also have completed a four semester-hour calculus course equivalent to MATH 141 with a grade of “C” or better.
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.
Degree Requirements (126-138 hours)
See College of Engineering and Computing for progression requirements and special academic opportunities.
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 34-46 |
| 2. College Requirements | 0 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 53 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 39 |
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 (34-46 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)-
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (8 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
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.
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)
- PHIL 325 (CMS/VSR overlay)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
- PHIL 325 (CMS/VSR overlay)
- 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 (53 hours)
Supporting Courses (53 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | ||
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 112L | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| MATH 241 | Vector Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 242 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 344 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 212 | Essentials of Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 212L | Essentials of Physics II Lab | 1 |
| STAT 509 | Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Lower Division Engineering | ||
| AESP 101 | Introduction into Aerospace Engineering | 3 |
| or ENCP 101 | Introduction to Engineering I | |
| EMCH 111 | Introduction to Computer-Aided Design | 3 |
| or ENCP 102 | Introduction to Engineering II | |
| EMCH 200 | Statics (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
| 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 | |
| Track Electives | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 15 | |
Aeromechanical Systems: | ||
| Aircraft Design Part I Basics | ||
| Introduction to Composite Materials | ||
| Introduction to Finite Element Stress Analysis | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Kinematics | ||
| Heat Transfer | ||
| Robotics in Mechanical Engineering | ||
| Compressible Fluid Flow | ||
| Introduction to Engineering Optimization | ||
Integrated Information Technology: | ||
| Introduction to Computer Hardware and Software | ||
| Introduction to Networking | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Human Computer Interaction | ||
| Advanced Networking | ||
| Information Technology Security for Managers | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Database Systems in Information Technology | ||
or ITEC 447 | Management of Information Technology | |
Power Electronics Systems: | ||
| Circuits | ||
| Signals and Systems | ||
| Electronics | ||
| Control Systems | ||
| Power Electronics | ||
Control Systems: | ||
| Circuits | ||
| Signals and Systems | ||
| Electronics | ||
| Control Systems | ||
| Digital Control Systems | ||
Communication Systems: | ||
| Circuits | ||
| Signals and Systems | ||
Select three of the following: | ||
| Digital Signal Processing | ||
| Electromagnetics | ||
| Wireless Communications | ||
| RF Circuit Design for Wireless Communications | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 53 | |
4. Major Requirements (39 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AESP 265 | Aerodynamics I Incompressible Flow | 3 |
| AESP 314 | Energy Power and Propulsion | 3 |
| AESP 350 | Aerospace Systems | 3 |
| AESP 361 | Aerospace Laboratory I | 3 |
| AESP 362 | Aerospace Laboratory II | 3 |
| AESP 420 | Flight and Orbital Mechanics | 3 |
| AESP 428 | Design I | 3 |
| AESP 466 | Flight Dynamics and Control | 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 377 | Manufacturing | 3 |
| EMCH 577 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
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.