University Catalog 2024-2025

Aerospace Engineering (BS)

Overview

Plan Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1 1
E 101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1
MA 141 Calculus I 1 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 2 4
Select one of the following Economics Courses: 3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Fundamentals of Economics
 Hours17
Spring Semester
CSC 113 Introduction to Computing - MATLAB 3
GC 120 Foundations of Graphics 3
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
E 102 Engineering in the 21st Century 2
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
MA 242 Calculus III 4
MAE 206 Engineering Statics 2 3
MAE 250 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering 1
MAE 251 Aerospace Vehicle Performance 2 3
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
MAE 208 Engineering Dynamics 2 3
MAE 214 Solid Mechanics 2 3
MAE 252 Aerodynamics I 3
MAE 253 Experimental Aerodynamics I 1
 Hours13
Third Year
Fall Semester
MAE 201 Thermal-Fluid Sciences 2 3
MAE 315
Fundamentals of Vibrations
or Dynamics & Controls
3
MAE 371 Aerospace Structures I 3
MAE 372 Aerospace Vehicle Structures Lab 1
ENG 331 Communication for Engineering and Technology 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
MAE 351 Aerodynamics II 3
MAE 352 Experimental Aerodynamics II 1
Both MAE 457 and MAE 467 are required. One can be taken in the third year and the other in the fourth year. 3
Flight Vehicle Stability and Control
or Introduction to Space Flight
Structures Elective 3
Math Elective 3
 Hours13
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
MAE 405 Controls Lab 1
MAE 435 Principles of Automatic Control 3
MAE 451 Experimental Aerodynamics III 1
MAE 480 Aerospace Vehicle Design I 3
Propulsion Elective 3
Technical Elective 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
MAE 481 Aerospace Vehicle Design II 3
Both MAE 457 and MAE 467 are required. One can be taken in the third year and the other in the fourth year. 3
Introduction to Space Flight
or Flight Vehicle Stability and Control
Technical Elective 3
Ethics Elective (verify requirement)
 Hours9
 Total Hours110
1

A grade of C or higher is required.

2

A grade of C- or higher is required.

GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours17

Structures Elective

MAE 430Applied Finite Element Analysis3
MAE 472Aerospace Structures II3

Math Elective

MA 305Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices3
MA 405Introduction to Linear Algebra3
ST 312Introduction to Statistics II3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
ST 371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3
ST 372Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression3

Propulsion Elective 

MAE 458Propulsion3
MAE 459Rocket Propulsion3

Technical Electives

Aerodynamics & Propulsion
MAE 452Aerodynamics of V/STOL Vehicles3
MAE 455Boundary Layer Theory3
MAE 456Computational Methods in Aerodynamics3
MAE 458Propulsion3
MAE 459Rocket Propulsion3
Structures & Manufacturing
MAE 430Applied Finite Element Analysis3
MAE 472Aerospace Structures II3
Non-MAE Technical Electives
ECE 331Principles of Electrical Engineering3
MSE 201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
Additional Technical Electives
MAE 398Spacetime Dynamics: An Evolution in Space, Time, and Matter3
MAE 402Aerosol Science and Technology3
MAE 403Air Conditioning3
MAE 406Energy Conservation in Industry3
MAE 407Steam and Gas Turbines3
MAE 408Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals3
MAE 410Modern Manufacturing Processes3
MAE 412Design of Thermal System3
MAE 413Design of Mechanical Systems3
MAE 420Dynamic Analysis of Human Movement3
MAE 421Design of Solar Energy Systems3
MAE 426Fundamentals of Product Design3
MAE 430Applied Finite Element Analysis3
MAE 440Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation3
MAE 470Space Exploration Systems3
MAE 448Computational Methods in Engineering3
MAE 482Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development I3
MAE 483Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development II3
MAE 495Special Topics in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering3
MAE 496Undergraduate Project Work in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering3
MAE 500 Level Courses (with departmental approval)
Available to students who are admitted to an engineering ABM program OR have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA and completed all required 3rd year MAE lecture courses
MAE 501Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics3
MAE 502Aerosol Science and Technology3
MAE 504Fluid Dynamics Of Combustion I3
MAE 505Heat Transfer Theory and Applications3
MAE 508Automotive Power Systems3
MAE 511Advanced Dynamics I3
MAE 513Principles of Structural Vibration3
MAE 515Advanced Automotive Vehicle Dynamics3
MAE 517Advanced Precision Manufacturing for Products, Systems and Processes3
MAE 518Acoustic Radiation I3
MAE 520Dynamic Analysis of Human Movement3
MAE 521Linear Control and Design For Mimo Systems3
MAE 522Non Linear System Analysis and Control3
MAE 525Advanced Flight Vehicle Stability and Control3
MAE 526Fundamentals of Product Design3
MAE 528Experimental Flight Testing3
MAE 531Engineering Design Optimization3
MAE 532Smart Structures and Micro-Transducers3
MAE 533Finite Element Analysis I3
MAE 534Mechatronics Design3
MAE 535Design of Electromechanical Systems3
MAE 536Micro/Nano Electromechanical Systems3
MAE 537Mechanics Of Composite Structures3
MAE 538Smart Structures and Materials3
MAE 539Advanced Materials3
MAE 540Advanced Air Conditioning Design3
MAE 541Advanced Solid Mechanics I3
MAE 543Fracture Mechanics3
MAE 544Robot Mechanics and Control3
MAE 545Metrology For Precision Manufacturing3
MAE 546Photonic Sensor Applications in Structure3
MAE 548Computational Methods in Engineering3
MAE 550Foundations Of Fluid Dynamics3
MAE 551Airfoil Theory3
MAE 552Introduction to Experimental Fluid Dynamics and Measurement Systems3
MAE 553Compressible Fluid Flow3
MAE 554Hypersonic Aerodynamics3
MAE 555Applications of Acoustic and Elastic Wave Propagation3
MAE 558Microfluidics and Nanofluidics3
MAE 560Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer3
MAE 561Wing Theory3
MAE 562Physical Gas Dynamics3
MAE 570Space Exploration Systems3
MAE 573Hydrodynamic Stability and Transition3
MAE 575Advanced Propulsion Systems3
MAE 577Multiscale Two-phase Flow Simulations3
MAE 589Special Topics In Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering1-6

Ethics Electives

EED 414/514Ethics for Engineering Education3
IDS 201Environmental Ethics3
MS 402Advanced Military Science - Military Justice, Ethics and Professionalism3
NS 420Naval Leadership and Ethics3
PHI 214Issues in Business Ethics3
PHI 227Data Ethics3
PHI/STS 325Bio-Medical Ethics3
PHI 375Ethics3
STS 302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values3
STS 304Ethical Dimensions of Progress3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1 1
E 101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,2 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1,2 1
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1,2 4
MA 141 Calculus I 1 4
Select one of the following: 3
Fundamentals of Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours18
Spring Semester
CSC 113 Introduction to Computing - MATLAB 3
GC 120 Foundations of Graphics 3
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
E 102 Engineering in the 21st Century 2
 Hours17
Second Year
Fall Semester
MA 242 Calculus III 4
MAE 206 Engineering Statics 2 3
MAE 250 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering 1
MAE 251 Aerospace Vehicle Performance 2 3
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
MAE 208 Engineering Dynamics 2 3
MAE 214 Solid Mechanics 2 3
MAE 252 Aerodynamics I 2 3
MAE 253 Experimental Aerodynamics I 1
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
MAE 201 Thermal-Fluid Sciences 2 3
MAE 315 Fundamentals of Vibrations 3
MAE 371 Aerospace Structures I 3
MAE 372 Aerospace Vehicle Structures Lab 1
ENG 331 Communication for Engineering and Technology 3
Ethics (GEP Requirement) 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
MAE 351 Aerodynamics II 3
MAE 352 Experimental Aerodynamics II 1
Both MAE 457 and MAE 467 are required. One can be taken in the third year and the other in the fourth year. 3
Flight Vehicle Stability and Control
or Introduction to Space Flight
Structures Elective 3
Math Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
MAE 405 Controls Lab 1
MAE 435 Principles of Automatic Control 3
MAE 451 Experimental Aerodynamics III 1
MAE 480 Aerospace Vehicle Design I 3
Propulsion Elective 3
Technical Elective 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
MAE 481 Aerospace Vehicle Design II 3
Both MAE 457 and MAE 467 are required. One can be taken in the third year and the other in the fourth year. 3
Introduction to Space Flight
or Flight Vehicle Stability and Control
Technical Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours127
1

A grade of C or higher is required.

2

A grade of C- or higher is required.

Career Opportunities

Career Titles

  • Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineer
  • Aerospace Engineering Technician
  • Airline Flight Control Administrator
  • Airport Engineer
  • Architect
  • Aviation Inspector
  • Electrical Engineer
  • Engineering Professor
  • Industrial Engineer
  • Materials Engineer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Nuclear Engineer
  • Pilot
  • Product Safety Engineer
  • Ship Pilot
  • Structural Engineer

Learn More About Careers

NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.

Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.

Focus 2 Apply Assessment (Available to prospective students)
A career assessment tool designed to support prospective students in exploring and choosing the right major and career path based on your unique personality, interests, skills and values. Get started with Focus 2 Apply and see how it can guide your journey at NC State.

American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
National Society of Professional Engineers