Bachelor of Science in
Aerospace Engineering
The Aerospace Engineering program equips students to enter the industry prepared to tackle challenges regarding aircraft design and space exploration.
About the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (BSAE) program at Embry-Riddle equips students with skills to solve even the most complex challenges in aircraft design, propulsion, systems for spacecraft and space exploration.
The Aerospace Engineering department is the largest of its kind in the country, with students benefiting from state-of-the-art resources — the same tools in use by aerospace engineering professionals around the globe. No other Aerospace Engineering program in the United States attracts more students, gaining hands-on experience from the start, with opportunities to participate in various projects, competitions, research and internships.
Student Learning Outcomes
In aerospace engineering you will have the opportunity to:
- Understand the engineering of mission-oriented vehicles through space vehicle and aircraft design, structures and propulsion
- Utilize practical engineering to balance the theoretical analysis required to understand spacecraft systems
- Develop competency with the same tools in use by aerospace engineering professionals
Aerospace Engineering Career Opportunities
Careers and Employers
With an industry growth of 6% over the next decade, an estimated 3,800 job openings for aerospace engineers are projected each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Embry-Riddle’s Aerospace Engineering graduates enjoy an extremely high 94% placement rate in the year after graduation. Many students gateway into the industry through internships with aerospace and aeronautical companies like The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Northrop Grumman and many more.
Aerospace Engineering graduates are employed by the same companies in positions such as Aircraft Systems Engineers, Avionics Engineers, Aerospace Systems Analysts and Flight Test Engineers.
Aerospace Engineering Salary Information
The average reported salary for Embry-Riddle graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering is $77,000 annually as of 2023.
DETAILS
About Aerospace Engineering at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus
Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus offers combined and accelerated degree programs that allow well-qualified students the chance to begin graduate work in a master’s program while finishing their bachelor’s degree. First-year students must complete the College of Engineering’s Freshman Engineering Program before continuing with their Aerospace Engineering courses.
The program is currently ranked No. 4 in the country by U.S. News and World Report, above some elite Aerospace Engineering programs and No. 1 in the state of Florida. The department strives for diversity, equity and inclusion of all students. Currently we have 23% female students and 24% underrepresented minorities in our B.S. program, which is about 7% and 9% (respectively) higher than the national average for Aerospace Engineering programs.
Tracks/Specialties and/or Certificates
The Daytona Beach Campus offers four track options for the aerospace engineering degree:
- Aeronautics: Focuses on aerodynamics with wind tunnel experience, aircraft design and analysis and the stability, controllability and flight testing of aircraft.
- Astronautics: Focuses on orbital mechanics, spacecraft controls, rocket propulsion and structural analysis.
- Jet Propulsion: Focuses on air-breathing propulsion, including turbojets, turbofans and ramjet engines.
- Rocket Propulsion: Focuses on spacecraft propulsion associated with launch vehicles and space exploration.
Aerospace Engineering Information
- Credits: 129
- Online or In-Person: In-Person
Professional Accreditation
The Aerospace Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.
Helpful Links
- Tour our Daytona Beach, Florida campus
- Discover the Department's Faculty
- Visit the College of Engineering
- Explore the Fields of Study: Aviation & Space & Engineering
- Find Related Clubs & Organizations
General Education Requirements
For a full description of Embry-Riddle General Education guidelines, please see the General Education section of this catalog. These minimum requirements are applicable to all degree programs.
| Communication Theory & Skills (COM 122, COM 219, COM 221) | 9 | |
| Lower-Level Humanities (HU 14x) * | 3 | |
| Lower-Level Social Sciences * | 3 | |
| Lower or Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences * | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences * | 3 | |
| Computer Science (EGR 115) | 3 | |
| Mathematics (MA 241 & MA 242) | 8 | |
| Physical and Life Sciences - (PS 150, PS 160 & PS 253) | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | 1 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| AOC Specific Math | 3 | |
MA 441 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics I (Aero, Jet Prop AOC Only) | |
MA 432 | Linear Algebra (Astro, Rocket Prop AOC Only) | |
| Physical Science | ||
| CHM 110 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 110L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| PS 250 | Physics for Engineers III | 3 |
| Engineering Core | ||
| AE 201 | Aerospace Flight Vehicles | 3 |
| AE 313 | Space Mechanics | 3 |
| AE 314 | Experimental Aerodynamics | 1 |
| AE 315 | Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| AE 316 | Aerospace Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AE 318 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
| AE 416 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation | 1 |
| AE 417 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation Laboratory | 1 |
| AE 442 | Experimental Dynamics and Control | 1 |
| AE 443 | Experimental Dynamics and Control Laboratory | 1 |
| AE AOC Specific Engineering Core | 9 | |
| AE 307, AE 308 & AE 418 (Aero, Jet Prop AOC Only) | ||
| AE 319, AE 323 & AE 429 (Astro, Rocket Prop AOC Only) | ||
| EGR 101 | Introduction to Engineering | 2 |
| EGR 120 | Graphical Communications | 3 |
| ES 201 | Statics | 3 |
| ES 202 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| ES 204 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ES 305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| EE 327 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals | 3 |
| EE 328 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 67 | |
| Choose one of the following Four Options | 17 | |
| Aeronautics Option | ||
AE 403 | Jet Propulsion | |
AE 413 | Airplane Stability and Control | |
AE 420 | Aircraft Preliminary Design | |
AE 421 | Aircraft Detail Design | |
AE 432 | Flight Dynamics and Control | |
| Astronautics Option | ||
AE 414 | Space Propulsion | |
AE 426 | Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics | |
AE 427 | Spacecraft Preliminary Design | |
AE 434 | Spacecraft Control | |
AE 445 | Spacecraft Detail Design | |
| Jet Propulsion Option | ||
AE 403 | Jet Propulsion | |
AE 413 | Airplane Stability and Control | |
AE 432 | Flight Dynamics and Control | |
AE 435 | Jet Propulsion Preliminary Design | |
AE 440 | Jet Propulsion Detail Design | |
| Rocket Propulsion Option *** | ||
AE 414 | Space Propulsion | |
AE 426 | Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics | |
AE 434 | Spacecraft Control | |
AE 441 | Rocket Propulsion Preliminary Design | |
AE 451 | Rocket Propulsion Detail Design | |
| Technical Electives (See Approved List) ** | 6 | |
| **One of the Technical Electives must be an AE course | ||
| Total Credits | 129 | |
Aeronautics Plan of Study
Students should be aware that most courses in each academic year have prerequisites and/or corequisites (check the Undergraduate Courses section before registering for classes to ensure required sequencing). See the AE flowchart(s) from the department for the recommended plan of study.
NOTE: Students in the Aerospace Engineering program desiring to complete a minor must complete at least six credit hours of coursework applied to the minor that are not specifically required in the student’s degree program.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| See the College of Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals Program for course selection | 33 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 33.0 | |
Aeronautics Option
| Year Two | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AE 201 | Aerospace Flight Vehicles | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ES 201 | Statics | 3 |
| ES 202 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| ES 204 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ES 305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 441 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics I | 3 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| PS 250 | Physics for Engineers III | 3 |
| PS 253 | Physics Laboratory for Engineers | 1 |
| Credits Subtotal | 32.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| AE 307 | Incompressible Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AE 308 | Compressible Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AE 313 | Space Mechanics | 3 |
| AE 314 | Experimental Aerodynamics * | 1 |
| AE 315 | Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 316 | Aerospace Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AE 318 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
| AE 403 | Jet Propulsion | 3 |
| AE 413 | Airplane Stability and Control | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| EE 327 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals * | 3 |
| EE 328 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory * | 1 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| Credits Subtotal | 34.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AE 416 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation * | 1 |
| AE 417 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 418 | Aerospace Structures II | 3 |
| AE 420 | Aircraft Preliminary Design | 4 |
| AE 421 | Aircraft Detail Design | 4 |
| AE 432 | Flight Dynamics and Control | 3 |
| AE 442 | Experimental Dynamics and Control * | 1 |
| AE 443 | Experimental Dynamics and Control Laboratory * | 1 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Approved Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Approved AE Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 129 | |
Technical Electives
Two upper-level Technical Electives needs to be selected from the BSAE Approved Technical Electives list, in the areas of Engineering and Science, maintained by the AE Department. One Technical Elective must be a non-duplicating AE undergraduate or graduate course. The second Technical Elective can be any course on the BSAE Approved Technical Elective list. Proposed courses not on the list may be submitted to the AE Curriculum Committee.
- *
Lecture/Lab courses must be taken at the same time.
Astronautics Plan of Study
Students should be aware that most courses in each academic year have prerequisites and/or corequisites (check the Undergraduate Courses section before registering for classes to ensure required sequencing). See the AE flowchart(s) from the department for the recommended plan of study.
Because of new courses being phased in, this option is recommended for new students only.
NOTE: Students in the Aerospace Engineering program desiring to complete a minor must complete at least six credit hours of coursework applied to the minor that are not specifically required in the student’s degree program.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| See the College of Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals Program for course selection | 33 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 33.0 | |
Astronautics Option
| Year Two | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AE 201 | Aerospace Flight Vehicles | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ES 201 | Statics | 3 |
| ES 202 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| ES 204 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ES 305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| PS 250 | Physics for Engineers III | 3 |
| PS 253 | Physics Laboratory for Engineers | 1 |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| AE 313 | Space Mechanics | 3 |
| AE 314 | Experimental Aerodynamics * | 1 |
| AE 315 | Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 316 | Aerospace Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AE 318 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
| AE 319 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AE 323 | Spacecraft Systems | 3 |
| AE 414 | Space Propulsion | 3 |
| AE 426 | Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| EE 327 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals * | 3 |
| EE 328 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory * | 1 |
| MA 432 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AE 416 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation * | 1 |
| AE 417 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 427 | Spacecraft Preliminary Design | 4 |
| AE 429 | Space Environmental Applications | 3 |
| AE 434 | Spacecraft Control | 3 |
| AE 445 | Spacecraft Detail Design | 4 |
| AE 442 | Experimental Dynamics and Control * | 1 |
| AE 443 | Experimental Dynamics and Control Laboratory * | 1 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Approved Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Approved AE Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 129 | |
Technical Electives
Two upper-level Technical Electives needs to be selected from the BSAE Approved Technical Electives list, in the areas of Engineering and Science, maintained by the AE Department. One Technical Elective must be a non-duplicating AE undergraduate or graduate course. The second Technical Elective can be any course on the BSAE Approved Technical Elective list. Proposed courses not on the list may be submitted to the AE Curriculum Committee.
Footnotes
- *
Lecture/Lab courses must be taken at the same time.
Jet Propulsion Plan of Study
Students should be aware that most courses in each academic year have prerequisites and/or corequisites (check the Undergraduate Courses section before registering for classes to ensure required sequencing). See the AE flowchart(s) from the department for the recommended plan of study.
NOTE: Students in the Aerospace Engineering program desiring to complete a minor must complete at least six credit hours of coursework applied to the minor that are not specifically required in the student’s degree program.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| See the College of Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals Program for course selection | 33 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 33.0 | |
Jet Propulsion Option
| Year Two | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AE 201 | Aerospace Flight Vehicles | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ES 201 | Statics | 3 |
| ES 202 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| ES 204 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ES 305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 441 | Mathematical Methods for Engineering and Physics I | 3 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| PS 250 | Physics for Engineers III | 3 |
| PS 253 | Physics Laboratory for Engineers | 1 |
| Credits Subtotal | 32.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| AE 307 | Incompressible Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AE 308 | Compressible Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AE 313 | Space Mechanics | 3 |
| AE 314 | Experimental Aerodynamics * | 1 |
| AE 315 | Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 316 | Aerospace Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AE 318 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
| AE 403 | Jet Propulsion | 3 |
| AE 413 | Airplane Stability and Control | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| EE 327 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals * | 3 |
| EE 328 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory * | 1 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| Credits Subtotal | 34.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AE 416 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation * | 1 |
| AE 417 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 418 | Aerospace Structures II | 3 |
| AE 432 | Flight Dynamics and Control | 3 |
| AE 435 | Jet Propulsion Preliminary Design | 4 |
| AE 440 | Jet Propulsion Detail Design | 4 |
| AE 442 | Experimental Dynamics and Control * | 1 |
| AE 443 | Experimental Dynamics and Control Laboratory * | 1 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Approved Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Approved AE Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 129 | |
Technical Electives
Two upper-level Technical Electives needs to be selected from the BSAE Approved Technical Electives list, in the areas of Engineering and Science, maintained by the AE Department. One Technical Elective must be a non-duplicating AE undergraduate or graduate course. The second Technical Elective can be any course on the BSAE Approved Technical Elective list. Proposed courses not on the list may be submitted to the AE Curriculum Committee.
Footnotes
- *
Lecture/Lab courses must be taken at the same time.
Rocket Propulsion Plan of Study
Students should be aware that most courses in each academic year have prerequisites and/or corequisites (check the Undergraduate Courses section before registering for classes to ensure required sequencing). See the AE flowchart(s) from the department for the recommended plan of study.
Because of new courses (including design courses) being phased in, this option is recommended for new students only.
NOTE: Students in the Aerospace Engineering program desiring to complete a minor must complete at least six credit hours of coursework applied to the minor that are not specifically required in the student’s degree program.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| See the College of Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals Program for course selection | 33 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 33.0 | |
Rocket Propulsion Option
| Year Two | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AE 201 | Aerospace Flight Vehicles | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ES 201 | Statics | 3 |
| ES 202 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| ES 204 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ES 305 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MA 243 | Calculus and Analytical Geometry III | 4 |
| MA 345 | Differential Equations and Matrix Methods | 4 |
| PS 160 | Physics for Engineers II | 3 |
| PS 250 | Physics for Engineers III | 3 |
| PS 253 | Physics Laboratory for Engineers | 1 |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Three | ||
| AE 313 | Space Mechanics | 3 |
| AE 314 | Experimental Aerodynamics * | 1 |
| AE 315 | Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 316 | Aerospace Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AE 318 | Aerospace Structures I | 3 |
| AE 319 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AE 323 | Spacecraft Systems | 3 |
| AE 414 | Space Propulsion | 3 |
| AE 426 | Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| EE 327 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals * | 3 |
| EE 328 | Electrical Engineering Fundamentals Laboratory * | 1 |
| MA 432 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AE 416 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation * | 1 |
| AE 417 | Aerospace Structures and Instrumentation Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 429 | Space Environmental Applications | 3 |
| AE 434 | Spacecraft Control | 3 |
| AE 441 | Rocket Propulsion Preliminary Design | 4 |
| AE 442 | Experimental Dynamics and Control * | 1 |
| AE 443 | Experimental Dynamics and Control Laboratory * | 1 |
| AE 451 | Rocket Propulsion Detail Design | 4 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Lower or Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Approved Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Approved AE Upper-Level Technical Electives | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 129 | |
Technical Electives
Two upper-level Technical Electives needs to be selected from the BSAE Approved Technical Electives list, in the areas of Engineering and Science, maintained by the AE Department. One Technical Elective must be a non-duplicating AE undergraduate or graduate course. The second Technical Elective can be any course on the BSAE Approved Technical Elective list. Proposed courses not on the list may be submitted to the AE Curriculum Committee.
Footnotes
- *
Lecture/Lab courses must be taken at the same time.
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Summary
129 Credits
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