Foundational option
The courses in the Foundational Track span the core areas in both Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. Achieving greater depth in analysis and understanding of these materials is very useful in building a strong general background in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, and the Foundational Track allows students to acquire greater depth across the range of core areas in both aerospace and ocean engineering. This Track is available to all Aerospace and Ocean Engineering majors. Acceptable Substitution: AOE 5144 (Boundary-Layer Theory) may be substituted in place of the course AOE 3044 (Boundary Layer and Heat Transfer).
Choose a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following courses.
| Course | Title | CH |
|---|---|---|
AOE 3044 or AOE 5144* |
Boundary Layer and Heat Transfer Boundary Layer Theory and Heat Transfer |
3 |
| AOE 4004 | State-Space Control | 3 |
| AOE 4084 | Engineering Design Optimization | 3 |
| AOE 4324 | Energy Methods for Structures | 3 |
*Graduate School policy: seniors with ≥3.0 GPA may take graduate course with instructor’s permission.
Courses are based on the UG Catalog Date of Entry 2024-2025 program curriculum. Prerequisites may apply – see your advisor.
I. Purpose
Aerospace and ocean engineering majors have a foundational option and eight concentrations:
- Aero/hydrodynamics
- Dynamics, control and estimation
- Energy & environment
- Naval engineering
- Propulsion
- Space engineering
- Structures and materials
- Vehicle and system design
The foundational option allows students to acquire greater depth across the range of core areas in both aerospace and ocean engineering.
Students will choose three of the following four courses:
- AOE 3044: Boundary Layers and Heat Transfer
- AOE 4324: Energy Methods for Structures
- AOE 4004: State-space control
- AOE 4084: Engineering Design Optimization
II. Justification:
The foundational option will allow students with a broad interest across aerospace and ocean engineering topics to focus their technical electives and receive recognition on their transcripts.
III. Hours Requirement
A total of 128 hours is required to graduate with a BS in aerospace and ocean engineering. The foundational option requires nine credit hours of coursework out of a total of eighteen hours of technical electives.
IV. Eligibility:
The foundational option will be available to all aerospace and ocean engineering majors. Students majoring in aerospace and ocean engineering may pursue more than on departmental concentration.
V. Relevance:
The courses in the foundational option span core areas in both aerospace and ocean engineering. Achieving greater depth in analysis and understanding of these is very useful in building a strong general background.
VI. Policies regarding intra-departmental majors and minors:
The AOE department offers majors in both aerospace and ocean engineering. Courses for the two majors overlap. Students may choose to pursue both majors simultaneously.
VII. Required resources
No additional resources are required at present.
VIII. Methods of Communication:
These changes are communicated to students by posting the option checksheet to our department website, e-mail notification via the AOE listserv, and presentation to incoming students at advising sessions. The AOE academic advisors will discuss the option with students during their advising sessions and concentration checksheets will be available in the AOE Academic Advising Center.