Structures and materials
Structures and Materials is a core topic area in both Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. Analysis and understanding of structural analysis and materials selection for aerospace and ocean vehicles is critical to the design of those vehicles. The Structures and Materials Track will allow students with a particular interest in those topics to focus their technical electives in that area. This Track is available to all Aerospace and Ocean Engineering majors.
Required:
| Course | Title | CH |
|---|---|---|
| AOE 4324 | Energy Methods for Structures | 3 |
Choose a minimum of 6 credit hours from the following courses.
| Course | Title | CH |
|---|---|---|
| AOE 4024/ESM 4734 | An Introduction to the Finite Element Method | 3 |
| AOE 4034 | Introduction to Mechanical and Structural Vibrations | 3 |
| AOE 4054/ESM 4444 | Stability of Structures | 3 |
| AOE 4274 | Intermediate Ship Structural Analysis | 3 |
| AOE 4614 | Aerospace Materials and Modeling Techniques | 3 |
| AOE 5024* | Vehicle Structures | 3 |
| AOE 5034/ESM 5304* | Mechanical and Structural Vibrations | 3 |
| AOE 5074* | Advanced Ship Structural Analysis | 3 |
| ESM 3054/MSE 3054 | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 |
| ESM 4024 | Advanced Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 |
| ESM 4044/CEE 4610 | Mechanics of Composite Materials | 3 |
| ME 4624 | Finite Element Practice in Mechanical Design | 3 |
| MSE 2034 | Elements of Materials Engineering | 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 2026-2027 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 new option in structures and materials would allow students, who were interested primarily in structures and materials, to develop that specialization.
Students will take AOE 4324: Energy Methods for Structures and then choose two more classes from AOE 4054, AOE 4024, AOE 4274, ESM 3054, ESM 4024, ESM 4044, ME 4624, MSE 2034, MSE 4604, STAT 4714.
II. Justification:
The concentration in structures and materials will allow students with a particular interest in structural analysis and design of aerospace and ocean vehicles to focus their technical electives in that area 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 concentration in structures and materials requires nine credit hours of coursework out of a total of eighteen hours of technical electives.
IV. Eligibility:
The concentration in structures and materials will be available to all aerospace and ocean engineering majors. Students majoring in aerospace and ocean engineering may pursue more than one departmental concentration.
V. Relevance:
Structures and materials is a core topic area in both aerospace and ocean engineering. Analysis and understanding of structural analysis and materials selection for aerospace and ocean vehicles is critical to the design of those vehicles.
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.