Program: Aerospace Engineering, B.S. - San Diego State University

Apr 16, 2025

2019/2020 University Catalog

Students majoring in aerospace engineering must include in their program a sequence of fundamental courses. In addition, the students have the opportunity to satisfy their particular areas of interest by selecting a pattern of study indicated in the sequence below. This pattern includes typical aerospace engineering topics, such as aerospace vehicle design, structural analysis, aerodynamics, and propulsion. This program requires 140 units to include general education.

Preparation for the Major

(50 units)

These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC).

A E 123 - The Aerospace Engineer Units: 1
A E 280 - Methods of Analysis Units: 3
A E 200 - Statics Units: 3 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. also listed as
M E 200 - Statics Units: 3 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
A E 220 - Dynamics Units: 3 also listed as
M E 220 - Dynamics Units: 3
BIOL 100 - General Biology Units: 3
or
BIOL 101 - World of Animals Units: 3 But not both.
CHEM 202 - General Chemistry for Engineers Units: 4 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
or
CHEM 200 - General Chemistry Units: 5 But not both must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
E E 204 - Principles of Electrical Engineering Units: 3
MATH 150 - Calculus I Units: 4 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
MATH 151 - Calculus II Units: 4 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
MATH 252 - Calculus III Units: 4
M E 101 - Solid Modeling I Units: 2
M E 202 - Computer Programming and Applications Units: 3
M E 240 - Introduction to Engineering Materials Units: 3
PHYS 195 - Principles of Physics Units: 3 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
PHYS 195L - Principles of Physics Laboratory Units: 1
PHYS 196 - Principles of Physics Units: 3 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
PHYS 197 - Principles of Physics Units: 3

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Passing the Writing Placement Assessment with a score of 10 or completing one of the approved upper division writing courses (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements ” section for a complete listing of requirements.

Major

A minimum of 51 upper division units to include

A E 301 - Low Speed Aerodynamics Units: 3
A E 302 - High Speed Aerodynamics Units: 3
A E 303 - Experimental Aerodynamics Units: 2
A E 310 - Aerospace Structural Analysis Units: 3
A E 320 - Astrodynamics Units: 3
A E 340 - Fluid Mechanics Units: 3
A E 341 - Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Units: 1
A E 403 - Aerospace Engineering Senior Project Units: 3
A E 410 - Aerospace Structural Dynamics Units: 3
A E 430 - Aircraft Propulsion Systems Units: 3
A E 440 - Aircraft Stability and Control I Units: 3
A E 460A - Aerospace Engineering Applications Units: 3
A E 460B - Aerospace Engineering Applications Units: 2
A E 515 - Methods of Analysis Units: 3
CIV E 301 - Introduction to Solid Mechanics Units: 3
or
M E 304 - Mechanics of Materials Units: 3 But not both.
CIV E 302 - Solid Mechanics Laboratory Units: 1
M E 350 - Thermodynamics Units: 3

Six Units Selected from

Other electives may be substituted with consent of the adviser and department chair.

A E 510 - Finite Element Methods in Aerospace Structures Units: 3
A E 520 - Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control Units: 3
A E 530 - Rocket and Space Propulsion Units: 3
A E 535 - Mechanics of Composite Structures Units: 3 also listed as
M E 535 - Mechanics of Composite Structures Units: 3
A E 540 - Aircraft Stability and Control II Units: 3
A E 546 - Aerospace Guidance and Navigation Units: 3
A E 550 - Viscous Flow Units: 3

Master Plan

The master plan must be reviewed each semester with the faculty adviser before registration. All course substitutions must be approved by the department chair.

The master plan provides an advising record for aerospace engineering majors and should be initiated by the student with their faculty adviser during the second semester of the freshman year. All students must have a master plan on file in the department prior to enrollment in

A E 301 - Low Speed Aerodynamics Units: 3
or
A E 310 - Aerospace Structural Analysis Units: 3 But not both.