Admissions to the Engineering Mechanics: Astronautics Named Option have been suspended as of fall 2020 and will be discontinued as of fall 2026. If you have any questions, please contact the department.
The astronautics option in engineering mechanics prepares students for design, development, and research, with an emphasis on applied mathematics and astronautics. Its purpose is to improve and expand the educational opportunities of students at the university who wish to pursue careers in astronautics and space-related areas. This is accomplished by providing in depth exposure to course sequences in astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, and flight dynamics, as well as a core curriculum of structural and material analysis, advanced dynamics, and vibrations. The program requires a minimum of 128 credits.
Requirements
The following curriculum applies to students admitted to the engineering mechanics degree program and declared the astronautics option.
Summary of Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | 22 | |
| Science | 10 | |
| Engineering Science | 27 | |
| Engineering Mechanics/Astronautics Core | 40 | |
| Technical Electives | 5 | |
| Communication Skills | 8 | |
| Liberal Studies | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
Mathematics and Statistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | 5 |
| or MATH 217 | Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II | |
| MATH 222 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2 | 4 |
| MATH 234 | Calculus--Functions of Several Variables | 4 |
| MATH 320 | Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 321 | Applied Mathematical Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 324 | Introductory Applied Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 5-9 | |
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| PHYSICS 202 | General Physics | 5 |
| Total Credits | 10-14 | |
Engineering Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTEREGR 170 | Design Practicum | 3 |
| M E 231 | Geometric Modeling for Design and Manufacturing | 3 |
| E P 271 | Engineering Problem Solving I | 3 |
| or COMP SCI 200 | Programming I | |
| or COMP SCI 220 | Data Science Programming I | |
| or COMP SCI 310 | Problem Solving Using Computers | |
| M E 361 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| M E 363 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| or CIV ENGR 310 | Fluid Mechanics | |
| E C E 376 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| or PHYSICS 321 | Electric Circuits and Electronics | |
| M E 364 | Elementary Heat Transfer | 3 |
| E C E 332 | Feedback Control Systems | 3 |
| or M E 446 | Introduction to Feedback Control | |
| Computing Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Programming II | ||
| Introduction to Numerical Methods | ||
| Intermediate Problem Solving for Engineers | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing for Engineering Physics | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Engineering Mechanics/Astronautics Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| E M A 201 | Statics | 3 |
| E M A 202 | Dynamics | 3 |
| E M A 303 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| E M A/M E 307 | Mechanics of Materials Lab | 1 |
| E M A 405 | Practicum in Finite Elements | 3 |
| E M A 469 | Design Problems in Engineering | 3 |
| E M A 506 | Advanced Mechanics of Materials I | 3 |
| Experimental Mechanics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis | ||
| Experimental Mechanics | ||
| Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials | ||
| Aerodynamics Lab | ||
| E M A 521 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| or M E 563 | Intermediate Fluid Dynamics | |
| E M A 542 | Advanced Dynamics | 3 |
| E M A 545 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| E M A 569 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| Spacecraft Structural Dynamics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Astrodynamics | ||
| Structural Finite Element Model Validation | ||
| Satellite Dynamics | ||
| Aerospace Fluid Mechanics Elective (select one) | 3 | |
| Flight Dynamics and Control | ||
| Special Topics in Engineering Mechanics (Topic: Rocket Propulsion) | ||
or E M A 524 | Rocket Propulsion | |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select five credits at an academic level that requires 2 semesters of calculus or 2 semesters of physics as a prerequisite. E M A 1 may also be used to satisfy this requirement. | 5 | |
Communication Skills
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 100 | Introduction to College Composition | 3 |
| or COM ARTS 100 | Introduction to Speech Composition | |
| or LSC 100 | Science and Storytelling | |
| or ESL 118 | Academic Writing II | |
| E P D 275 | Technical Presentations | 2 |
| INTEREGR 397 | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Liberal Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering Liberal Studies Requirements | ||
| Complete Requirements 1 | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
- 1
Students must take 16 credits that carry H, S, L, or Z breadth designators. These credits must fulfill the following subrequirements:
- A minimum of two courses from the same subject area (the description before the course number). At least one of these two courses must be designated as above the elementary level (I, A, or D) in the course listing.
- A minimum of 6 credits designated as humanities (H, L, or Z in the course listing), and an additional minimum of 3 credits designated as social science (S or Z in the course listing). Foreign language courses count as H credits. Retroactive credits for language courses may not be used to meet the Liberal Studies credit requirement (they can be used for subrequirement 1 above).
- At least 3 credits in courses designated as ethnic studies (lower case “e” in the course listing). These courses may help satisfy subrequirements 1 and 2 above, but they count only once toward the total required. Note: Some courses may have “e” designation but not H, S, L, or Z designation; these courses do not count toward the Liberal Studies requirement.
Honors in Undergraduate Research
Qualified undergraduates may earn an Honors in Research designation on their transcript and diploma by completing 8 credits of undergraduate honors research, including a senior thesis. Further information is available in the department office.
For information on credit load, adding or dropping courses, course substitutions, pass/fail, auditing courses, dean's honor list, repeating courses, probation, and graduation, see the College of Engineering Official Regulations.
Four-Year Plan
Astronautics Option in Engineering Mechanics
Example Four-Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 1091 | 5 | E M A 2013 | 3 |
| MATH 221 | 5 | MATH 222 | 4 |
| Communications A | 3 | M E 231 | 3 |
| INTEREGR 1702 | 3 | Liberal Studies Elective or | 3 |
or Liberal Studies Elective | |||
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 234 | 4 | MATH 320 | 3 |
| PHYSICS 202 | 5 | Technical Elective | 3 |
| E M A 2024 | 3 | M E 361 | 3 |
| E P 271 or COMP SCI 310 | 3 | E M A 3034 | 3 |
| E P D 275 or COM ARTS 105 | 2 | E M A/M E 3074 | 1 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| E M A 506 | 3 | E M A 545 | 3 |
| E M A 405 | 3 | INTEREGR 397 | 3 |
| E M A 542 | 3 | M E 364 | 3 |
| M E 363 or CIV ENGR 310 | 3 | STAT 324 | 3 |
| MATH 321 | 3 | Computing Elective | 3 |
| Experimental Mechanics Course5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| E M A 469 | 3 | E M A 569 | 3 |
| E M A 5216 | 3 | E M A 523 or 5247 | 3 |
| E C E 376 or PHYSICS 321 | 3 | E M A/ASTRON 550, 610, or 642 | 3 |
| E C E 332 or M E 446 | 3 | Tech Elective | 2 |
| Liberal Studies Elective | 4 | Liberal Studies Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 128 | |||
- 1
It is recommended that students take CHEM 109 Advanced General Chemistry for 5 credits. However, depending on their high school chemistry experience, students may substitute CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and CHEM 104 General Chemistry II for a total of 9 credits.
- 2
Students who were not able to take INTEREGR 170 Design Practicum as freshmen may, with the approval of their advisor, substitute a course offered in the College of Engineering or in the departments of Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics.
- 3
Students may substitute PHYSICS 201 General Physics , 5 credits, for E M A 201 Statics, 3 credits, with the approval of their advisor.
- 4
After completing E M A 201 Statics, students may take E M A 202 Dynamics and E M A 303 Mechanics of Materials/E M A/M E 307 Mechanics of Materials Lab in either order or concurrently.
- 5
E M A 611 Advanced Mechanical Testing of Materials or E M A/M E 540 Experimental Vibration and Dynamic System Analysis or E M A/M E 570 Experimental Mechanics or E M A 522 Aerodynamics Lab. Note that E M A/M E 540 and E M A/M E 570 are typically offered in the fall. E M A 611 and E M A 522 are typically offered in the spring.
- 6
M E 563 Intermediate Fluid Dynamics may be substituted for E M A 521 Aerodynamics. Note that M E 563 is offered in the spring semester only.
- 7
Before Fall 2020, E M A 524 Rocket Propulsion was offered as E M A 601 Special Topics in Engineering Mechanics with the topic of Rocket Propulsion. It is offered in the fall semester only. E M A 523 Flight Dynamics and Control is offered in the Spring semester only.